Update from Iraq:

The average day consists of either a scheduled flight duty, a "on call" day, or a "down" day. For scheduled days (you can be scheduled for anytime really, we stand ready 24 hours a day. Day or night), I wake up early in the morning and go do PT for an hour or so (either run around the camp, or go to the excellent gym the have here). Report to the flight line when I am scheduled to do so. Daily mission briefing is followed by going out the aircraft, where my crew chief has been prepping the aircraft for quite some time, and prepping for the flight. The flights themselves can be short, or can consist of flying for hours, on top of hours, on top of hours. Missions might be: carrying supplies and personnel around to the various camps/bases/FOBs etc..., QFR, aerial recon, air assault, troop transport, boarder patrol, we typically do not do med-evac missions (those missions are typically handled by the dedicated med-evac units, however we have evac'd wounded personnel when time is critical), and we even did an aerial sniper mission. We also travel around quite a bit. Whether it's to the northern reaches beyond Mosul or south to Najaf. We don't just stick in the "Baghdad" area. One thing you don't get use to is getting shot at. You are a big, black target orbiting around in the sky. When small arms fire hits the fuselage of the aircraft, it makes a distinct noise. A popping noise.

While it's difficult to be far from family and friends, they do everything possible to make it feel like home here. The housing units are comfortable, clean and air conditioned. The food is great. The PT facilities are great. As you can see, we're able to get internet access, tv access, mail, etc... We're far from cut off. Although the work tempo is seriously 10x beyond what you would do back in your unit stateside - the morale is good. Sure, everyone wants to go home, everyone wants to be with their families. But they've also been trained to do a job, and they take pride in their job and their mission - and want to do it right.


Here are some pictures that either I took, my friends took or my crew chiefs took:

Smoke on the horizon:


Yes, we have food vendors:


Housing units:


Auntie Em' Auntie Em! It's a twister! It's a twister!


Local wildlife:


On patrol:


The streets of Baghdad:


Saddam's palaces are everywhere. I've only seen the inside of two - but they had been converted into HQs for command, so most of the furniture was gone. Nice location though:


The Army is relying more heavily on the Kiowa Warrior than the Apache for close air support. They're all over the place and conducting some kick ass missions:


"What was that?" - Me. "I think we just found the weapons cache. And they're not happy we've joined their party. Take evasive action." - CW3 flying in command, said in a perfectly calm voice as we started to take fire. Ouch:


My office:


A "gate guard" is a static display airplane/helicopter/tank/etc... that stands guard at the enterance of US military facilities. Apparently the Iraqis have the same thing:


Like I mentioned earlier, med-evacs are a niche of a specifically training/outfitted unit. They have to get into tight spots sometimes (not my photo):


We flew a mission along the Iranian boarder:


While I am on the subject of Iran... I don't know how much the news reports back home, but they're a major issue over here. When we are shot at, there is an increasing chance that the weapons used by the insurgents are Iranian funded and supplied. Much in the same manner that Hamas is kept alive by Iran, such is the case with the insurgency here in Iraq. Again, I don't know how much filters through, but the religious infighting is also increasing. For the most part, the ones that are instigating the fighting are Iranian supported religious leaders. The boarder is a security risk, and we're attempting to stem the flow of materiel and personnel that flood across it.

The situation is becoming more complicated with the growing threat of an Iranian nuclear weapons arsenal. Again - I wonder if people realize the immensity of this threat. Iran is actively participating in the conflict in Iraq. Iran is using all tools at their disposal to disrupt the rebuilding process. Iran is desperately attempting to undermined the newly democratically elected government. And to make the situation worse, Iran is on the verge of going nuclear. My biggest fear is that the western world will be far more hesitant when it comes to dealing with Iran aggressively, because Iraq has left everyone with a bad taste in their mouth. This is one of those issues that should transcend politics. Surely both sides can agree that Iran is a grave threat, to the Middle East, to Israel, to Europe, to the US... and to allied troops currently serving here in Iraq.

Anyway, just wanted to say hi and share some pics.

Black Hawks are the only way to go: (again not my photo)


-UH60

[Edited 2006-03-11 03:52:53]