Special Post No. 023

AF Day 047

FOB Smart at 1945 - Thursday

I was up late last night/early this morning due to a power outage and ended up not being able to fall back to sleep until 0200 - 0300. I watched a movie until I could no longer open my eyes. Exciting stuff!

Today was a very good day. A significant portion of our new PRT team arrived today on two Chinook helicopters. Man, those are amazing pieces of aviation strength. The rotor wash from these helicopters will literally move a 200-pound-plus man with ease. I helped the new team offload their gear from the second flight and gave the grand FOB tour to our two newest PRT engineering staff. We are packed into the FOB like sardines now, but such will ease up quickly with the various smaller teams rotating out to their detachments throughout Zabul Province. It was, for me, a great sight to see so many new faces and know that they too will become my comrades for their next nine months.

Tonight we are planning to watch Iron Man 2. Everyone seems tired, so maybe it will be delayed for another night. The DFAC was packed tonight with hungry souls and good food to be had. Mongolian Night at the DFAC draws a good crowd, but especially when we are double staffed. We even had ice cream!

143, K&K.

Good night and good day.

Special Post No. 022

Photos...


Jon Leyton on the job! 29 Jun 2011

 

Reviewing rebar for acceptance at a concrete ring beam in Qalat, Afghanistan.

 

The local Afghan children asking me for a pen, as usual, with smiles and laughter.

 

Craft, one of our Afghan interpreters, interpreting for me on a Surri District project.

 

Foot Patrol through Qalat City.

 

These two boys appear to ready to become construction professionals. They were "showing me" the good, the bad, and the ugly. Good times.



Members of my security team during our visit to Surri District in Zabul Province, Afghanistan.



Hard working men. Notice the burnt bricks laying around. The Afghans stock the projects in this manner.



Cool photo of the sun over the concrete column and new brickwork recently completed.

Typical concrete ring beam construction for an office building in Qalat, Afghanistan.



Typical concrete ring beam construction for an office building in Qalat, Afghanistan.



Typical concrete ring beam construction for an office building in Qalat, Afghanistan.




Typical stone masonry & concrete building foundation walls for a radio station being constructed in Qalat, Afghanistan.

Stocked burnt bricks on a jobsite in Zabul Province, Afghanistan.

AF Day 046

FOB Smart at 0730

This day, for me, began with a foot patrol out into the city. We needed to look at damage to roads, progress on walls and buildings, and along the way to say hello to our neighbors and friends. I enjoy these morning walks with my many pounds of "battle rattle" less the weapons, since I am a non-combatant, of course. Walking so early allows a little more freedom of movement, what with the streets mainly filled with children on their way to school and local shopkeepers and construction workers gearing up for their long day ahead.

The group I travel with now includes some of the outgoing and some of the incoming PRT team. The mix is healthy and full of characters here and there. I cannot stop writing about how proud I am of them and their accomplishments. This next team seems to be picking up speed in terms of familiarity and staying on point with the critical tasks - security, security, security. I feel safe at all times when I am with them.

I have another project to look at later that requires a "short" drive, in terms of distance, but a little longer in terms of getting the convoy to the final destination. We are building medical clinics and schools everywhere in Zabul Province. So today, I get to look at an ongoing clinic construction project. This should be a good mission. Well, they are all actually.

I presume most of you are winding down your Tuesday with a little dinner and relaxation. Sweet dreams to all and sleep well.

143, K&K.

Good night and good day.

Special Post No. 021

Photos...



28 Jun 2011



Leyton's Quarters

 

Leyton's Quarters



28 Jun 2011
Capt Ball, Capt Ciccarelli, Afghan contractor, and JL Summerlin
Qalat, Afghanistan - New Warehouse Project



AF Day 045

FOB Smart at 0800

My day began well with the sweet smell of Nag Champa in my room. Kimberly sent me, upon my request, Nag Champa incense to burn. It reminds me of her, of Las Vegas, of life... The sun was shining when I rose, the birds were singing in the trees, and life was on full display all around me. I could not have felt more at ease in the moment. I know today will be glorious!

