We found out yesterday that our unit back in Milwaukee was also tasked for AEF cycle 9/10 (I’m on AEF 7/8 right now)… anyways, there are approx 40 deployable people back in the unit and 80 people in the desert or getting ready to leave Charleston…. Thus meaning many of the people that are deployed now may have to stay for the 9/10 rotation. I’m not sure about the numbers; however, I’ve been hearing 50-60. Our troop commander has yet to call us all together for a meeting to figure out the 9/10 situation. Now I’m not sure if this rotation does require a stint overseas. Details are quite sketchy right now. If we could make the decision now on volunteering for 9/10 or for an 4 month extension in Qatar, I'd say yes. However, that is today's decision, I'm not sure of that likelihood come December. When our time comes to an end around January, I'm sure we'll get the chance to extend for a 4 month period.
I am comfortable with my job and its a different job than I'm actually trained for. In my career field, I hardly get anything outside of the Aerial Port... this one is outside of the port. As a skill level that I'm at now, getting outside of the port is extremely rare... I guess I slipped through the cracks. Ironically, I still deal with passengers. My captain put it perfectly... "not many 2T2's get the opportunity to do a job that they are not tasked for, yet still in the confines of Passenger Services." 2T2 is the Aerial Port. I'm actually in the Logistics Readiness Squadon (not the Aerial Port). I deal with passengers that either are coming back from Iraq/Afghanistan or heading to Iraq/Afghanistan. We have to process them differently than the other passengers that stay here at Al Udeid. If we have a big rotator come through, I'll usually head out to the flightline to pick up the transient passengers (pax going on) and bring them back to the Reception Center (RCC) where I work so we can process them. Then we'll send them outside to get their baggage... Rotators, you'll find me throwing bags... that's what I'm actually trained to do... I don't mind the grunt work. I'm working with several officers and enlisted personnel, therefore, I get to learn the ropes of both positions. I am currently enlisted trying to work for an officer position down the road.
The weather is starting to cool down… oven isn’t at 400* anymore… it’s down to 350*. The dew point is consistently around 70* meaning heat index around 115-120*. Thankfully, temperatures are slowly creeping towards the century mark… its taking a while. We do have some days were the temperature spikes again… that happens usually once a week. On those days, we are required water breaks every 5-10 minutes. In that instance, water bottles are required to be in our pants cargo pockets. I usually try to keep 1-2 bottles in my cargo pocket. Wherever you look, water is sitting out waiting a home in the fridge. Believe me, cold water feels good when your storing it in the cargo pocket or shoving it down your throat. I've had to deal with a couple of people with dehydration... that's not fun. I, myself, haven't been to that extreme, thank goodness. When people are dehydrated... we have to shove 2 bottles of water and 1 gatorade down their throats in 30 minutes and then make them sit inside the A/C for approx an hour. In worse case scenarios, the medics are called.
A couple of days ago, we had a nice sandstorm… oh yea, that was fun. Sand in your eyes, all over your face… it seemed like we were playing in the sand ‘no pun intended’. That particular day, we also had a wind advisory. It didn’t help that we have wind advisories every couple of days… winds advisories kick in around 40 knots, many days the winds are well over 50 knots. You literally get blown over.
Food is ok, nothing to special… I usually eat salads because everything else has an extremely high calorie count (300-400 count per serving). Chicken and Rice are served pretty much every single day… we joke around here for the chow menu…. ‘hey, what’s for chow’ same ole, same ole… chicken and rice. The burgers don’t moo! If someone wants a camel hump… that’s a burger (our joke). I need the moo for a real burger!
September rotation season is starting to slow down… we have only 3 planes coming in with people and about a dozen leaving by the end of the month. After that, the rotation season starts up again in middle December and goes to end of January.
I’m working 7 days/week 12 hours (9am-9pm)… oh yea…. Mighty crazy, there are some nights I get back and my bed looks mighty comfortable. Hopefully, we’ll get some days off starting in October.
We do have internet in the room; however, I’m on a computer all day at work, so I use the internet sparingly back in the dorms. Our dorm rooms are extremely small... 2 people, 2 beds, 2 lockers, 1 fridge... that's it... not that much room to move around. My roommate and I have been talking about bunking the beds... more space! My roommate is one of my Milwaukee people... we get along very well. Her and I have almost the same personality. We have to walk to the cadillacs (latrines), walk to chow, walk basically everywhere else. We drive back/forth to work, however that's about it... we walk throughout Coalition Compound (where the billeting is). Coalition Compound has a majority of things we have a home... pool, gym, bar (3 beers a day limit), learning center, coffee shops, fast food and the BX (wal-mart type store). Yes, there are Aussies and Brits all over the base... those guys are pretty cool. I've ran into them several times.
We do have a pool here; however, it is too warm for lap swim… I’d say right around 86-88*. They warm the pool at night and then cool it during the day. I’ve swam once since I’ve been here… I set my alarm to get up for swimming; however, that doesn’t always happen.
My allergies have been acting up everyday since I’ve been here…. It’s the dust blowing around… I’m inside a tent with A/C and we have several fans blowing the air around… yea, that kicks up dust.
Sunrises around 530am… goes down around 545pm… and then it gets dark. Base Commander has made reflective belts mandatory during hours of darkness and during bad weather.
When the sun comes up… wow is it bright… you will damage your eyes without sunglasses!! I do have my contacts, surprisingly, I haven't had a problem yet. I only need my glasses for the computer or reading, so thankfully, I can wear my sunglasses outside without a problem.
I suppose…. enjoy your Monday… mine’s almost over!
Shannon
