FIX BAYONETS!

Day 449 (cont) Sun 3 Feb

We arrived in Manas, Krygystan just at sunset. Now, we had all of our body armor packed in our duffle bags, which were loaded on pallets. The bus drivers who came for us were all wearing theirs. Hmmmmmmm. Haven’t heard about any attacks up here and nobody even hinted that maybe we needed to put ours on; so just what is it they’re worried about? Maybe my viewpoint is skewed because of where we’re coming from, but they sure do look funny, considering the surroundings.

There was supposedly a plane waiting for us here, that we’d get on just as soon as our check in/check out was done, but they operate up here just like they operate in Bagram. Of course there’s no plane. The back up plane scheduled for eight in the evening was also a myth and that exhausted the ‘planning that had been done. We were left waiting for whatever happened to show up. We actually got called late that night! Of course, we had to show up nearly six hours early for a flight at 0400 the next morning, because our bags, already inspected once, had to be inspected again, because the Air Force doesn’t trust the Army, or even its own inspectors, for more than a couple of hours at a time. And anyone who thinks the Army makes you ‘hurry up and wait’, hasn’t had to deal with the sadists that run the Air Mobility Command.

Our first leg is into Ramstein, Germany where the plane is refueled while we test our boredom meters in an unoccupied waiting area. The meters worked fine, we were REALLY bored for about three hours. The only amenity was a lone USO volunteer who was providing coffee and snacks. Finally, back into the air and on to Fort Bragg (may it soon be torn down and its soil salted heavily).

We were greeted by the Commanding General and Sergeant Major for the Civil Affairs and Psyops command. No families were there, of course, because we were from all over the country and since we couldn’t tell people ahead of time just when we’d be coming in, there was no way for anyone to be there. Even if they could afford the trip. So in spite of all the welcomes, we really weren’t home yet. In fact, a fair number of us agreed that just coming off the plane was causing our blood pressure to go up.

We milled around Green Ramp for way too long, waiting for them to process our names ‘in’ before we finally went and collected our luggage. Duffle bags only, though. The ‘Contico’ boxes that held the rest of our stuff had been on separate pallets and no one knows where they are. Also, we’ve arrived too late in the day to start the process of getting out of here, which only starts on Mondays and Thursdays.

There have been improvements, though. The MUIC (mobilization people) have arranged to compress the schedule and start us tomorrow. Wow!

First, though, we lost half of our unit. The Navy pulled their people away so fast we barely had time to say goodbye. It would feel like the unit is disintegrating, but it’s more than just a feeling. It’s happening right in front of us.

I won’t dwell on the details of out processing, (no need for you to be as bored as I was), except to say that the four day process broke down on the third day. Always, there’s someone that either doesn’t get the word, or ignores it because they know better. We had three people, contrary to orders, who packed all of their issued equipment in their boxes instead of bringing it with them in a duffle bag, like everyone else did. Two of these people were senior types who should have known better, but they just couldn’t be bothered to follow orders, much too important, doncha know; just more proof that working on a staff destroys brain cells. We have to turn this stuff in and if we can’t, we don’t move.

The process stops on Thursday afternoon.

The good news is that they’ve found our boxes. The bad news is that 10th Mountain took our pallets with them to Fort Drum, New York. They took them to fill up an airplane, so some of their stuff wouldn’t have to wait. The good news is that they’ll be here (by truck) by Saturday night, so we can start processing again on Monday. The bad news is that Customs decided that they needed to be inspected yet again, and it only made sense (to them) to break some boxes open to do that. Fortunately, nothing important turned up missing, but the broken boxes didn’t do a very good job of keeping the weather out, so there was some damage.

Anyway, we had a pass for Friday through Sunday. Some people whose families live within driving distance were able to take advantage of it. The rest of us did another test of our boredom meters.

On Monday, we get started again, but since we’ve now missed the times we were scheduled to do things, the activities scheduled for Friday are now condensed into the next THREE days. Everyone is getting testy and we had one Major trying to swindle a deal to get himself through the process separate from the unit. He didn’t manage it, though, which was good. Hate to have to go get someone out of the brig at this late date. Monday was semi efficient.

Tuesday had us tearing our hair out. It took eight hours to get our DD214s done. There are only 27 of us! They had five people working on it, so it took over an hour for each of us, and then their QA people kept changing their minds about just what was the proper way to do them. I ended up signing mine four different times.

Wednesday is nearly a repeat of Tuesday, except that this time it’s for travel. We have to go to one office to request airline tickets where we fill out a roster stating our names and where we want to go. Then they send the roster to the travel office, where the reservations are made. (in between their walk in customers, of course.) It takes six hours to get tickets for seventeen people. Good thing the rest were driving, or we would have been there all night.

While we’re waiting for tickets, we keep getting requests for more paperwork from the MUIC people, because, apparently, they keep losing track of just what we’ve done. They’re looking for one of our Sergeants for some more paper, but she’s already on her way to the airport. Our Personnel Officer finally asks,

“We’ve turned all that in already. This isn’t going to affect us leaving,is it? People already have tickets.”

“Well, no, this is mostly for our internal records.”

“Goodbye.”

One thing hasn’t changed. The conflict between the MUIC and Wah Wah is still there. The commanders don’t play well together and the troops share a mutual ‘disregard’. Rumor has it that one of the Colonels called the MPs on the other Colonel during an office discussion where he felt ‘threatened’.

Finally, though, Thursday arrived and I was on a plane home. My lovely wife and youngest daughter met me at the airport and I was home in my own bed that night. Now, two weeks of terminal leave and back to a more normal life.

It’s been an interesting 15 months, some bad but mostly good. I’ve met quite a few great people, from a lot of different countries. I’ve been able to do a few moderately successful things, and I’ve survived working on or with three different staffs. I got to see more of Afghanistan than I had planned but not as much as I had hoped. And I got to feel that I was able to contribute to rebuilding a country. Overall, not a bad deployment.

I’d go back in a heartbeat if it wouldn’t cause a divorce……..