2007-03-19T04:00:00Z tag:blog.washingtonpost.com,2007:/reportingforduty//91 Copyright (c) 2007, WashingtonPost.Newsweek Interactive 2007-03-19T04:00:00Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2007-02-23:/reportingforduty/2007/02/home.html

We woke at 03:45 to prepare to leave Ft. Dix, NJ -- FINALLY. Though there was a winter storm the night before, we rose out of bed, turned in bed linens, received our DD 214's, and cleaned the barracks, determined to go home....Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

2007-03-15T04:00:00Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2007-02-20:/reportingforduty/2007/02/just_let_us_out.html

Our stay at Ft. Dix began with the reminder we were still to abide by the first general order -- specifically no alcohol. Even the leadership yearned to let their hair down, as evidenced by its reluctant reminder for compliance. From the beginning the commander worked the issue and brokered a deal allowing us to drink three beers per night at the installation club. The club welcomed the deal as it too suffered under the...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

2007-03-12T04:00:00Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2007-02-16:/reportingforduty/2007/02/on_us_soil_1.html

Our flight to the US arrived at McGuire AFB, around 05:00, temperatures in the teens, Fahrenheit, and snow was falling. Once in the United States and on the ground I imagined there would be a great relief, but getting off the plane and boarding the buses did not evoke any such feelings or emotions. We were back, but no where near home yet -- we had 10 days worth of demobilization yet to endure....Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

2007-03-12T04:00:00Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2007-02-15:/reportingforduty/2007/02/decomposing_in_kuwait_1.html

Camp Virginia, Kuwait is where we spent about nine or ten days just relaxing. The flight companies flew the aircraft down to port and waited for a ride to the United States. All of us had plenty of time to decompress, with a schedule that did not have any formal events on it. We went from a million and one things to do, to nothing to do at all -- quite a shock which left...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

2007-03-06T04:00:00Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2007-02-12:/reportingforduty/2007/02/out_of_iraq.html

With nothing left to do but get to work by 4 am, review our plan out of Iraq one more time, and suit up, we were on our way. All aircrews broke out of the update briefing for their respective aircraft, like a football team breaking from a huddle. The air was crisp during the cold morning, about four degrees Celsius. I walked around my aircraft one more time, inspecting it for any open latches...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

2007-03-06T04:00:00Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2007-02-09:/reportingforduty/2007/02/transitions.html

Lacking necessary experience and training for a tour in Iraq, many pilots and crew chiefs of A 2-224th AVN, came here greener than the spring grass we left behind in the US, one year ago. Only time and events cured our novice ineptitude. The experienced staff wanted to test the freshly molded, challenging us to plan, present, and execute the trip from Iraq to Kuwait....Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

2007-03-06T04:00:00Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2007-02-05:/reportingforduty/2007/02/it_wasnt_us.html

Through our intelligence channels, we received news of the US Army Black Hawk helicopter crash minutes after it happened, on January 20, 2007. Not much was known about the incident except it was not ours. All Punisher (our call sign) aircraft were safely accounted for and we would be going home soon, if only we could make it out of here without any casualties. Our missions continued at the regular fly, eat, sleep pace maintained...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

2007-03-06T04:00:00Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2007-01-31:/reportingforduty/2007/01/busy_as_hell_trying_to_get_out.html

Over the last couple of weeks we've engaged in our normal mission along with preparing for our departure. As the unit movement officer I've been swamped with work, trying to motivate people to pack as much stuff as they can, as early as possible. Some were legitimately concerned of the possibility of our unit getting extended based on the president's troop increase plan, reluctant to pack until it is certain we will be going home...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

2007-02-08T04:00:00Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2007-01-16:/reportingforduty/2007/01/anxiously_looking_home.html

2007 came without our even noticing, as we still fly, eat, sleep and repeat. A few changes have started to show in our routine; mainly the discussions of what we need to pack, when. Most of us are packed up and more than ready for 2007 to take us home, until we read the newspapers and see the hype of expanding the troop levels in this conflict. We are all anxious in one way or...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

2007-01-22T04:00:00Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2006-12-29:/reportingforduty/2006/12/christmas_raises_spirits_at_tq.html

Weary of Christmas woes, mostly a result of being away from family, I woke for an early Christmas dinner, expecting to be part of a few close knit people in the unit who agreed to eat dinner together. To my surprise when I emerged from the concrete castle-like fortress, known as home, I found almost all of the assigned unit assembled. Only a handful of were not in attendance, creating a scene as our herd...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

2007-01-22T04:00:00Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2006-12-14:/reportingforduty/2006/12/marine_corps_birthday_2_beers.html

(written while observing the 'cease' order) Due to my unit's schedule, we were unable to take advantage of the Marine Corps 231st Birthday, two-beer celebration until we had a down day, about a week and a half later. It happened to fall at the beginning of the end, as we were organizing our personal gear for shipment home. The two events could not have been better timed. We spent two hours packing up before drinking...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

2007-01-04T04:00:00Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2006-12-10:/reportingforduty/2006/12/celebrating_the_marine_corps_b.html

(written while observing the 'cease' order) On November 10, the U.S. Marine Corps celebrated its 231st birthday. Since we work directly with Marines, we were included in the celebration, which included ceremonies and even an Iraq version of the Marine Corps Marathon, held at Al Asad. Additionally, the Marine Corps allowed two beers for each member in the command, but as an aviation unit we had to defer the beer until a later date (more...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

2007-01-04T04:00:00Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2006-12-08:/reportingforduty/2006/12/leave_rotations_end.html

Most in the unit have returned to Iraq after their two-week leave, a hiatus granted to each soldier, spread out over the year to maximize productivity. Some chose to go home to family, while others vacationed in foreign countries. All agreed that the leave provided a needed break from the conditions here in Iraq. Most also thought they were the shortest two weeks of this deployment -- they wished their lives away in anticipation of...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

2007-01-04T04:00:00Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2006-12-04:/reportingforduty/2006/12/thanksgiving_deployed.html

On the eve of Thanksgiving, some of us decided we should gather together for dinner. Normally, we eat in day and night shifts, but we wanted to try to combine both for the holiday. Getting everyone to feast on turkey with stuffing at the same hour was virtually impossible, but we set a time anyway -- 14:15 -- recognizing that some would still have to work. It would be a late meal for the day...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

2006-12-21T04:00:00Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2006-11-20:/reportingforduty/2006/11/im_back.html

It's been a month since I last published, and I can now explain my online absence. Briefly, I was following an order to cease blogging -- an order that is no longer in effect. To my command, thank you for your time and your backing for reinstating this blog. I assure you that it is not remotely similar to the blogs coming from theater that use minimal, if any, judgment in respecting the demands of...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.