400 Days: Memoir of a Modern Day Minuteman

Random Musings & Cable TV

2011-03-07T08:16:00.000-08:00

Wassup team!?!

First, BON LUNDI GRAS!!!
(Happy Fat Monday!!!)

I am certainly enjoying my first Monday off work in a while; especially since I had to work yesterday and Saturday. But, I digress...

One of my new curiosities recently is a semi-new product from Ceton called the InfiniTV 4. Essentially, it's an add-on PCIe board for your PC that functions as both a DVR and a multi-stream tuner. Although its a niche product, I can certainly see it's merits. If you don't mind using a product tied to Micro$oft and you have whole home gigabit ethernet, then it might be a viable solution to rid yourself of the rental cable boxes that Cox, Comcast & Time-Warner saddle us with.

Umm.... what else?

Oh! Is anyone else enthralled by the garbagemen riding on the back of the trash truck? What happens if they fall off? How does the driver know?

-JGH

Where Were You in 2003?

2010-12-30T09:31:00.000-08:00

So, I need to know something. Where was the Tea Party in 2003?

2003, if you remember, was the year that George Bush led this nation to war in Iraq. It was also the year that our commander in chief decided to side line the search for Osama bin Laden in favor of taking down the regime in Iraq.

Where was your "righteous indignation" then? Where were the protests then?
Do you actually believe that Bush was better president? Is that it?

Why is that now, when we have legitimately elected black president, that he has been called everything from a "loud Kenyan" to the second coming of Hitler.

I am calling bullshit.
And, I am calling racism.
Yep, I dropped the "R" card.

That's just the way I see it. I'm tired of the slander and hate speech.

I know you'll claim that this isn't about the President's race, it's about his policies.
BULLSHIT.

Because, I know where y'all were in '03.

If I offended you, then good. Perhaps now you'll see how this sworn defender of the Constitution of the United States of America feels when you make wild assed claims against the Commander in Chief.

Comment or not. I don't really care. Because, I know where *I* was 2003.

Distribution of Wealth

2010-07-09T13:47:00.000-07:00

I wrote this blog last week but did not post it.

It was my intention to put down some thoughts about my feelings on the governance of corporations. It was not my intention to create a blog entry or start a flame war.
That said, keep it civil. I will make that promise as well. I respect and encourage all of your comments.

Read on...

One of things that intrigues me about American society is the distribution of wealth. Let me explain. In past times, wealth in the US was mainly centered among the people. Sure, there were the rich and poor. But mainly, PEOPLE held the wealth. It was tied up in their businesses, farms and homes. As such, politicians catered to the wants of the people. And, more importantly, visionary leaders even took up the cause of guarding against the tyranny of the majority. (But that is a blog for another time) Point is, our politicians and political leaders were beholden to us.

Now, more and more, it seems that politicians are not beholden to the populace. They are beholden to corporations. Joe Snuffy be damned.
Why is this? Well simple. The wealth in America is not so much held by the people as much as it is held by corporations. Let me state right here that this is not intended to be an anti-corporate rant. But, I do want to point some holes that I perceive in the system, and perhaps, provoke some thought.

Anyhow, I guess my main point is that since corporations hold some much wealth, it is natural that lawmakers cater to their needs. In fact, it is almost a mantra among politicians that they are "pro-business." But really, what does that mean? The most glaring examples come in the form of government bailouts of the auto and banking industries. But more sinister examples come to light in the recent oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Clearly, it is the responsibility of BP, TransOcean and their partners to make this right, whatever that entails. But, Rep. Joe Barton of TX actually said that President Obama should be apologizing to BP. That's not all. Bobby Jindal, governor of Louisiana screamed equally loudly that the federal government should be helping more and that the president's moratorium on deep water drilling was akin to sinking the entire coastal economy of Louisiana. Sorry chum, that gusher underneath the Deepwater Horizon wreckage is already making that happen. Am I they only person that see the hypocrisy at play here?

Nameless, faceless corporations with legions of attorneys and lobbyists have usurped that American democratic practice. What's worse, corporations have made it so the US government (or state & local governments) can't even support themselves. Now I know that some folks would say that government bloat is the root of all evil. I say phoey!

