Well, on the 20th DATD was repealed. It was a lot of anticipation for nothing. There was no gay troops running around base with rainbow flags or anything crazy. It was just a normal day as it should have been. Some people were talking..., but just gossip sort of stuff. The war is still going on. No changes to report so that's good. I'm proud to serve with anyone who signs on the same dotted line that I signed. Black, brown, yellow, white, fat, skinny, gay, straight, Christian, Jewish or Muslim.... I don't care. We all catch bullets the same way. I was raised better than to treat people who are different than me different than I would treat anyone else. Brothers in arms.
I also flew my 100th combat sortie this week. I flew it with my commander. Which is scary all in itself but I was up for it! Good times!
My crew and I before a mission
And, this week I've had some really good flights! Good as then I've been flying the exact missions that this plane is meant for and I've been trained for. We say that we do three things here on the MC-12.... FIND-FIX-FINISH. And this week I did all three a few times. It feel good to brief a mission, execute it just as its drawn up, and land back at base an accomplished man! Good times!
Jet noise in the morning......
My commander also gave me some news about going home.....kinda. He basically told me it'll be sometime in November. Haha. That's about it. We're expecting 7 new pilots to get here in October. That'll bring me to P-7 by 31 Oct. Then there is supposed to be 25 pilots getting here in November..... So, basically once the seventh one gets here they I'm free to leave.
As of today my tracker agrees and says that's I'll become P-0 on 12 November and be heading home soon after...!!! Maybe so....I tell you what though....my completely made up tracker/guesser is working well (I think).
My buddy Vipul is on the far left
And the insanity begins.......!
Future throw up
Ready..........Ready.............Hack!
My buddy Vipul was involved in a crossfit competition this week and he asked me to tag along to take video and cheer him on. Crossfit is a phenomenon that has swept the country planet. Its where you basically use your own body weight to exercise with most of the time. And the other time use crude weights (tires, boxes) to do other stuff. And you work out really hard and really fast. I've never done it yet. But A LOT of people in the military are into it.
Anyway, this week my buddy Vipul decided to do a sponsored crossfit competition. The contest was do a series of crossfit exercises and eat four donuts. Do more exercises, then eat more donuts. Then even more exercises.... then eat four more donuts! haha. And the first one finished wins, or loses depending on how you see it. The competition was so funny! I saw a lot of throw up. Vipul stopped at 8 1/2 donuts. He was about to puke. Good times. Good memories.
Oh...., I got a package from my mom and one from my Aunt Cathy. Thanks yall! I kept some and shared the rest. It was all good stuff!
Kristen put blush on Dallas this week......Oh geeez
Kristen has been staying VERY busy back at home with work.....damn girl slow down! Haha. I miss you and I love you baby!
My cousins supporting me with their own mustaches..... Haha!
Picture taken from my 'secret' cigar smoke spot during sunset
My mind is in a lot better place this week. Last week was a little bad. Just frustrating. I felt like I was giving my 100% and wasn't getting recognized while everyone else was giving 75%... I haven't been recognized yet (I want a monthly award before I leave here)... But I think I'll just deal with it for now. It's not as an important time in my career to be recognized. And some people really NEED the recognition to get a promotion or job assignment coming up. And I don't. I'm just a young Lieutenant and don't have to worry about that kind of stuff yet.... thankfully. Bottom line.... I'm all good.
I put all of my cards under the top bunk of my bed. I have a TON of cards!! I'll run out of room soon!!
I got a package from Mr. Dennis this week. It was Julio's chips and salsa! Haha. I haven't eaten any of it yet. But the next time that I go schedule (my desk job) I'll take it up there with me. I'm so lucky to have a great family that sends me cards and care packages. I think I get the most..., or at least top three in the squadron. And in a squadron of 200 that's saying a lot! I'm loved!
UXO.... right next to the showers!!!
One day this week after walking to dinner with my crew we were quickly stopped by MP's (Military Police) who shouted at us to 'STOP" and "GO AROUND", as we just walked in our camps gate. We were totally confused at the time. But soon got the scoop. While digging a new trench, about 1 1/2' down the TCN's (Third County Nationals..., who do most of the work here) found a UXO (Unexploded Ordinance)!!! haha. No shit! I've walked right over it many times...., as have countless others in the past 10 or so years. See, the Soviets left here in the 80's. And as they were leaving they left a nice present of over 1.5 million land mines. All different types too! They left unexploded bombs, mortars, pressure plates etc.... Our base hospital helps out more locals than military. Crazy huh? It's mostly kids that set them off while playing..., which is sad. So there's a bunch of them that we end up finding all the time here on base. Scary but kinda cool at the same time.
Riding the "nice" bus
I hitchhiked a ride on a bus from another squadron this week. It was so nice! I wish we had something like this!!! Of course..., it was a guard bus. Meaning, it was owned by the National Guard..., not active duty. They always get nice things. I can't wait to go guard once my 10 year commitment is up!!! They have it made!
Look at that landing... don't let 'em spill the coffee in the back.
I've flown 443.7 hours on 93 sorties since I've been deployed. And 11 of those have been in the past 11 days!!! Yeah, I flew the past 11 straight days. Usually you get a day off at day 5, 6 or maybe 7. But we're a little short on pilots right now so we've been going 8 or nine lately. But after my 9th, someone got sick and I was put in to replace them. Then the very next day the commander fell out of his flight due to a meeting and I was asked to fill in for him. So that's how I ended up flying 11 in a row. In every other airframe in the AF you fly one day and then you're off for one day. But now us! We're in demand! I even fly a King Air on my iPhone before I go to sleep.... I know..., ridiculous!
Ramazan is over!!! So we can wear our PT's again! Yaaayyy!!!
As of today I'm P-15. And tomorrow I'll be P-14!!! Yaaaayyy!!! My tracker says that I'll be back in the States on day 192. So I'll make my 180 days for sure at this point. Which is awesome! But you can't make me happy at this point. If I go home early, I'll be mad. And if I go home late..., I'll be mad.
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