Entry #5: August 27, 2005

Hohenfels, Germany (somewhere near the Czech Republic border)

CMTC (Combat Maneuvers Training Center) Rotation

To begin with, it’s a little hard to comprehend that a week has gone by since the last entry. There’s been so much activity and stuff to do around here. If this week is any indication of things to come, Iraq will feel like I’ve only been gone a month (though I hear otherwise from everyone). So the rumors about when we deploying are still circulating, but this time they are not without credibility. We have to have all our mission essential gear, equipment, and vehicles at the port on October 18 to be shipped to Kuwait. It looks like after all those crazy tales about leaving as early as mid-September or as late as February seem ridiculous since we will be leaving exactly when we first thought we would—mid to late November.

Whew, now that the big news is out of the way I can tell y’all what’s been going on here a little. There’s been a lot of action. The other night I left the TOC (Tactical Operations Center—better known as headquarters) at around 2230, which is earlier than usual (that’s 10:30 pm Mom). It was a good thing too, because the bad guys snuck in somehow, and drove a VBIED right up to the TOC at around 2300 (11:00 pm Mom). All the casualties are simulated, of course, and we later found out the bad guys got in through an entrance that was supposedly off-limits. The lesson in that is, there is no off-limits in the Sandbox, so prepare now. My platoon is doing a good job, but we’re constantly being harassed by the S-2, whom I don’t think quite understands our job. He’s not happy if I’m not hovering directly behind my Soldiers, watching their every move. It’s almost as if he thinks they’re 2 year olds playing with a toy intended for ages 3 and up. So the gist of it is, he’s looking over my shoulder making sure I’m looking over their shoulder. My approach is, show up often, but let them do their job and ask for updates and progress, and when needed, give them guidance, advice, and make the tough calls.

I was talking to our company training Sergeant, who is from Minnesota and likes to give me a hard time about being from Georgia (how much fun is ice fishing anyways?), about the proper name for a carbonated beverage. I politely replied that it is not pop, but rather, Coke. And then if you do not want Classic, you ask for Sprite, Minute-Maid, or other Coca-Cola product, but you do not, ever, not below the Mason-Dixon, ask for Pepsi, a.k.a. the devil’s (Yankee’s) brew. Also, I found Larry the Cable Guys website. It contained a feature entitled The Redneck Quiz. I challenged my fellow LT buddy, Shawn Fitzgerald (who is from right outside New York City, somewhere near Yonkers. Who the heck names a place Yonkers?) Needless to say I beat him 46 to 13. It was much like the same score if the NY Giants were to play the Atlanta Falcons.

Well, it’s dark here, daybreak comes early, and the enemy doesn’t wait. As I tell my Soldiers when I leave work… I’m out like a fat kid in dodgeball. So the Soldier’s life continues…