USTommyMC

This is it folks. By the time you read this I will be on a plane heading towards the big sand box to the far East.

It will take about two days for us to get to Iraq because of multiple stops and layovers. We flying to Kuwait in a commercial aircraft and then switching over to a C-130 to fly into Iraq. Since I am in a Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW), I will be working at an airfield. What makes that even better is that we get to land at the base that I’ll be at my whole time out there. The first time I went to the middle east, in 2003, we flew into Kuwait airport and then took a long ass (over two hours) bus ride to our base. I was providing security for the bus so while everyone else got to take a nap, I stood in near the front of the bus the entire ride with a loaded M-16 ready for whatever may come.

We will be flying into our base and then head straight to work. There will be the mandatory tour of the area and rules and regulations but nothing out of the ordinary. I have the tremendous task of trying to learn the entire communications network architecture out there and that won’t be an easy task. Luckily a Staff Sergeant and Gunnery Sergeant from my section decided to stay out there another 7 months. That means the pressure to learn everything won’t be as bad.

With that said, I will try my best to post pictures and update this site as much as possible. I don’t know how restricted the networks are over there but I think, and hope, that I have put in place enough alternative methods of posting pictures and and making posts. If that doesn’t work then I guess I’ll have to get someone from home to help me out (I’m looking at you Mikey).

Well thats it for now and probably for a few days. I’ll try to sneak in a quick post the first chance I get to sit at a computer and access the ‘Net. Bye for now ya’ll.