On one hand I didn’t like getting stuck in Al Asad because of a sandstorm.  On the other hand when I did catch a flight out it was on the Marine Corps newest aircraft the MV-22 or as most call it, the Osprey.

The Osprey is arguably the most radical one built in the last 20+ years.  It is radical because it can take off horizontally (like a jet) as well as a vertically (like a helicopter).

Primarily, the pilots choose to take off like a helicopter and wow it’s not like any helicopter I have ever been.  The Osprey just seems to jump right up off the runway.  And fast speed?  Better than any rotary-wing aircraft that’s out there too.  In fact, after we left the Landing Zone (LZ) in Baghdad we touched down so quickly (like 5 minutes) that I figured we had to stop at another LZ.  I was wrong as we were in TQ.  Normally, I would expect about a 20 minute trip from Baghdad to TQ.

If I was to make any recommendation for improvement then it would be to have even another foot between the people sitting across from me so that we can more easily store our gear.  But as fast as it can go why complain?

Check another item of my wish list on my Iraq vacation.

Semper Fi,

GySgt Jonathan Jenkins

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Yesterday was the second day of a sandstorm which to be honest I don’t mind because 99% of the time the temperature is much more bearable.  I think it only made it up to 103 yesterday so Woo Hoo for that.

After a little traveling it doesn’t take long before you realize you need to acquaint yourself with where things are in case the weather goes south on you.  I still remember one time leaving the chow hall and in just 30 or so minutes the visibility dropped to what I would guesstimate to be just 20 yards.

In the Iraqi Version of Where’s Waldo you are Waldo and you need to find out where to eat, sleep, and pretend to work. 

Let’s see how you do!

Wheres Home?

Wheres Chow?

Wheres Work?

Semper Fi,

GySgt Jonathan Jenkins
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I am glad to be out here so there is no problem waking up and getting ready to rock and roll.  However, when you look out and it’s already orange all I think about is ‘Who would ever want to live in this place?’

The other day we had a storm pop up and it swooped in with 51 knot winds (that’s just shy of 60 miles per hour) and very heavy rain for about 15 minutes.  It was so strong that I was being pushed across an open lot as I ran for cover.  Again crazy weather.  I went to chow and less then 30 minutes later visibility was barely at 20 feet and everything is being tossed.

Anyway… back to my distain of orange days.  Here is my typical first hour when I awaken to a sandstorm:

• Inner Voice
  • Grrr. its orange already
  • Yuck, I hate the taste of sand.  Where is my water and chapstick?
  • Double grrrr as my cammies are going be trashed after today
  • Ughhhh sand all over the floor of my can
  • Hope my gator is clean (a gator is a clothing item I pull over my head and it covers from the just below my eyes to my shoulders).
  • Sweet…. my gator clean
  • God, I hope they have lids for the coffee today
• Iraqi coffee shop
  • “1 medium coffee please”  “Shakur” (thank you)
  • Inner Voice: Where are the friggin lids?  Grrrr
  • Mumbling under my breath: “I bet if Saddam wanted a lid you find one”
• Inner voice:
  • (10 feet outside of coffee shop)  Sand in my morning coffee?  Already?  grrrrr
  • After coffee and walking to the chow hall: Please no dust cloud in the chow hall this morning
• Ugandan security guard “watching” the chow hall
  • “Jambo” pronounced (jam bo) Swahili for “hello”
  • Watching to make sure his finger is not on the trigger
  • “Asante” (pronounced ahh san tea) – Swahili for “Thank you”
• Inner voice
  • Asante for not shooting me in the back as I walk past you
  • (While clearing my weapon) Grrr, now I have to clean it again
  • That’s just great….. a dust cloud in the chow hall
  • After chow and walking to the dark tower :  I hope my computers and desk are not laying under sand
  • Cool, that’s not too bad.
  • Where is the can of compressed air to clean everything?
  • Well things could be much worse
  • Now, let’s hope no knucklehead emails came in last night…

Semper Fi,

GySgt Jonathan Jenkins

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Grrrr to sandstorms.  Grrrr to cancelled flights and Grrrr to Al Asad (AA).

Because of weather my flight to Al Asad has been canceled for the 4th time.  Not sure but I am wondering is there is something too cool about AA that I am not supposed to see.  Ha-ha

Semper Fi,

GySgt Jonathan Jenkins

Popularity: 37% [?]