I know when I'm not wanted

OK, so that isn't completely accurate. Since getting my deployment tasking in October, I was told I would be doing this PA mentoring business. Shortly upon arriving here at Camp Spann, I was informed there was some confusion as to whom I actually belong. The higher headquarters in Kabul (IJC, CSTC-A, NTM-A -- don't ask me what all those acronyms mean or what each organization does 'cause I honestly don't know) have been trying to stake their claims. Yes, it is nice to have everyone want you. Unfortunately, it isn't nearly as appealing as you would think; I now have to endure my most dreaded part of deployment -- transiting.

As much as I enjoy being part of this team here and meeting with the ANA PA shop regularly, it was welcome news to find I'll be heading to a different assignment in Kabul. I've been stuck here in limbo as to my actual job and can't really justify my being here while there is a civilian here for the very reason I came. In other words, I'm underemployed and bored.

And in other news, while I would encourage you to continue reading the referral blogs, I'll likely have to find more opportunities to post my own exploits. I hope you'll stay tuned.

Unless I can find another blog to mooch off of, I'll keep you posted.

Marty

Referral

I made it to my camp, Camp Mike Spann, and have been here for close to a week. It's a small, army-run camp, with an attached NATO camp, all within the confines of an Afghan National Army camp. I'm pretty sure you could lob one of the millions of rocks covering the ground from one side to the other if you had a stiff tailwind. I probably won't try it so as not to fail in my attempt and knock someone out with said rock when it doesn't clear the camp.

There are few amenities here, but that just means more time for me. I really want to work on studying Japanese and work on my photo editing (PhotoShop) skillz, cause we all know chicks dig guys with skillz. I've also set a goal of a six pack by my thirty-sixth b-day; I shall call it '6 by 36', and hopefully it doesn't end in me drinking a 6-pack on my 36th b-day instead. I probably should have started on that goal sooner, perhaps earlier in life.

As I said, the camp itself isn't too exciting, but my mission sounds promising. Having said that, I must say that we're at the whim of our Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police public affairs units' schedules. What that means so far is only a few hours each week of actual mentoring/advising work.

The good news is I don't have to go into every detail of my day-to-day because I have two high-speed Senior Non-Commissioned Officers who have blogs. You can find links to their blogs below on the right side. I even read them regularly to find out what I've been up to.

I'll try to take some exciting photos to share, but honestly the other two blogs have those covered too.

Marty

I'm back

From where you might ask. Well I suppose it's not a from where, but to where. I'm back in the AOR, or Area of Responsibility, i.e. combat zone. Coincidently, that's where I started this blog, albeit on another continent. This time I'm heading to Afghanistan. I'm sitting in Kyrgyzstan at the moment awaiting airlift, but shouldn't be here too long (that's what everyone who arrived here a week ago has said too).

My last deployment took me to an undisclosed location, hence not so much blogging from there (gotta lead by example, right?) I've also been keeping updates via Facebook (find me there if you want more frequent updates).

As I said, I'm back in the AOR. To my knowledge, I won't be at an undisclosed location, so I should be able to post some pics and a few updates of my adventure over the next six months. I Hope you follow along.

As always, sorry to leave you teetering on the edge of your seat for, I don't know, about a couple of years. Whoops! I said I'm sorry.

Back in action,

Marty