Time in Iraq

I arrived in Iraq on March 31, 2010 and it is currently October 16, 2010. So far this trip has taken me through so much turmoil. When we first arrived my team and I were preparing for our missions and getting our equipment ready. Two weeks later we were told that our mission was scratched and we would be given the option to go home early. For a good two months we sat around doing nothing and I seriously considered taking that early flight home. Instead of opting out though I decided to find a unit that was here to work with until our time in Iraq was up. This decision was both good and bad in some ways. It was good because I was able to obtain a new rating for my Air Traffic Control job and it gave me leadership time as well. The bad comes into play when the unit I worked for started to go belly-up with problems. I say unit but it really was a certain aspect of the unit. There were people causing so much chaos that it was causing the rest of the facility to get all bent out of shape. I've been working here at Baghdad Radio now since July and will be leaving their presence in approximately 15 days. I'm excited and sad all balled up in one little person. I'll miss some of the people I've come to know here. They have left a lasting impression on me and I will never forget them. However, the excitement to go home is overpowering my sadness for leaving them. My unit tells me we'll be home before Christmas and that makes me extremely happy. Christmas is one of my favorite holidays of the year. I'm missing Thanksgiving this year (my second favorite) but I hope that the dining facilities are able to provide a good holiday meal for us. I guess I'll find out when that day arrives.

So far I've taken many online courses in an attempt to get my General Education Requirements fulfilled. I took History 2 and Chemistry + Lab and completed them. I'm currently taking Intro to Anthropology, Training & Conditioning and Trigonometry. My Trig class will last until January but my other two are about to be over at the end of this month. In the beginning of November I'll start my final class in Celtic Christianity which should end in December before I get home. Upon returning to the states I'm hoping to attend Louisiana Tech University to major in Photography and Journalism. We'll see how that goes.. I change my mind a lot.

Day 1- Departure ceremony

Had a rough night of sleep last night.. Tossed and turned for a bit and 0500 Am came wayyy to fast for me. Tried to delay it but couldn't. Was almost late to my formation due to changing circumstances but fortunately made it in the nick of time. After our talk from the first sergeant we headed over to the civic center and I proceeded by waiting for my parents and sisters to get there. I swear I was like a 5 year old on christmas eve.... excited and impatient in one little ball. Trying to fight to save seats was an interesting ordeal though. 131 soldiers approximately and the place the ceremony was held would have fit the soldiers and maybe half of their families. Everyone had their families and more it seemed. However, I was able to hold down the fort and kept the seats. Finally, the ceremony started and I proceeded to try to stay awake. Stood up for the national anthem and the soldiers creed AND the fight song (retarded). The end. We went to the drill hall for lunch and my family scooted on out and back to the house. Low and behold, I realize that I'm missing my sleep system....GREAT that thing costs an arm and a leg. Now I have to pay for a new one. I bet as soon as the issue me a new one my mom will find my old one. I have that kind of luck. It will randomly show up somewhere and OHH hey I found it. After they left it was kinda drab. Boring but not. Talked to random people at the unit and laughed a bunch. Should be interesting going over with these guys. They are genuinely nice guys and fun to be around. We waited around the drill hall after cleaning up just for chow to get there....I didn't eat any at all...eww. Me and some buddies went eat sushi and hibachi (free for me yay) and came back to the hotel. I'm about to pass out so I'm gonna call it a night. Yay for tomorrow. Don't know exactly what it will hold.

Day before the ceremony...

Well today went by extremely quick. For all the days to go by quick the one I wanted to last is the one that flew by.. how great. I need to pack up my crap and shove it in my car but don't feel like doing that at all right now.. I just want to sit and be lazy. The last time I can be lazy for quite a while. I have random things I need to grab from around the house still. I really don't want to say goodbye to my dog... that is like the finalizing touch to the situation. It's gonna suck. I sort of feel like running away into the woods somewhere and not returning but thats foolishness. Alas, here I sit getting my finances in order and closing what needs closing. Sounds rather boring if you ask me but it needs to be done. Hooray. Three days til we head out to Camp Shelby, Mississippi and I'm not to excited.. I'm more excited to leave for Iraq than Shelby but I'm going to make it worth the trip if I can. I have a feeling I'm going to freeze my little white butt straight off my backside (not that I have much to freeze off but still). I hope they issue me what I need for cold weather like on the first day. That and RAIN GEAR lol. Time to pack.... I guess or more like put it where it needs too go. Yayyy.. Not really.