You might being asking yourself, ‘How can you be in a funk?  Aren’t you coming home soon?’

Yes, the unit is due to return sometime in the next few weeks, but there are still many unknowns, and those unknowns weigh heavily on people who see a light at the end of a tunnel.  The travel plans of the replacement unit, the weather, bureaucratic paperwork, missed forms and overlooked emails, or a myriad of other things can slow down a Soldier who is greatly anticipating reunions with family, friends and, yes, even that civilian job they left more than a year ago.

All that uncertainty, and the unsettling nature it has on our Soldiers, has caused much of the funk and made me think about an Arabic phrase that we Americans here joke about often — ‘inshallah’.  The English language translation is roughly “God willing.”

Sometimes when we ask Iraqis to do something or make a commitment, they answer with ‘inshallah.’  We Americans seem to think it is because they are purposely being evasive, non-committal or lazy.  Perhaps that is true in some cases, but I think maybe there is something more important to the use of this phrase.  It’s about living with reality.

We Americans like to have a plan, but here in Iraq, planning your life seems like time not well spent.  American like to get a commitment, and we get upset when we don’t get what we want when we want it.  In fact, you might say that is the mantra that rules our lives.  If your computer network goes offline in Baghdad, you call 1LT Larrew to fix it immediately….we must have constant connectivity, we demand it.   If you don’t get what you want from a business, move on to one that will give it to you….you are customer and your dollars do the talking.  Or, if you are not happy with your relationship, move on…..there are more fish in the ocean. 

I’m not saying that people should not have expectations or goals, but I think it is unrealistic to build your whole life on the premise that you will always get what you want, when you want it.  Like the old Yiddish proverb (now part of American cuture): Man plans and God laughs.

Yes, our Soldiers want to be home — yesterday, if that were possible.   And yes, we are working as hard as we can to make that wish a reality.  We have prepared briefings and SOPs for our counterparts, packed up gear and shipped it home ahead of schedule, filled out forms in triplicate and sent them to the correct person (followed by a phone call to confirm their arrival), did maintenance on our weapons to make sure we can turn them in quickly, and even cleaned our work areas to remove all of our personal items, to make our replacements’ transition go more smoothly.  But, unfortunately, that does not provide any guarantees.  It only gives the illusion of a guarantee.

We need everyone to know that staking our happiness and mental health on getting what we want, when we want it, based on our experiences in the government, and especially in the U.S. military (the home of ‘hurry up and wait’), is more likely to lead to PTSD than a second year in Iraq.

So instead, I ask that you all support your Soldiers by adding ‘inshallah’ to your vocabulary and your life, at least for the next few weeks.  Realize that none of us (even when working together) can confirm that we will get what we want, when we want it.   There are just too many things that can, and often do, happen unexpectedly to change our best laid plans. 

For now, just know that everyone in the 314th PAOC is ready to come home, and that if all our plans do come to fruition, inshallah, we will be happy to see all of you sooner.  But, if the unexpected does happen, also realize that it may be for some reason that we may not know or appreciate. 

It is tough for all of us to live with that reality, but thankfully, tomorrow is the 314th PAOC’s farewell party from Iraq…a chance for us to say ‘thank you’ to the people and organizations who made our time here more enjoyable and effective…

…well, if it doesn’t rain and the food arrives on time.  Inshallah.

As our frequent blog readers know, the 314th Public Affairs Operations Center is nearing the end of its tour here in Iraq, but the mission goes on. 

Yep, they went through the same training at the 314th PAOC Soldiers. (Photo by SSG Danny E. McCormick)

The United States is committed to staying the course and helping our friends in Iraq to rebuild their nation (each of us in the 314th has many friends that we will be sad to leave).  Part of that ongoing mission here includes supporting the flow of information, and the Combined Press Information Center and the Media Operations Center at the U.S. Embassy here will continue to be front and center in that important mission.  Though the name of the U.S. military heaquarters here will change in the near future, our press conferences, embedded media coordination, English and Arabic language press releases, escort missions, media credentials, and answers to media queries at the press desk will continue. 

And, who will carry out this mission, you ask?  The Soldiers of the 318th Public Affairs Operations Center from Forest Park, Illinois, of course!

They also got to enjoy all that Fort Dix, NJ had to offer. (Photo by SSG Danny E. McCormick)

Soon after this Army Reserve unit arrives in Baghdad, the Soldiers of 314th will work with our successors to ensure we pass on the knowledge we have gained.  We’ll walk them through the places where we have gone (and point out the ones we can’t visit anymore), explain the challenges we had and how we overcame them, and introduce them to our U.S., Iraqi and other friends and colleagues who made our year here more productive and enjoyable.