What more can a man ask for but the love of his woman, the adoring love of his son, the enduring love of family and friends, the beauty of life where he lives, the fantastic opportunities his life holds, held, and has, the wonder of a little time and distance apart, the satisfaction of doing good work, the heartfelt joy of helping others, and the freedom to move anywhere he so chooses? Not a single thing...


I hope that every day for everyone will be glorious. I hope that every day for everyone the love of family and friends will envelope them and make them safe.

143, K&K.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 044

FOB Smart at 1600

I have two more meetings to go to and my workday will be complete. I met with a local contractor again today and will again tomorrow for the third day in a row. The project we are reviewing is a redesign. The contractor was the original contractor from over a year ago, but the engineering team has now rotated three times during the life of this infill project. By the way, the original project, built by the USSR during their stay here 31+ years ago, was demolished save for the concrete slab. Therefore, needless to say, the project variables and dynamics have changed a bit. It can be challenging in that we need to achieve completion, while doing so with our English-Pashto language differences, after a number of personnel changes over the last 12+ months. I love this work, man.

I spoke with K&K this morning, as well as my father. My son sounded very excited to hear that his father was on the phone wanting to speak with him. I always want to speak with him and love doing so. I try to call my wife and son every morning and night, which is their every night and morning. Momma, you are next on the call list.

I last saw K&K on May 8 at 0630; I miss them; they miss me; we all miss each other... LOL

143, K&K.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 043

FOB Smart at 1530 - Sunday

Sundays are Mondays here and my Monday is going great. I met with two local Afghans from one of my projects, two 2-story warehouses in Qalat, this morning. As they were running a bit late, Afghan time, we ended up meeting until lunch. After escorting them off the FOB, I ate lunch and prepared for a mission to a nearby location for a bid conference. There we presented a new project to about 30 Afghans, including one female general contractor. What a remarkable sight; women are definitely unseen and unheard in the region, but her she was, asking questions and appearing ready to work. I was proud of her for standing up to the unseen/unheard tradition. My how times are changing, albeit slowly but changing nevertheless.

I have a couple of more meetings to attend this afternoon. I think my knees are good-to-go for running again, so it looks like a few miles on the treadmill and possibly some weight training for the legs as well. I have little else on the radar today or tonight.

143, K&K.

Good night and good day.

Special Post No. 020

Photos...

AF Day 042

FOB Smart at 1945 - Saturday

Saturday night on the FOB, I am telling y'all, this is worth the experience. Food, air conditioning, friends, excellent work... Anyway, I really miss y'all and cannot wait to visit. I miss my son and I miss my wife. Life is so very different without them to interact with every day.

I had missions this morning and afternoon. We walked all over the old part of Qalat and drive and walked around a newer part of Qalat. I enjoy these missions outside the wire, excluding the danger - obviously. Today was not without the "excitement" these missions may bring. I had a small pocketful of candy for some of the kids I encountered. The kids that did not ask for chocolate or pens usually got the candy today. The locals seemed friendlier today too. It was a good day for missions. Tomorrow will also be a good day for missions. You know, I have completed over 20 missions outside the wire in a little more than 30 days. What a way to see a foreign country. What a way to mentor those who need mentoring, teaching, and hands-on training.

Tonight is movie night here on FOB Smart; however, since I rose at 0430, I am feeling the tired bones calling for rest and quiet. Maybe a movie in bed sounds nice. I wish Kimberly and Kaesen were here to snuggle... wait, I wish I were with them tonight to snuggle.

143, K&K, WAMHAS.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 041

FOB Smart at 0800

I wish a good evening to most of y'all and to some even good night. I slept like a champion and greeted the day with excitement and honor. I ate a delicious breakfast of cereal along with some scrambled eggs with sausage, vegetables, and the like cooked therein. My body woke me up at 0530 today for some reason. I am alive!

A good portion of our current troops here are leaving today and are being replaced by fresh troops. In my brief time here, I have come to know, or at least recognize, most everyone here on the FOB. New faces have been here for the last week, and now I recognize them as well. I have met and conversed with a variety of interesting people and appreciate them for such interaction.

