Entry # 64: July 27, 2006

Camp Slayer, Baghdad, Iraq

Think of me as a bird dog. A bird dog makes an average house pet or yard dog. However, once he gets out on the hunt and is hot on the trail of a covey of quail and gets on point, it is a beautiful sight to behold. Same as it is with me in garrison and war environments. I find some of the events of garrison such as formations and endless slideshows on medical stats and the number of paper clips we have on hand as mundane and dull. Once, I get out in the field and start doing what I was trained to do is when my true colors come out.

My first sergeant and I were talking earlier this evening and he asked me what had changed in my demeanor. He noticed an extra bounce in my step, an elevated level of energy flowing from my actions. I told him it was because there was now purpose to what I was doing. It is the same reason why I always loved soccer more than cross-country and track. Soccer was running with a purpose. There was more to it than simply finishing a race.

A lot of my fellow Soldiers and officer brethren are wondering why I am so excited to be in Baghdad, an apparent cesspool of humanity and violence. I tell them this was the reason I joined. The Army to me is not Monday morning motorpool formations or Wednesday afternoon readiness briefings. Although necessary, they are not what the Army is about. I didn’t join to maintain inventory on paper clips and computers or to spend my days repairing Humvees. It is part of the job, but not the job. Now I get to perform the job and for that reason, I am happy to be here.

The functions of my job entail me having to work separate and away from the brigade and the rest of my company. I will be operating from a home base approximately a 30-45 minute drive away. Although I will be working autonomously, there comes a large degree of responsibility. I have trained my platoon for close to 20 months and now our moment has arrived. I am certain my guys will do a great job. They have my confidence. So folks, grab a tub of buttered popcorn and a 60 ounce cup of Coke. The matinee is about to begin. And so the Soldier’s life continues…