Well, it's been about a week and a half since I arrived and I've finally been able to get into a rhythm. My accomodations are excellent by Army standards. Of course, being on a post that was built by the government of Kuwait for the US doesn't hurt at all - they certainly wanted to put forth a quality effort and it shows.
My job consists of helping coordinate the airlift over the entire Central Command area of operations. Most people would think that's only Iraq, but it includes Afghanistan, Pakistan, Uzbekastan, all the countries surrounding the Persian Gulf, Saudi Arabia and the countries in the Horn of Africa. I'm still trying to get all of the players lined up so I can understand the relationships they have to one another.
I'm sure some of you are wondering what an Army guy is doing coordinating air lift. Well, Centcom is a Joint Command which means all of the services work together under one commander. In my workgroup, it is headed by an Air Force Colonel with an Army Lieutenant Colonel and a Navy Commander as next in command.
Speaking of rank, there certainly is enough rank to go around here. I've never seen so many colonel's and Navy Captain's in one place before. My arm gets tired saluting so much when I'm outside!
The weather, right now, is absolutely wonderful. It is around 70 degrees during the day with bright blue skies and a very pleasant breeze. The nights get almost chilly (in the 40s). The breeze is almost constant here. We even had some rain the other day. Of course, I better enjoy this now because it's going to warm up in a couple of months and the temps will be hitting 120+ in the shade.
I am hoping to get into Kuwait City as soon as I can. It will be nice to see some of the local population. All the foriegn nationals I've met on the base are extremely nice and pleasant. Even though I had read that there are a lot of people working here other than Kuwaiti's, it's still a bit odd to hear Asians speaking Arabic.
The morale of the troops here is very good - as is the professionalism. Everyone should be pleased with the effort that is being put out here and all over through the area. I certainly have been impressed.
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Comments: 31
Glad to hear the weather has been good and you are situated to some extent as far as accomodations and get familiarized with the people involved in your workgroup. Could imagine your arm must get pretty tired saluting to everyone.
Keep us updated on your tour of duty! Our thoughts and prayers are with you and the troops that remain safe and return home safely. Take care and God bless!
Thanks for the update, and good luck over there. Kuwait City is a fantastic place. I loved it when I was there last time - in November. One thing I always enjoyed was watching so many Bangladeshi drivers taking rich Kuwaiti women to the big shopping malls. Then they sit for hours, waiting for them. Cost seemed not to be a consideration. These guys love standing around outside, making money doing nothing..........but they do love to jabber.....lol.
: )
Thank You.....
Thanks for this post; I'm glad you're getting settled in and your conditions are good. I look forward to reading your articles.
Happy Valentine's Day!
-Mark
seriously, I have been worried becouse I had not heard from you in a while... Glad to know your safe, and that the troops have you t5o back them up...lol I um Mean lead them.
Love you Sir, God Bless,
Emmett
Could you give some idea of Kuwaiti daily life?
(wife is from Uzbekistan and it's even stranger, it seems to me, to hear Asians speaking Russian but it seems central asian languages all have an arabic component)
Glad your new post is amenable. Hope your tour of duty is a safe and prosperous one (I am sure it will be the latter from an experience standpoint alone).
God bless,
Mentor55
a military mom
By the way, I recall there being more rank overseas when I was in as well, ha ha.
Take care.
Great post! Thank you for your service to our country and it is great to hear that morale is high!
In Loving Memory of Kevin Ryan Shields
One of Kevin's children will never know his (or her) father.
Good luck, Dale. God be with you and all our bros and sisters, who are putting their lives on the line for us... whether the libs think so or not. Ought to be an enteresting next few years here.... and over there... with the stupid elections and even stupider politicians, parading their stupidity and arrogance.