Fridays here are "Any Hat Friday," meaning we can wear a hat of our choice here on the FOB on Fridays. Today I chose my light-tan and light-brown golf hat; LOL. Hey, fun comes from everywhere, everything, and everyone in a contingency environment. It's the little things that count often for many.

I love you family and friends.

I love you, K&K.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 040

FOB Smart at 2015 - Thursday

Tomorrow is Friday and will be a day just like the last and the nest, only in Afghanistan! Today was a fairly normal filled with routines, meetings, and the like. I am good today.

Going for a run in a little while.

143, K&K.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 039

FOB Smart at 2215 - Wednesday

The last two hours have been a lot different for me than any other two hours since I have been here in Afghanistan. All is well. We are all secure and safe. Considering my location, I feel so very fortunate to be sitting here in my office typing this and to be doing so in relative safety. Kimberly, have fun fishing and do not worry.

I had meetings this morning and evening. I worked diligently to quickly organize my new office. I spoke with Afghan contractors, coworkers, and other influencers today regarding the many projects either I manage or which I am participating. I should say that we are relatively slow now in terms of overall projects compared to just six months ago when the current PRT team was in full swing. The distant future may hold an additional return to increase funding and multiple new projects. However, I have several multi-million dollar projects to look forward to managing, as well as the ongoing participation with additional projects currently valued at between $5,000,000 and $10,000,000.

I am receiving exactly what I asked for when volunteering to come here and manage construction. Such includes an increased responsibility, an opportunity to participate fully in a construction design/build team, and to do such alongside the best of the best! I cannot say enough how much I appreciate the sacrifices these young men and women, and their families back home, and whom I now call friends, make. I feel blessed to live with here at PRT Zabul with this outstanding group. My commander, LtCol Veres, is an inspired man and one who holds a common vision in helping the Afghans help themselves. Priceless...

Folks, I ran another two miles this evening. I am feeling good about such. I see many faces younger than mine, and a few older as well, and another shared common trait is personal fitness and health. I live to learn and I am learning how to appreciate fitness and health again.

Kimberly is out fishing today with her father. They went out with his friends somewhere in western Washington and Kaesen is enjoying a fun day with his cousins and Uncle Chris. I hope the rest of you, my family and friends, are waking up to something equally fun and/or relaxing ahead.

143, K&K.

Good night and good day.

Special Post No. 019

June 21, 2011

Fourteen years ago Kimberly and I met and began our life together in Las Vegas; well, two weeks later we sure did! We moved in together after knowing each another for just two wonderful weeks and the last 14 years with her have been the greatest years a man could ever dream and wish to have with a woman. I would not trade a single day of being with her for anything in the world.

I love you, Kimberly. I know that May 27th is our wedding anniversary, but we have this day as our special starting of our lives together. Have a nice dinner tonight and know that I would be there if I could...

You are my wife... and my best friend forever.

AF Day 038

FOB Smart at 1600 - Tuesday

June 21st has been a good day thus far. I had a few projects to observe outside the wire this morning during which we had a few "exciting" moments. Think loud noises both distant and far! Remaining alert in all situations is paramount for a successful mission and planning for contingencies is obviously inherent to each mission. Let me tell you, I seem to be hypersensitive at times nowadays.

The progress on the projects we observed today was as anticipated and, as usual, not without opportunities for improvement. Concrete mix designs are a significant source of frustration at times and not because we do not provide them; rather, because many people here cannot read or are set in their ways - or both! Progress will continue to improve during my tenure, I am certain, and I look forward to the completion of the projects I am currently working. These include schools, clinics, expansions of the FOB, the local hospital, office buildings, walls, roads and repairing blast-damaged roads, bridges, etc. What more could I ask for at this point? Contingency construction is very interesting, enlightening, and consuming - for me at least.

The transition from old to new PRT team here at FOB Smart is in full swing. The new personnel are equally interesting and I look forward to getting to know them during their tenure here. We have an awards ceremony for outgoing personnel.