Like it or not, governments rely on taxes to fund themselves. If you like good roads, police & fire departments and quality public schools, then you LIKE government. Yet, corporations hardly pay any taxes. I for one don't think that's fair. In fact they have gotten so turned around that we think corporations are MORE IMPORTANT than governance. (that's correct, I said GOVERNANCE) We are so worried that our, community, state & nation will be deemed as "anti-corporate" that we have given the nod to our lawmakers to give away real estate, natural resources, and most damaging, tax breaks to corporations. Perhaps it is time to be a bit anti-corporate. Perhaps it is time for our lawmakers to protect us against the tyranny of the majority (of wealth).

-JGH

Release the Hounds!

2010-03-25T08:47:00.000-07:00

Alright folks. I have kept quiet long enough. It's time for me weigh in on the great "Debate" of 2010.

The Healthcare Bill.

If you were against the healthcare bill, then please, drop all of the propaganda and listen to yourselves.
Socialism? The end to Freedom in America?

C'mon! That happened back in 2000 when y'all elected Gee-Dub as prez!
Look, in my humble opinion, the greatest assault on American Freedom came in the form of the Bush-Cheney regime. An unnecessary war in Iraq. Ignoring Afghanistan. Illegal wiretaps. Domestic spying. Not to mention STOPLOSS, the over-stretching of the military and the involuntary call-up of thousands of IRR troops.

So, you guys want to trash not only bill but also the president himself over what?

A genuine effort to help ALL AMERICANS get some kind of health coverage?
A president that wants to get things he promised done?

What is it? Seriously, do you actually believe that y'all are the only ones who deserve healthcare?
OHHHHH! I forgot! It's the budget! That's right... We can't afford to ensure that all American get healthcare.

But... we could afford Iraq?
Newsflash. We can't. We never could. YOUR ~~kids~~ grandkids are going to be paying THAT bill.

Healthcare costs money. Got that. But, can we really afford to NOT provide healthcare?
I don't know any independently wealthy people. Just about everyone I know is about ONE major illness in themselves or a family member away from bankruptcy.

Look, I'm not saying the bill is perfect. But, it is a start. This is a compromise.
Which, it seems, is a concept foreign to the "raging right."

Just don't let your "righteous rage" blind you to that fact America is ready to move forward, not just maintain the status-quo.

Next stop. Finance reform.

-JGH

Time to Take Stock of Where I am...

2010-02-12T09:04:00.000-08:00

So, I turned down the Dallas Police Department.

Yep. I finally got a call back from them. But, I am already with Target. I'm just now starting to get into the swing of things. So, the DPD is out.

Target is an interesting place to work. I am distribution Group Leader. That's "Target-speak" for a manager. Each company that I have worked with has it's own culture and vocabulary. But besides the Army, Target's is most distinct and overarching. For example, they don't have meetings, they "partner" or have "statues." When I was at SL, I always joked that "partnering" was somehow akin to prison rape. Now I have fallen into the same vernacular. The one thing that I really don't like is my "key," which is Target for shift. I work the weekends. Overnight. So, for the time being, weekend activities are out. Now, don't get me wrong, I love having all week to myself. It's just that it's far less fun when I don't have anyone else around to enjoy it with me.

Surprisingly though, I find myself missing the Army. Granted, being in Iraq sucked. I can't emphasize that enough. But, I worked with a really great team. In fact, I was surprised at how well our team meshed so quickly. Perhaps it was the conditions and environment. I can't say for sure. But, I can say that I miss my team. As, I become more involved with my new reserve unit, I hope that I can regain some of that camaraderie that I felt in my previous military assignments.

Until next time...

Take care y'all!

-JGH

Anyone Still Out There

2009-12-14T09:14:00.000-08:00

Helloooo......

Is anyone still out there?

No?

Oh well, I guess I post anyway.

So, where do I start? Ummm... for those of you that didn't know, I am home from Iraq.
As of October 7th, 2009, I was officially released from active duty back into civilian life. I actually got home on the 18th or 19th of September. But, because of the way the Army handles leave, I wasn't actually "RELEASED" until October 7th.

"RELEASED" does make it sound a bit like a prison sentence. But, I digress.

