Electronic Gremlin

Since i have been back from leave everything that i have touched or been around that is electronic has died or come to life. Once i got back from leave i started to have problems with my laptop. At first it was the USB devices were not working and then the started to work again. Soon after that the my computer would only come on when it wanted to. I though that the computer was on its last leg, so i decided to backup all the data. I was right no less then two days later my laptop died. I had to call Toshiba and send it back to the states (which took 45 minutes on the phone and a 18 day travel time to get back).

That was only the start in less then 4 days everything started dying. Both of my external hard drives died and when i say died i mean worked one minute then starting ticking the next (not a good sound). We have computers in our vehicles which are one of the many forms of communication. The FBCB2 in my Vehicle was fried by the Como SGT while performing an upgrade. The Siren box that i used to help move traffic out of the way started to work when it wanted to. Sometimes it worked and other times it sounded like a screaming sheep (not a pleasant sound). Two weeks later i found out the problem was from a bad ground. On our way back from a mission my Go-Lights which i use to search the area around us started to become posted and started to turn on and off and move on there own also. Two days later my radios died and i was not able to transmit. ( Not a good thing in a combat zone). In all the gremlins lasted about three weeks, most of the problems were due to grounds or electronic devices failing. But it was still a long three weeks.

Muddy Mess Part 2

So its been raining on and off here again for the last few day and this shit sucks ass. I mean i it sucks. We had a mission to another FOB the other night and it started raining on the way there. It wasn't that bad at first then the rain started to come down like crazy. When we were tracking through the check points the truck was starting to slide sideways a little. The only good thing is that I'm in one of the better if not best off road vehicle that we have. So after playing the slip and slide a few times we made it to the FOB. Once in the gate they asked us to part the vehicles on the side of the road. The mine roller that was in front of me turned off of the road and started to slide off into a ditch. Soon after it did. Once in the ditch the truck moved back and forth like a fish out of water trying to get out of its trap. Finally after a few minutes of moving back and forth the truck managed to break free of its muddy trap. The rain continued most of the next day which made the ride back just as fun as the ride there.

Home

So they put out the information the other day that we should be back in the states and in our homes by mid May. That was the best news that i have been given since we got here. Ever though we are stating to gear down and get ready to go home the next 10 weeks here will be the hardest and most dangerous. Te first two months and the last two are normally the hardest.

We still have a few months to go and since i am one of the lead instructor. My crew and i will be on the road until the last mission. Which sucks, but what ever it takes to get out of here. Soon i will start trying to make the plans for when i get home and back to work (something i'm looking forward to). I'm sure Sarah Adam or Rick will plan a party somewhere for the big homecoming. Please guys limit the amount of drinks its been a long time.

Muddy Mess

So we all though that the rainy season had missed us. Well that was a stupid thought. Today it rained i mean rained for the first time since i have been here and it sucks. Its been raining for almost two days and the ground is like a swamp. There is mud everywhere and it just sucks. Its like walking in mud, but not the normal mud. This stuff is slippery and it sticks to everything and everything sticks to it. I mean you walk through the mud then step on some rocks and now you have a ton of rocks stuck to the bottom of your feet. It just sucks so bad. The mud also gets on and all over everything. Ok enough of that. I do have to say it would be a red necks dream to be here during the rainy season.