Other than that, my day has been normal and without major incident. I am safe and content here in my quarters, my three offices, and with my fellow PRT team. I plan to run again this evening. I plan to be healthy!

143, K&K.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 037

FOB Smart at 2150 - Monday

I had meetings today with interesting people from all walks of the government and military. We discussed road building, road repairs, and the facilitation of such. I am enjoying this piece of my work routine. I have a few jobs to look at tomorrow, another few meetings, additional project coordination (ongoing), and the world is my oyster! A portion of the new PRT team has finally arrived and we are briefing them constantly in preparation for the turnover.

I miss my wife so much tonight, and always, and miss my son so much tonight, and always. In fact, I miss all of my family and friends. I am looking forward to visiting my family in New Mexico in September for my first 21-day R&R. Then in December we will be in Arizona and who knows where we will be in March 2012. I had previously thought I would be home for April 21st; alas, that may not be feasible. Regardless, I get to see my lovely wife soon...

Okay, tonight I jogged on the treadmill for 30 minutes, for two miles, and hit my target heart rate for a good portion of the time. Tomorrow I will jog at lunch and again after dinner. My goal is to lose weight, to eat healthier, and to live as long as I can for my wife, my son, and myself. Day Two tomorrow will be just a little bit easier.

I am tired now.

143, K&K.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 036

FOB Smart at 1835

Whew! Today's mission was fairly long and, unbelievably, tiring. Riding across the countryside in an up-armored vehicle, with cold A/C, wearing an IBA vest and Kevlar helmet is taxing by itself. We looked at completed erosion control measures, bridge construction, and had two ribbon-cutting ceremonies with the provincial government. There were security personnel from local army, police, private, and US forces. The actual ceremony I attended included a true cutting of ribbon, Afghan media, and refreshments consisting of bakery goods produced in Kandahar and very tasty chocolates. I tried the baked goods; sweet is the only way to describe such.

Along the way today, one could view the burned-out hulks of trailers, trucks, cars, etc. sitting aside the main highway. The way people transport cars and goods is amazing. Take a Greyhound bus and load the entire length of the top of the bus with cargo goods. Then, for good measure, as two or three cars, literally, atop that and then you have a traditional, and very commonplace, view of the highway. These buses pass our military convoys, whereas we may be going along at 45-50 mph, travelling 25 mph faster with these ridiculously unsafe loads. Excitement is all around here, my friends.



Photo taken 02 Feb 2011 near Qalat, Afghanistan

You know, I absolutely love construction. While construction out here in the country, in the far reaches of provincial Afghanistan, is far different than most of what you would find in Kandahar or Kabul, we really do have the ability to affect lives in an awe-inspiring manner. Mud huts to block and concrete buildings. Mud walls to concrete block walls. Unlevel and dusty dirt roads to asphalt paved roadways, with striping and crosswalks to boot. Well, the crosswalks might need many more years to catch up in terms of usefulness and reason, but I am saying that construction is impacting lives here in a way that can be truly beneficial to all citizens of this country. I go on...

I love my fathers, Randy, Ted, and Don, on this day we celebrate fatherhood. Happy Father's Day to my fathers and to all of you fathers out there today. I love you all.

143, K&K.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 035

FOB Smart at 1905

Five projects observed today, including roads, ministry buildings, security upgrades, and a warehouse. Our mission this morning last nearly three hours, with a 30-pound vest and heavy Kevlar helmet, and the walking was good for me. I am constantly struck by the complete difference in lifestyle we observe whenever we are outside the wire. The kids were out in en masse today and they were as friendly as I have seen them. One of my coworkers commented that the kids were flocking to me for some reason. This is probably because I was making an effort to shake hands, give fist bumps, and offer high fives.

I have another longer mission tomorrow that I am looking forward to and am expecting some sort of excitement to be present. Travelling in a military convoy is always interesting... Since we will be going some distance and frequently observing completed construction, I should have good photo opportunities during the mission.

Saturday night is movie night this week. They are playing "Hangover 2." I will likely pass and opt for a movie in my room with a warm blanket and ice-cold air conditioning!

