Thanksgiving came and went here, I can say confidently as it is almost midnight. I was given the morning off, so I stayed in bed until around 0930. I don't usually sleep past 0530, but I did enjoy not having to get up, generally being lazy. I went in to work just after lunch and had a lunch/dinner combo with my work buddy around 1500.
Otherwise, it was a quiet day, with not much going on. It was nice to have a light day, although there was plenty of things for me to do to keep me busy in the afternoon. Most of my energy is focused on some individual travel plans for some folks going on special missions. I don't usually plan and manage this kind of thing, but it fell to me. Thanks to my in depth knowledge of the Army travel system, I am really the best suited to work this issue this time.
Every Thursday night the Brigade Commander sponsors a running club. It is a nice opportunity to go run when I otherwise wouldn't. Lately we've been doing what's called "Hashing" which involves a small group (2-3) called Hares running 10 minutes ahead of the rest of the group, called Hounds. The Hares place certain marks on the ground to lead the Hounds on the trail, and they all end up at an unknown location. If the Hounds catch the Hares, there's unpleasantness to be had, so the Hares are motivated to stay ahead of the pack. Both tonight and last week I was one of the Hares.
I enjoy the runs, but am upset that so few people participate. We only go 2 miles or so, and it really is a bit of fun. So many folks here act and think like they are civilians, it is frustrating. When I go to knock on someone's door at 1730 and there is no one there because they all went to dinner, all at once, while I have to schedule my meals and breaks to ensure there is coverage on the battle desk, it rubs me the wrong way. I am one of very few people in the brigade to ever actually leave any FOB for any reason, and one of even a fewer number to leave on combat patrols. Add in the experience of engaging enemy fighters, receiving and returning fire, and I think I can count on one hand. It is hard to be in a unit where so many don't understand, or even attempt to understand, what it actually means to fight a war. For most, they think physically being in Afghanistan makes them "War Veterans" when I know better. Proximity to war doesn't make you a warrior and wearing a uniform doesn't make you a Soldier.
Everyday I am convinced a little more I do not want to go to another logistics type unit after this. I don't think I could stand being around another unit of pseudo-civilians again and leave with my sanity or self-respect intact. I hate being the "loggy" or the guy who is so far removed he doesn't even realize there's fighting going on. It gives me perspective for sure, but it's not a situation I want to repeat.
I was talking with one of the NCOs here about it, and how I am so much more at ease in a front-leaning unit, where there is more effect on the battle. If I can influence the fight directly, I go to bed at night knowing I stopped the enemy or did something that is part of something real, something good. Tpying up presentations and slides isn't just boring staff work, and after a while, it gets to be that you're more focused on the slides looking good than what the slides represent. I hate that most - you lose sight of reality as the troops are experiencing it.
I was able to call home today, for free, thanks to a big business sponsoring us for Thanksgiving. I guess the occupy folks want the big business (who enabled me to call home) to stop supporting the troops and go out of business. I really don't get the occupy protesters, because the whole thing is so short sighted and foolish, from an economics standpoint. Putting big business out of business wrecks the economy, or maybe we didn't learn anything when the whole thing started with the crash of several large firms in the first place. Certainly all the people who lost their jobs because the big businesses fell apart might still remember that.
Too much complaining. I am thankful the DFAC serves tuna at every meal. I am getting my fill of it, for sure.
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