Since I've been home, I have busied myself with looking for a new job. You see, my old job is in Newport News, VA. I now live in Grand Prairie, TX. That commute would be a killer! So, I resigned.

I have applied to the Dallas Police Department. I've been through their physical aptitude test, their civil service exam, a polygraph and an interview board. But, I've still heard nothing back. I wonder if they've forgotten my number?
Luckily, I have two other prospects. The first, I am going to keep under my hat. It is all but a sure thing, as I have already interviewed and been offered the position. The second is an active duty position with my reserve unit. But, again, it's taking forever to hear back on whether I will get that position or not.

I guess the long & short of it is, I'll be working by January 4th no matter what.

Wow... that was a lot.

Anyhow, I've decided to start up my blogging habit again. I've not decided yet how often yet. But, it was always a good way to get stuff off of my chest.

Take care y'all...

-JGH

KUDOS!

2009-07-30T13:07:00.000-07:00

Yes...
I know...
I suck because I haven't posted in so long.
Sue me.

Since SFC Fisher & I were pulled away to other assignments last week, we were unable to take part in the Tarmiyah Youth Sports Program as planned.
But, I wanted to give public kudos to the following units for making yesterday's Tamiyah Youth Sports Program a resounding success:

Tactical PSYOP Team 1213
Team Blue, 1-111th Infantry
Charlie "Choctaw" Company, 1-111th Infantry

I want to give special kudos to SGT Choe, SGT Green and SFC Boos. SGT Green and his team provided convoy and site security so that everyone got to Tarmiyah and back safely. SGT Choe & SFC Boos planned executed the whole operation with minimal input. SGT Choe even organized the Iraqi Army, the local Iraqi Police, the Sowha (Sons of Iraq) and the local politicans to work together and take ownership of this event.

It was truely an event for us and the Iraqis to be proud of. Thanks to everyone who supported us with soccer balls or otherwise. Over 1500 children showed up for this event. You helped us make a difference here in Tarmiyah!

(now if we can just keep the Iraqi police from stealing balls next time...)

-JGH

Dust... Revisited

2009-06-17T20:52:00.000-07:00

First, I'd like to offer my obligatory apologies for not posting in such a long time.

Yeah, yeah, I'll try to do better... blah, blah blah.

Truth is, I've been busy. Gimme a break, will ya?

Anyhow, a few blog entries back (like in January) I queried, "Which came first? The Army or the Dust?"

The answer, it would seem, is definitely the DUST. And, I have found the origin of ALL dust on the planet.

IRAQ.

Yes, that's right. This clean-air forsaken republic is certainly the source and origin of all dust that appears on your coffee tables and in your attics.

Why just yesterday, we suffered through a HUGE dust storm that left the ground (and any other surface) absolutely covered by the dreaded grayish-brown powder. And no, this wasn't a three or four hour storm that gave way to blue skies and chirping birds. This monstrosity is JUST getting started!

So, I have yet another day of lung-clogging goodness to look forward too.

Joy.

And with that, I leave you all with these departing thoughts:

1. If this country is supposedly the site for the Garden of Eden, then I understand fully why Adam and Eve ate the apple.

2. Dust. It's what's for dinner!

Take care y'all.

-JGH

Six Months Down

2009-04-21T12:41:00.000-07:00

Well folks, it's all downhill from here.

Sunday, April 19th was the six month mark for this mobilization. I am definitely into a "battle-rhythm" now. So far, I've managed to keep myself un-perforated. This is good thing.

Folks keep asking me to describe the sights, smells and sounds of Iraq.

Well, I am based at Camp Taji. We are just north of Baghdad. But, we may as well be on another planet. The Tigris River borders us on the east. As such, there is very lush vegetation in my area. In the morning, there is a syrupy sweet smell in the air. It's a bit like a mix between thistle and morning-glory flowers. Other days, the air stinks of burning trash.

Every so often, dust storms blow in from the west and give the air a freakish red glow. Most days though, it's bright and sunny. Occasionally, we get a thunderstorm here. The rain is always welcome. The mud it creates, however, is NOT!