143, K&K.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 034

FOB Smart at 2010 (8:10 p.m.)

There are quite a few characters living here on FOB Smart! I so enjoy the different personalities and humorous interactions that have become a daily, as in throughout the entire day, occurrence. I suppose you find this anywhere and everywhere, but it seems accentuated by the close quarters and close relationships that naturally develop in contingency environments such as Afghanistan. Working with mostly Air Force and Army military men and women brings back such fond memories from nearly 20 years ago. I am grateful to be here rather than anywhere else in Afghanistan. I have come to realize, and am told so by others that have direct experience, that FOB Smart is the best place to live for us over here.

My new office with my pending counterpart from the US Army Corps of Engineers, Capt Ciccarelli, who is still an active duty Air Force engineer currently, is coming along well. We moved our new big-screen TV and all of the related office computers, new desk workstation, new partition wall, new air conditioning, etc, into our office and it is coming together well. For those of you who know me all too well, I love new organization projects and this certainly fits the bill.

I have multiple projects to observe in the field tomorrow. I am looking forward to working with the assigned personnel on these missions. Actually, I have more missions on Sunday and Tuesday and the following Saturday to look forward to as well. Life has picked up to a busy pace and I am appreciative of such.

I wish you all a terrific Friday; mine is quickly concluding and a movie is waiting for me in a few minutes...

143, K&K.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 034

FOB Smart at 0735

Rise and shine have I with all the verve of 10,000 smiles and the nerve of 10,000 miles! Alive and well and kicking in this glorious day am I gladly. Such beauty to behold and life to be sold, traded, and freely given. Fortune has set upon me and rightly bestowed the love of my wife, the love of my son, the love of my family and friends, good work, and health.

Breakfast is beckoning fast and my stomach is happy to oblige.

I received two care packages yesterday from Kimberly. I can't tell you how much it means to me, Kimberly. Thank you, my soulmate.

143, K&K.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 033

FOB Smart at 2215

The day was good and long. I met with several contractors here at the FOB; they are so interesting and completely different than you or me.

Call me crazy, but I am tired. I will take more time tomorrow to write. I have many missions coming up in the next six days, so there will be more interesting photos and stories to describe herein.

143, K&K.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 032

FOB Smart at 1920 (7:20 p.m.)

Another long day draws to a close for me here in Qalat. I have a little more work left in me, but the morning rang early for me and I am, once again, a tired boy. Tomorrow will be a good day, as was today, yesterday, and beyond. I miss my family and friends terribly, but being here with the people who are here with me make the distance apart seem a little easier to manage.

I wonder what you are all doing right now. Sleeping for some, breakfast for others, and off to work yet more of you. It is strange being half a day away and 10,000+ miles to boot.

Today's excitement was a little unusual drama that unfolded locally on our FOB. People drama that is, not anything scary or dangerous, but interesting nevertheless. Even here in war-torn Afghanistan amongst my military and civilian counterparts I find that life, as we know it back home, is much of the same with regard to personality conflicts, dysfunctional events or conversations, etc. This was something I observed mind you, not participated in, and it is best to say that it involved several unrelated events. Again, think strange behaviors.

I wish you all well.

143, K&K.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 032

FOB Smart at 0840 (8:40 a.m.)

We completed a mission including observations of new roads, a radio station, a ministerial compound of buildings and walls, and a walk-by of another security project. The interesting things often include noticing how the people appear, how they live, how they interact with you and each other. Another facet of the experience often includes young boys from a nearby boy’s school throwing rocks at the foot patrol. Some of these kids have good arms!

I have another meeting scheduled in an hour and twenty minutes. The day started, for me, at 0445 and I am ready to conquer this one! I feel great and on top life right now. K&K were heading back from Olympia. It sounds like it is still cool (read too cold for me) up there in the Pacific Northwest.

Have a terrific evening, y'all. I miss every one of y'all.

143, K&K.

Good night and good day.

Special Post No. 018

Photos...


