Apache Helicopter

This is a picture of an Apache flying over the JCC. They made several passes in the area so I assume they were either trying to draw fire and destroy the enemy or they were looking for something.

Rodent Eating Bird

This is the coolest bird I have seen in this country so far. It eats mice and hangs around the JCC everyday. Probably because there is an endless supply of mice and vermin.

Iraqi AA Gun

This is a non-working Iraqi anti-aircraft gun located in front of the JCC left behind by the former Iraqi Army.

Guard Duty at the JCC

Well this is where I spend a lot of time during my JCC shift. It has great visibility of the surrounding area and has a good view of the main road leading to the FOB and JCC. You definately don't want to mess with a .50 Cal machine gun. Needless to say we don't see much activity here.

ING Soldiers

This is a group of Iraqi National Guard (ING) soldiers at the JCC. They are interesting to talk to and are trying to teach me arabic words.

Iraqi Artillery

This is some leftover Iraqi artillery that I assume was used for base defense by the former Iraqi forces.

ING Marching

Here is a picture of the ING marching during drill and ceremony exercises which they do every morning after formation. They are starting to look really good and uniform in their march.

FOB McKensie

Well I am finally at FOB McKensie in central Iraq. It is truly a barren place around the former Iraqi airfield. There are only like three trees on the whole FOB. It has been raining a lot everywhere we go. Looks like our unit will be attached to a calvary unit under the 1ID which means we will have armor and air assets. I have been initially tasked to command a team that guards the JCC.

FOB Warhorse

Well this is FOB Warhorse in central Iraq. Our forward party was sent here due to poor coordination or miscommunication and have spent a few days here. We vare living in tents as usual and have done so since July so it is nothing new. The good thing about this is their chow hall is really nice, but we are looking forward to going where we need to.

LSA Anaconda en route to FOB Mckensie

Well I ended up flying instead of convoying through Iraq. We arrived at an LSA in central Iraq and took chinooks to FOB Warhorse, but something is definately wrong with the coordination since it is the wrong FOB and in the wrong direction. Oh well I am just along for the ride.

Staged and Ready to Convoy

Well we have been in Kuwait long enough. All the briefs, preparations, and sustainment training are complete. The vehicles are on line and ready to convoy into Iraq.

Hillbilly Armor

Well this is what all the fuss is about created during Donald Rumsfelds visit here a few days ago. This is what is referred to as hillbilly armor and the soldier in question who asked the question about why soldiers are having to scrouge for scrap to make improvised armor doors etc. I for one understand that soldiers want to be protected and that the enemy has come to rely on IED's and VBIEDs in their hit and run TTP's. But I feel that Rumsfeld was absolutely correct when he said that you fight with the army you have, not necessarily with what you want it to be. Many of the initial units that went into combat in 2003 operated with no armor at all on their equipment, and yet the military, in response to changing enemy tactics of striking soft targets, began producing armor and up-armor kits for vehicles. This of course doesn't just happen over night and production has steadily increased. It is unrealistic to assume that ever single vehicle that crosses the berm will have armor on it. That would delay movement of troops for months while supply caught up with demand. But that of course is my own opinion of this subject.

Hello Kuwait, Crew Serve Training

Well we made it to Kuwait and are out conducting crew serve qualifications and training. The unit has .50 cal, 240B, M249, and Mark19 weapons to train with.