Most days its fairly quiet here on Taji. Occasionally, you can hear the crazy Iraqi trucks on the highway that borders our base. There is a huge flock of mourning doves that lives near my office. So, every day they are out coo'ing or clucking or whatever sound they make. Out in the towns, there is the usual hustle & bustle of a rural market place. The only odd thing is hearing the call to prayer being sung at noon. I have to admit that it was a bit weird at first. Now, I barely even hear it.
At night, the most common sound is artillery. We fire a lot of illumination to keep the bad guys on their toes.
Of course, the one sound that you hear 24/7 is helicopters. They are everywhere.

For sights, follow this link: http://picasaweb.google.com/halljg6/Iraq2009?feat=directlink
This is where I am keeping a photographic log of my time here in Iraq.

Anyhow, I will try to keep of with the blog better.

No promises though.

Take care!

-JGH

Status Quo

2009-03-19T08:15:00.000-07:00

Two-Hundred fifty-six days to go.

Not too much to write about this week. We are continuing to push civil governace & rule of law to the leaders of our area. Some get it. Others, not so much.

Today makes five months since I reported to Ft. Benning for this mobilization. Time is definitely moving fast. I just wish it would go faster.

Thanks for all of the birthday wishes last week!

Take care!

-JGH

It Ain't All Kittens & Cuddles

2009-03-01T11:51:00.000-08:00

Two-hundred seventy-four days to go.

First, sorry for the communications blackout over the past few weeks. I would love to blame it on me being lazy and not writing. But, unfortunately, it was caused by a much more serious matter.

Last Saturday, my unit suffered it's first soldier killed in action. While I didn't know the soldier personally, I certainly felt the gamut of emotions that accompanies a loss like that. I hope that this is the last casualty that we'll have on this deployment. I know that the leadership of our battalion is working tirelessly to that end as well. But, this is still a combat zone. We are still soldiers. And, it is our duty to go into harm's way. Please keep the guys "on the line" in your thoughts and prayers.

I'm going to switch gears a bit since, well, this is my blog and I can do that.

Almost everyone that emails me asks what kind of care package they can send.

Seriously, I want for nothing here. I have a full Post Exchange where I can buy everything from Bic razors to a bicycle. Plus, we are OVER fed here. There is so much food here that I have to work hard NOT to over eat.

If anything, I'd ask that you send school supplies and soccer balls. The kids here cling to anything that our soldiers give them as if it were a gift handed to them by Santa himself.

Our battalion has already received soccer balls from the Kick for Nick program. I can't wait to get them out to the schools in our battalion area. If you'd like more information, go to http://www.kickfornick.com.

Well, that's it for now.

Y'all take care.

-JGH

Outside of the Wire

2009-02-03T10:21:00.000-08:00

Two-hundred ninety days to go.

As usual, change is constant in the Army. So it comes as no surprise that my job has changed as well.

I will now function as the battalion S7. Just what is the "S7?" I'm glad you asked! The S7 is the information operations officer.

Just what does this "information operations officer" do exactly?

Well, THIS. I am the guy in charge of getting my commander's message out the the local populous here in Iraq, the families back at home and the greater viewing public of the good ole' U.S of A. As well, I coordinate any media visits into my battalion's area.

This isn't a position that I am unfamiliar with. In fact, I served in a similar capacity back in 1998 at the National Training Center with my old active duty unit, 1-67 Armor.

So, on my first day on the job as the S7, I accompanied my battalion leadership to a council meeting of the local sheiks in our area. I have to admit that I was a bit nervous about leaving the safety of the base. However, I rode in an MRAP and our convoy was VERY well armed. The MRAP was a fairly comfortable ride and I felt quite safe with it's armor protection and safety features.

The council meeting was a bit surreal. There were dozens of sheiks there in traditional headdresses. But after a few moments, I realized that they were functioning not unlike any city or county council back home in the US. In fact, I really became impressed with the political savvy of many of gentlemen in the room. Granted, Iraq has a LONG way to go with stopping corruption & violence and increasing civic governance. But, that's what we as citizen soldiers bring to the table. And let's be brutally honest, these are the same issues that we still deal with back in the US.

Overall, it was a good day.

Take care y'all!

-JGH

Sand, Dust & Good Chow

2009-01-25T04:47:00.000-08:00

Three-hundred days to go.

If I were to sum up Camp Buehring, Kuwait, it would be:

Sand.
Dust.
Good chow.