13 Jun 2011

13 Jun 2011

14 Jun 2011

09 Jun 2011

The three top photos were taken yesterday evening of the two Apache gunships circling nearby in Qalat, Afghanistan. The photo of me and the three Afghan guards was taken shortly before a mission today to a nearby project. The last photo was taken on Kimberly's birthday. The people are (from left-to-right) TSgt Latha Caillouette, Capt Edward Ciccarelli, JL Summerlin. Mark Bridges (he was here two years for USACE and just redeployed stateside), CW2 Ron Brooks, and Capt Chris Bulson. All of these people, excluding me, are redeploying in early July, although Capt Ciccarelli will likely be rejoining me here as a USACE civilian like me.

AF Day 031

FOB Smart at 2040 (8:40 p.m.)

Capt Ciccarelli and I spent the entire evening moving all of the office equipment, paperwork, files, supplies, junk, tools, boxes of more items, empty boxes, etc. from our US Army Corps of Engineers office trailer, which my former counterpart utilized as his office previously, into our storage container. Today we had a new 1.5-ton air handler (fan coil unit) and condensing unit installed and tested. With less than 500 SF to cool, 2.5 total tons of cooling appears to be more than enough, as in super-cold, which I am a huge proponent of, of course. Tomorrow we will have the custom-built desktops and shelving installed, new floor covering, and a good cleaning. We also "procured" a 46" plasma TV and we are on the lookout for two comfortable chairs for break time and after-hours movie watching.

I worked on more projects today, met with a new Afghan contractor who will be selected on a new project of ours, had a couple of meetings, and enjoyed my day. Tomorrow I have a few missions to complete, as well as more reporting, more file updating, etc. Good stuff no doubt.

I woke this morning before 0430 as my power went out and the computer drained my APS backup battery to the point of it setting off the low battery alarms here and in my office next door. I actually heard the alarms in my dream and eventually woke to the sounds. Funny how that works.

I am a tired boy and I need to wake up at 0445 tomorrow.

143, K&K.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 030

FOB Smart at 2130 (9:30 p.m.)

I shared an interesting night in that we on the FOB were able to view two US Army Apache helicopters circling overhead, often very low to the ground and at times in high circuitous patterns off in the distance. These aircraft are full of awesome power and demonstrate such an amazing ability to defend, offend, and prove their agility. While it is better to say they were just flying around, once could imagine what the sight must have appeared to eyewitnesses here...

I had another safe and regular day here on the FOB. I coordinated multiple projects and planned for upcoming missions outside-the-wire. I have a few meetings tomorrow and a few deadlines to meet with regard to paperwork. At times the work here for me seems very similar to such that we regularly complete back home in construction management, only without the military uniforms, for me at least, and without the constant threats of hostile action right outside your walls. Well, it is hostile outside anywhere here in Afghanistan these days, but peace will someday overtake this insurgent-stricken land and allow the local, peaceful, and hard-working population to return to to some resemblance of "normal." What "normal" is here is so completely different that where you and I live, but "normalcy" will in fact return.

My coworkers are usually filled with lighthearted joking and pranking, at appropriate times that is, and I do enjoy their camaraderie. Life is still evolving and shaping into routines and familiarity in this unfamiliar land.

143, K&K.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 029

FOB Smart at 2345 (11:45 p.m.)

I am tired. Today was a good day. Today was a long day. Tomorrow is in 15 minutes. All is well and life is good. I miss y'all. We are designing a new office in our second US Army Corps of Engineers office trailer, which is right next door to my office/quarters trailer. Lots of potential...

143, K&K.

Good night and good day.

AF Day 028

FOB Smart at 2020 (8:20 p.m.)

Twenty-eight days later... and I am loving Afghanistan, albeit from a lonely perspective of being away from my wife and son. And from my other family and friends.

I worked well today and enjoyed the fact that I was and continue to remain busy each day. Such makes for short 12+ hour workdays for sure.

I have a couple of ribbon-cutting ceremonies tomorrow with LtCol Veres, Capt Ciccarelli, and the governor of Zabul Province. One requires a foot patrol and the other a mounted patrol. These are unique moments to glimpse into the other world of local politics here and to see how the Afghan people receive their new construction projects.

