FOB Smart at 1800 - Monday
I really enjoyed today more than others recently. I completed two combat patrols outside the wire this morning and afternoon. The first was a dismounted foot patrol through Old Qalat City and the latter a mounted combat patrol with dismounts. The children were so happy I came out because they know me as the man carrying and giving away loads of candy to them! In all, we observed progress, or a lack thereof currently due to weather, of projects ranging from schools and hospitals to government offices and security upgrades at existing Government Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, or GIRoA as we refer to it more commonly, offices and compounds. Our new engineers that recently rotated in also had a chance to go with us and gave me and my coworker from USACE a chance to walk them through all of the various projects near to us and the nuances of each in an orderly and beneficial manner. There is nothing like seeing something up close and personal as opposed to just reading about it or listening to someone else describe it ad nauseam.
Some of the projects give the appearance that workers have been there and are ready to rock and roll through the next construction season that should last again until November 2012. Others gave the appearance of full construction hustling with work underway not requiring concrete construction presently. I enjoy these missions outside the wire most for the opportunity to inspect and observe work, the chances for on-the-spot mentoring, teaching, and/or training, and the interaction with the workers and the local population that invariably always show up for the free candies and sweets I hand out regularly to their young ones.
Who knows what tomorrow holds, surely more goodness, but today was superb in the sense that I am here and making the most of every potentially enjoyable experience.
143, Kaesen.
Good night and good day.
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