My Helmand journey was quite the whirlwind! I visited some nice places - that I won't name right now (for Operational Security). I'll just say - I've been told you can read about them in the book '3 Para'. I ended up in a 'FOB'... a Forward Operating Base. I actually hadn't planned to even go there, but hey - when you're sent - you're sent! Just as we teach the Cadets: 'Semper Paratus' (Always Prepared). I jumped on the helicopter and flew out. Man! The washout the choppers throw when taking off and landing is both hot and violently dusty - kicking up all sorts of dust, small stones, etc.. The place I was in seemed on the edge of civilization... and it probably was. The soldiers there were all Brits (no big secret). The neat thing is - as I walked off the chopper, I was greeted by a Brit who said: 'Hey sir! How are you? I grew up in Toronto!'. It was weird. I then ran into another guy who said he has a relative in Unionville! It was really surreal to be seemingly in the middle of nowhere, an getting greeted by people who know HOME!
The soldiers there were aware of the dangers outside the gate. As a matter of fact, I was met by a troop who explained to me just how dangerous things get. He told me of rockets and potshots taken at our guys, etc.. Oddly enough, it seemed quite peaceful. At night it was very dark. It was the first time I saw all the stars with no light pollution. There were trees in the local area, and there was even a nice river the troops took liberty to cool off in. The temperatures were quite hot in the day (36 degrees), but it dropped to a nice cool temperature at night. Actually, my idea of 'cool' is changing - I went into an 'air conditioned room' and stood in front of the air conditioner. I thought 'wow - the air coming out of the AC is cool!'... then I looked at the temperature the machine was cranking out... it said 30 degrees! I must be all messed up.
The food was good! The field cooks did their best to keep the hungry troops fed... and they did a good job! The poor guys had to cook in the heat, however. The meals were simple. One day we had slices of corned beef. Once there was sliced, fried spam. The eggs were powdered and sort of had a disintegrated feeling in your mouth. They were humble meals, and thoguh I never had the chance to thank the cooks, I'm quite grateful for the effort they put into making us meals we could look forward to 'scoff' or 'scran'. {Hi Danielle! I got your message! 'Scran' is another word for 'chow'... or an army meal. ;) } I was offered some food from some Afghans, but I kindly declined. Unfortunately, in the rough conditions, 'D & V' is a reality that is very dangerous out here. (D&V is what you use Pepto Bismol for... except out here, it could be very dangerous, because with the dehydration that comes with that, coupled with the heat, it could be very bad. Usually, it results in quarantine).
Anyhow - I stayed safe during my stay out there. Lessons were learned from my end, and it was a real eye opener to see the other troops of other countries. Also - seeing this part of the country helped alot. In speaking to an Afghan, he relayed his hopes to me for a peaceful Afghanistan, comparing it to our Canada. It got me thinking - We do have alot to be thankful for, and I suppose - that's why we're out here: to not be ungrateful for our peace, and to try and help others who wish for a similar peace in their own country. As I was thinking this, I could hear the distinct rumble of gunfire in the distance. It snapped me back to reality: We do have a ways to go.
To the DLSCC-ers: how was the Exercise? I hope you had a good one!
More Brit-isms: 'Crikey! I gotta crack on with the rest of the stuff I have to do. As and when the other blokes get here, they'll want to use the computer. If I'm off already, they'll think that's cracking!' ;)
2 comments:
Hey Sir, just got back from the ex and by that i mean getting in the door, dropping all my stuff showering and falling asleep on my bed after being so tired from the ex and barely remembering it except that i had a ton of fun.
Pretty much we got rained on and we couldnt use officer powers to stop it, I think it would cause terrible effects some 100 years later. Anyhow it was pretty cool, we got two new recruits and got them nicknames, puppy and sparkle. Also we got a nickname for Richards but i dont think it will stay (Poncho).
From what i can remember we did some really cool training, mostly recci patrols but a lot of fun none the less. We got in there, set up our Biv and had dinner then went on our recci patrol (also if you could tell us what a Biv means it would be great, no one knows XD) The first recci patrol was a recci screen on some poor civi's house we didnt alert anyone and got out of there quickly, it didnt rain so it was a pretty good one. After that we hit ground.
Next day we got up had some breakfast and started on our recci patrol, also apparently we eat gourmet in the field, because we cook real meals and not IMPs or canned stuff, this recci It hadn't rained yet so we were lucky it was a route recci and a recci screen so we divided up and went for it, it wasn't our favourite but it was sorta filler, and you needed it for the storyline. There is a whole storyline behind all the reccis and it continued the first few reccis in the summer time. Anyhow we decided i think to have lunch course on these ex's you never really know. We then learned a bit of Ninjitsu by the 2Lt, it was really cool, also very violent but thats when it began to rain.
Third recci was pretty cool we were lead by our Boots ;) i remember we were bushed by the end of it but i can't remember what exactly we did, i remember we got soaked. Ohhhh i remember we route reccied the road to get into the area, and had to look for some IEDs, fortunately no one was injured.
My recci was the last one before we hit ground, we were soaked and we had to go out again, but it was a short fuse so we could get it done completely. What ended up happening was we had a crash course on how to detain someone individually and from a car, and how to search it. Overall it went well, all of them did but i felt i coulda done mine better.
It was fun and like always we set up a chair for you in the little cabin this was after lunch and we ate inside due to the rain. Mostly what everyone remembers is we got soaked, except Boots who has sealskin socks, ahwell, there is a bunch of stuff i gotta get next time we go on ex, now we get to look forward to rappelling!
Also im not sure if you heard about the video bunny put together which is pretty cool, we needa show you it when you get back. I can't wait until we rappel I think we will have to set up a chair for you when we rappel, however I'm not sure how were going to get a chair on the roof, but i think if we need to we can use officer powers.
Anyway i think im procrastinating, and kinda tired but tomorrow is my easy day Math, biology, physics and chem, kinda ironic, but i hope your managing as well as we our, your always in our prayers. Also its kinda weird, i don't know if this happens every year but there are a lot of new teachers, the room is pretty samey still the museum and every is in tact, we don't use it that much however, more of a storage place, however we end up using the office a little more. We are planning on invading the room next door but thats for another day. Take care and i hope that this huge wall of text doesn't burn your eyes.
The huge wall of text burns my eyes Jarrod :P just kidding.
Thanks for the translation sir. If you run into any Kiwi's they use cook-up instead.. or fry-up kinda amusing.
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