Today was my first real day in Iraq and while I am happy to be here I must tell you Yikes!  Hot, dry, and brown.  For a knucklehead with 3 acres and surrounded by regular farms, tree farms, and hunting grounds this place is certainly not picturesque.

Besides the landscape and weather I like it here.  Captain Watts, the Marine I am replacing here in TQ has been showing me around and introducing me to the officers and senior enlisted within the commands playing out here.

As for Captain Watts, he is rather impressive.  Hard worker, great attitude, and can easily tell he loves his wife and 2 daughters.  Just a good man to be around.

My initial impression of the other officers and senior enlisted was nothing short of impressive.  Great attitudes, commitment to the fight, and as equally important the assurance to the safety, welfare, and education of the Marines in their charge.

I am out here as the liaison (LnO) between the Marine Corps Center of Lessons Learned (MCCLL) and the Marines in the Al Anbar province.  My job for the next 6+ months is to work with the Marine Corps commands and strive to improve practices, equipment, training, and of course to collect and disseminate information that should limit/prevent loss of life and property.

The Marine leaders I have met thus far are highly committed to all that’s in their charge as well as MCCLL.  MCCLL may affect the here and now but its biggest bang for the buck is for the Marines that will follow on later.  The leaders I have been meeting know this and have welcomed me aboard.

Besides my mission out here let me also comment about some of the daily life. 

The chow hall is just awesome.  You can eat as much as you want and the food is very good. 

Water is everywhere.  No taps as it’s only safe to drink bottled water.  There is never a shortage of cases of water in every office and pallets of cases strewn about everywhere.  Just walk by pick one up, wipe of the sand, and your good to go.  Kuwait was the same by the way.

Not a bad gym and since its open all the time there is always a chance to work out.  Only issue I have with working out is that I am not a treadmill guy.  Running in the 90 degree heat pretty much was pretty miserable today.

There are plenty of Moral Welfare and Recreation (MWR) tents and buildings.  They have everything from mini-stores, a $3 barber shop, phone calling center, Internet service, laundry, mini-library, church services, etc….  Honestly, there is no reason to be bored out here.

Also of note out here is the services Marines normally need if there is a change to their record books, pay, education, etc…  Today was payday but since I am new I couldn’t guarantee I got paid correctly.  Woo hoo!  I did.  By the way, another great thing the Bush administration did for the service members is a deployed savings program that guarantees you to make 10% on any money you save until deployed back to the real world.

I must say I am impressed with how the Marine Corps takes care of their warriors out here.  It’s been a great first full day in TQ and I look forward to giving back as the new LnO out here.

Semper Fi,

GySgt Jonathan Jenkins

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