Camp Buehring has this incredible beach quality sand. When I was at the range last week, it was like being on the beach. Only, there was NO OCEAN! Anywhere.
The vastness of the open desert is truly a sight to behold. It's been years since I was at NTC (Ft. Irwin, CA). So, to see the open desert was incredible.

The dust comes with the Army. I imagine that anywhere the Army goes, the dust follows. Dust is a natural part of being in the Army. It begs to be asked. Which came first? The Army or the Dust?

Camp Buehring has one of the best chow halls that this soldier has ever had the pleasure of frequenting. I can only hope that the chow is this good when I go north into Iraq.

That actually brings up another point. Chow.

In the Army, everything revolves around chow.
We get up. Conduct personal hygiene. Eat Chow.

We train/conduct maintenance/attend a meeting. Then, we go to chow.

We train some more/conduct more maintenance/ attend another meeting. Then we go to chow.

We go to bed. The cycle begins again.

Oh well....
Time for chow.

-JGH

On the Ground

2009-01-19T04:04:00.000-08:00

Three-hundred six days to go.

I finally arrived on the ground here in Kuwait.
Almost three months to the day since I arrived at Fort Benning for my mobilization.

Wow.

Of course, this too is just a stopping point until we go north into Iraq. And of course, the situation is still quite dynamic.

Anyhow, I am safe and in good spirits.

Take care y'all!

-JGH

Back At It

2009-01-06T05:20:00.000-08:00

Three-hundred nineteen days to go.

Well, the Christmas & New Years' holidays are done. It is all over except for the bills.
I thoroughly enjoyed my brief time as a civilian again; yes, even the honey-do list. Allyson did an incredible job getting us moved from Virginia back to Texas, closing on the house and getting the whole ball of wax set up before I came home on leave and before our respective parents came for the holidays.

Right now, I'm at Fort Dix, NJ in my last phase of my unit's mobilization to Iraq. This is our last chance to conduct any refresher training and make up any shortages of equipment. The good thing about Ft. Dix is that we are living in warm, clean barracks with plenty of hot water!
(You see where my priorities are...)

Due to some staffing changes, my role in the battalion has changed as well. I will now be concentrating on future operations in the S3 Plans cell. I'm sure I'll still be covering down on my previous responsibilities as the S3 Air as well. It is going to be challenge, but my boss seems to have faith in my ability to get the job done.

As my departure date grows closer, people are increasing asking my if I'm ready, or if I am nervous.

The answer is YES!

I am nervous. Not because I'm going into a combat zone, but because I want to do a good job and I don't want to let my fellow soldiers down.

However, I also want to emphasize that I am ready. Mentally. Physically. Spiritually.
I've have the benefit to world class training as an officer in the US Army. I have studied the lessons-learned, good & bad, from other soldiers.

I still have my own opinions about the war, but my focus is on the mission & doing my job.

That's it for now. I'll try to do a better job of writing regularly.

Take care y'all!

-JGH

The Joy of Honey-Do

2008-12-27T06:17:00.000-08:00

Three-hundred twenty-nine days to go.

I am at home in Grand Prairie, TX for leave.
So far, I've installed three ceiling fans. I have two more ceiling fans and storage solution for the garage to install.

Oh the sweet monotony of real life!

I have until the 2nd of January to enjoy it. Then, it's back to the Army.

Take care y'all!

-JGH

2008-12-14T11:36:00.000-08:00

Three-hundred forty-two days to go.

The last of our military vehicles have left the FOB. I am officially bored.

Preparing for any big unit movement is so anti-climatic. If I could, I'd just go to sleep until the 22nd when I go on leave.

Oh! For those of you who haven't heard, I'll be on leave here in the states. I'm going to be leaving Ft. Polk on the evening of the 22nd headed for Dallas.

Since I have the time, I'll to answer all of the questions that folks have been emailing me since my mobilization. Here we go...

Where are you going?
- Iraq. Even if I knew for sure where exactly I was going, I couldn't tell y'all.

Where do you sleep?
- Here on FOB Anvil at Ft. Polk, I sleep in the staff officers' barracks. I have a cot and sleeping bag for a bed. It is totally open bay. So, there is no privacy. That sucks.