I am tired.

143, K&K.

Good night and good day.

02 June 2011

Say hello to my little friends!

AF Day 027

FOB Smart at 2150 (9:50 p.m.) - I sent an email to a friend describing life here and thought it worthwhile to revise and repost here, too.

All is well for me here in Afghanistan. I have been on approximately 20 combat QA missions to-date. I have had the opportunity to observe construction progress on a variety of work. Such includes CMU walls, concrete slabs-on-grade, structural concrete columns for buildings, rather than steel columns which require inherently more costs due to skilled-labor deficiencies here, Afghan-style roadway construction, including subgrade, ABC, and AC, security walls (HESCO barriers filled with clean soil or sand) for the provincial governor's compound here in Qalat, a new radio station under construction, etc. I have traveled hours south of FOB Smart by military convoy (think six up-armored military vehicles with bulletproof glass and armor, as well as mine and RPG protection), and have flown by helicopter (military and civilian contract) to Kandahar and back several times. I have a multi-night mission coming up soon possibly (think camping and campfires), again via helicopter, and several nearby ribbon-cutting ceremonies to attend soon, too.

I have developed many short routines and several long ones. I work nearly 160 hours every two weeks, so the time seems to blend quite a bit on a day-to-day level. There are so many things here that take time, Afghan time, such as waiting for an email reply confirming work requested will be performed, which also takes certain military security coordination, file scrubbing, file processing, payment processing, COR documentation, etc. Simple phone calls to the local Afghan contractors require a Pashtu translator and a lot of patience and coordination. Work life here can be very intense and always interesting.

It is easily said that more happens here, on a local level in Qalat, which is where we are located, than what could ever possibly be reported on the news there back home. I guess I could best describe life here as intense, as interesting, as exciting, as harrowing at times, as unnerving at times, etc. I am so grateful to be here in Afghanistan with such professional soldiers, airmen, marines, and sailors. The other US civilian agencies here at FOB Smart are equally as impressive. We are one big family here.

I know, I can go on and on...

143, K&K.

Good night and good day - again!

Special Post No. 017

Photos...

10 Jun 2011

10 Jun 2011

I found the little green flashlight, Kaesen! Daddy will send it to you soon... I just need a ride, in a military convoy across hostile terrain, to send it to you from FOB Lagman. Maybe I can get a haircut while I am there. Wait, I don't need a haircut! Maybe I can do some shopping there at the Post Exchange (PX).

AF Day 027

FOB Smart at 2030 (8:30 p.m.)

Friday night in Qalat, Afghanistan, is so completely different that in any other town I have ever lived. Here on FOB Smart we have some people watching movies in the MWR tent, playing cards here and there, or watching movies in their rooms. We had steak and shrimp for dinner tonight; I had the shrimp. There are plenty of folks here from all walks of life to have conversations with and enjoy their stories. Tonight's interesting conversation was with a former soldier in the US Army who is now working here as a security agent. His stories were very interesting.

The last few days have been different for me in that I have really begun immersing myself in the construction projects assigned to me and helping out with project scrubbing. Scrubbing involves going through project files, both soft and hard formats, and ensuring that all the files are in order and ready for turnover to the next PRT rotation. I came at a perfect time in that I started with one PRT team and will endure here long enough to see several more teams' rotations. So because my current PRT team is rotating out soon, I also get to experience the scrubbing process, which in my case makes me more aware of intricate details and processes of each project that I am working on or assisting others with during my tour.

Speaking of my tour, I have discussed the possibility again with Kimberly that I, if she and Kaesen agree, may opt to stay here in-place for two years rather than one. This will provide the PRT with enhanced continuity, which is beneficial to the overall success of all PRT missions, and would allow for additional time here to acquire desirable higher-level construction management, albeit contingency, experience. It is meaningful, to me, to be here, even for a year, and I cannot imagine not having taken the chance to volunteer for this tour. I acknowledge this even in light of the inherent risks to life, the nature of the PRT mission, and the very painful separation from my loved ones.

I ramble on...

143, K&K.

Good night and good day.