Apr 24 2008
Looking around CF
Morning chow was just as good as last night. Maybe I was just hungry again but iHop has nothing over this chow hall. To those who may not know me well lets just say my very last meal in the states was at the International House of Pancakes.
After finishing with what I had to do in CF……. I walked around checking out the base, talking to Marines, and just getting a sense of what life is like on CF.
It’s crazy hot again (over 100 degrees). By the way, you don’t need a thermometer out here to know it’s over 100 degrees. Just look for the Ugandan guys working internal security and see if they are melting. When guys from Africa are sweating profusely at 6AM just imagine what a guy from Pennsylvania is feeling like.
While I wanted to talk with more Marines today I just didn’t have the time. Most of the Marines I met today were officers or senior enlisted. The lieutenants of course are still finding their way in life and in the Marine Corps but the Majors and above were fully engaged and great to talk with.
A number of the questions I get from people are if there is a difference between sexes in the Marine Corps. First please know that whether in your personal life, business or in the military you have 10% dead weight, 10 % hard chargers, and the rest a blend in between the two. My experience out here in TQ and at CF leads me to once again conclude that all the Marine Corps officers are professional and fully committed to the mission and the men and women in their charge.
In regards to the men vs. women issue in the Marine Corps officer ranks I still don’t see it. In fact one of the most inspiring officers I met and had lunch with was a female Major. She is a reservist who has been in Iraq over two years now and still positive, committed, and ready to stay until the job is finished.
As for the junior Marines it appears there is just as much to do here as in TQ. A coffee shop, barber, exchange, great gym, great chow hall, Internet Café, call centers, etc… The attitude of the Marines here seems to be the same as those in TQ.
Well playtime is over here at CF and I need to find my way back to TQ. We are hoping to catch a flight out of here but are seeing about hopping on a convoy just in case.
Semper Fi,
GySgt Jonathan Jenkins
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