How is the food?
- My unit doesn't have any cooks, so our food is provided by government contractors. Even with that, they serve the same thing for breakfast everyday. Lunch is an MRE. Dinner is hit or miss. Yesterday we had baked chicken which was actually pretty good.

Where do you go to the... facilities?
- We have Porta-potties here on the FOB. Thankfully, the SST ($hit Sucking Truck) comes twice a day to clean them.

Do you have a gun? / What type?
- My assigned weapon is the M4 carbine. It's a shorter version of the old M-16 rifle. I'm also qualified on the M9 Pistol.

What do you do?
- I am the S3-Air for my battalion. My job consists of planning all of the air assets & enablers for my battalion. I am also responsible for de-conflicting airspace for the company & battalion level air assets. As well, I work with the higher headquarters to task air assets throughout the entire area of operations (AO). Essentially, my job is to know what is flying over my battalion's airspace at all times.

Can you take showers?
- Yes. We have portable shower facilities on the FOB. I get up about 4:30am every day so I can be sure to get hot water.

Are you still on tanks?
- No. Work in the battalion Tactical Operations Center (TOC). My battalion has MGS'. But, those aren't really tanks. MGS is really a heavy infantry support vehicle.

How are the soldiers?
- The soldiers here are a lot like the soldiers that I was with when I was on active duty. However, there is one major difference. Since I am assigned to an Army National Guard unit, the soldiers tend to be much older. In fact, it is not uncommon to see a specialist (E4) in his 30s or 40s! Other than that, soldiers are soldiers!

Well, that's all for now. Tomorrow, I'll be leaving FOB Anvil to go up to the main post barracks. I can't wait! Indoor toilets!

Woohoo!!

-JGH

2008-12-08T06:03:00.000-08:00

Three-hundred forty-eight days to go.

End Training rotation three. Change of mission.

Today ends my unit's mobilization readiness exercise (MRE) here Fort Polk. It was ten days of pure fun! (not)

The exercise is designed to replicate the types of engagements that we are likely to experience in Iraq. Having never been deployed to Iraq before, I'm not sure if this exercise is realistic or not. I can say, however, that it has certainly been an eye-opener. As is physics, every action performed has an opposite reaction. Many times, that reaction isn't good. For example, if you give seed to Shia farmers, the Sunni businessmen may take offense. Or, if you take down an AQI (Al-Queda in Iraq) cell in your area, the local imam may stand up a militia in it's place.

On an academic level, it's all quite intriguing. However, when you're the boots on the ground, it sucks.

But, I won't paint a picture that totally bad. In fact, part of my job is actually pretty fun. I am the HLZ (helicopter landing zone) Control Officer for my FOB (forward operating base). At on point last week, had two CH47 Chinooks & two UH60 Blackhawks on my HLZ. Good times!

Anyhow, I have to get ready for my AAR (After-action review). Don't you just love all of the TLA (three letter acronyms) that we use in the Army?

Take care!

-JGH

2008-11-26T12:22:00.000-08:00

Three-hundred sixty-two days to go. (I think....)

Damn... I missed posting on the one year left mark. I guess a couple of days of 24 hour operations will do that to ya!

Anyhow, for those that didn't hear, I'm now at Fort Polk, Louisiana. I have finally been assigned to a unit. I now belong to the 1st Battalion, 111th Infantry Regiment. They are from the Pennsylvania National Guard. They hold a few very cool distinctions. First, they were formed by Benjamin Franklin as the "Associators of Foot." It seems that the local govenerning body back then wouldn't allow a milita to be formed. So, they formed an "association."

Also, they belong to the only National Guard Stryker Brigade.

I'll do a post on that later.

For now, it's back to work.

Take care!

-JGH

2008-11-14T15:12:00.000-08:00

Three-hundred seventy-four days to go.

I'll make this a quick post since I don't have much time to use the computers here in dayroom at Camp Shelby.

1. I have received all of my "go-to-war" gear. Suffuce to say that it could comfortably fill at least three whole duffel bags.
2. The nice southern ladies here at the Camp Shelby chow hall can cook!
3. I got four more vaccinations today, to include my 4th Anthrax shot. I won't say how many shots are in the complete series. But, I will say that I'm not done yet!
4. Camp Shelby is considerably warmer than Ft. Knox (in other words, I need a shower BAD!).
5. My body armor is heavy. I mean REALLY heavy. I mean OBSCENELY heavy.
6. I saw a bunch of cool new Army vehicles.
7. I didn't get to play with any of them.
8. I'm tired of Army powerpoint classes (blah... blah... zzzzzzzzzzz)
9. I am happy to have a few minutes of computer time.
10. I leave for Fort Polk, LA on Sunday for more training.

Take care!

-JGH

2008-11-12T19:41:00.001-08:00

Three-hundred seventy-six days to go.

End Training rotation two. Change of Mission.

Well folks, it is official. As of today, I am no longer going to the Afghan theater of operations. I am now headed to Iraq.

I am not really sure how I feel about this. Most of you know how I feel about the war in Iraq. Yet, as a commissioned officer, I will do nothing less than fulfill my duty to the absolute best of my ability. It's strange, but in my little slice of reality, the historic events of last week seem almost muted. My focus is almost 100% on preparing for the mission at hand.

Anyhow, I need to finish up packing my duffel bag for my trip to Camp Shelby, MS. I will be there to complete some tactical training and to get my "go-to-war" gear issued to me. It will actually be interesting to see how much the equipment has changed (or stayed the same) in the last eight years.

Otherwise, my physical, mental & spiritual health is great. I've met some fellow IRR officers who are in the boat as I am. They're all really great guys. We have a lot of laughs "lamenting" our collective situation.

This may be my last post for a while. I'm not sure if Shelby will have the same level of internet connectivity.

Take care y'all!

-JGH

2008-11-07T13:43:00.000-08:00

Three-hundred eighty-one days to go.

Wow. What a difference one week makes.

This week has certainly been a roller-coaster ride! History was made this week when Barak Obama was elected as president of the United States of America. I feel incredibly proud to have witnessed this event in my lifetime. Hopefully, President-elect Obama and his cabinet can make good on their message of CHANGE!

As for me, I am still at Ft. Knox. Today completes the first week of the Maneuver Officer's Refresher course. I have been impressed and amazed with the quantity & quality of information that our instructor has provided to us. I have had reading assignments every night. My knowledge of the middle east, it's people, customs and faith has increased by 1000%. But, I have no misconceptions that I have BARELY scratched the surface of this tormented region and it's people.

This week has also brought more information about my possible assignment when I finally do deploy. Let's just say that I won't be headed to Afghanistan.

More news soon...

-JGH

2008-10-31T17:01:00.000-07:00

Three-hundred eighty-eight days to go.

End Training rotation one. Change of Mission.

Today I got orders to report to the Maneuver Officers' Refresher Course at Fort Knox, Kentucky.
I'm actually pretty content with this new assignment, if only to get out of the crappy barracks here at D Company, CRC. D Company (Delta Co.) is the only CRC training unit for IRR & retirees that have been mobilized. We are generally sent as individuals in the Iraq or Afghanistan theaters as reinforcements or augmentees. My class is a bit different because all of the officers here are eventually going to be headed to the same headquarters in Afghanistan.

Anyhow, it seems as if I'll have a few more weeks of training to do at Fort Knox before I get to my unit. Hopefully, I'll meet up with them before they deploy to Afghanistan.

-JGH

2008-10-27T15:59:00.000-07:00

Three-hundred ninety-two days to go.

Today was my first day (ever) in ACU's. I don't know why this is a big deal to me. Perhaps, it's because when I took off my BDUs back in August of 2000, I never imagined that I would be here under these circumstances. Anyhow, being back in uniform felt a bit strange at first. It was almost like I was impersonating an Army officer. But, after a few minutes, I began to feel at ease. Natural.

I still wonder how I'll measure up when the rubber meets the road. But for now, I am comfortable in the (ACU) skin I'm in.

-JGH

2008-10-26T15:22:00.000-07:00

Three-hundred ninety-three days to go.

I've been here at the CONUS Replacement Center (CRC) for a week now. Over the past week, I've been through the Army's version of summer camp. I feel like I'm not quite a civilian anymore, nor am I fully yet an active duty officer.

Tomorrow morning will be the first day of physical training (PT). I am actually looking forward to it.

-JGH