Some of you readers have asked what you can do to support U.S. Soldiers here in Iraq after we leave….and to answer you I say this:  support the 318th the way you have supported us.  Send them cookies, pray for them, help their families back home, and keep paying your taxes (someone has to pay our wages, right?).  Also, you can get your fix of online info from sunny Baghdad, Iraq by visiting their blog at www.318thpublicaffairsoperationcenter.blogspot.com, where you can continue with news and views of deployed Army Reserve Public Affairs Soldiers (the best job in the Army).

To the members of the 318th, we DEFINITELY welcome you (remember, sooner is better), and we encourage you to follow our lead.  As we did, reach out not only to the far reaches of the world’s Internet community of strangers, but also to your friends and families back home.  You never know whose life you will positively affect or what changes you might bring.  Each of you 318th Soldiers has a powerful tool at your fingertips — so take what we have done, make it your own, make it better (and as the administrator of the 314th blog, I am required by Army regulation to ask you to do it in accordance with AR 530-1).

So, now it's time for them to leave those MREs behind and come on over to Iraq for a year. We'll keep the lights on for you 318th! (Photo by SSG Danny E. McCormick)

And, to our friends, families and loyal 314th blog readers, continue to follow us here as we begin our journey back home over the next few weeks.  Our story is not yet over!

A few of our regular blog readers recently asked us to give you a tour of our dining facility.  That’s DFAC in military-speak, although some of our older readers might remember the military calling it a mess hall (ours is very clean….no mess here).

It took a few days, but I got permission to take pictures in the DFAC.  Our facility is very nice — well lit, clean, and lots of room for all of us Soldiers, civilian employees, contractors and even some local nationals.  It’s also a very secure building and well protected from enemy attack. 

After you enter the building, the first step is to clean up.  Signs announce that the best way to avoid disease is to wash your hands.  From my personal experience, the DFAC is the cleanest place on the FOB (and it also has the cleanest latrines), so I am more than willing to follow through on that request.   There are rows of soap dispensers, sinks and paper towels to get you on your way (I didn’t take pictures of the latrines…just take my word for it, they are clean).

Once you are giving permission to proceed, the world is your oyster (or veal cutlet).  Your first choice — eat in or take out.  Personally I like eating in.  The place is always filled with laughter, the sound of televisions, pots clanging….lots of activity.  My office is pretty quiet, so it’s a nice change of pace.  It’s always a great place to sit with friends and talk about life (please, no talking about work in the DFAC!!!).   But, if you really do need to get back to work quickly — and all of us are in that position sometimes — then you get the styrofoam 3-compartment container and some plastic utensils.

I must say at this point that all DFACs in Iraq are not created equal.  Some are very small.  In fact, some remote locations are pretty sparse.  Our Soldiers there get very little (if any) selection.  Luckily, those type of facilities are becoming rarer and rarer as the landscape of our presence in Iraq changes.  I’d say the DFAC at FOB Prosperity is a good size, but I have been in bigger.  

Since our DFAC is pretty good sized, we have a good selection of food.  We have a main line with a special menu of the day.  It might be steak and shrimp or it might be meatloaf.   It seems that many of our Soldiers, including LTC Perez, like it when it’s Mexican night in the main line.   However, our Executive Officer MAJ Lincoln nearly knocks people over on the way out of the office if he hears that pulled pork is on the main line.  Personally, I am not a big main line fan.

Besides the main line, we also have a sandwich line with all the fixings, and they will even grill it for you (mmmmm, melted cheese on pastrami).  Lots of our Soldiers take this line for lunch…and a cup of soup.

The next line over is the international line.  I am not sure why they call it that since the only thing they have there is spaghetti, a taco bar, and a couple types of curry.  Despite the misnomer, I do like the curry, and one of my new favorite foods is cauliflower curry.  It soaks up the flavor….in fact, I am salivating now just thinking of it. 

Just so you don’t think I hate vegetables, I will let you know there is a great salad bar with dozens of selections…and I have been seen grazing there.  You would hardly believe you are in a war zone in a desert with all the choices of fresh foods there. 

Before you sit down with that food you selected, don’t forget to stop by the drink area.  Although alcohol is off-limits in accordance with General Order #1, you can get a non-alcoholic beer in the drink lines, as well as sodas, teas, coffee, juices, water and energy drinks.

Oh….I forgot to tell you my favorite part of the DFAC, didn’t I?  Well, anyone who has been around me for even a few days knows my weakness for dessert….and the DFAC does nothing to help me curb that appetite for sweets.  Yes, they do put a beautiful selection of fresh fruit next to the hot cherry crisp ala mode, but come on, do you really think I can pass that up?  They also have a huge glass container filled with pies, cakes, and other desserts that changes every day.  Finally, at the end of the dessert area is my bliss — the ice cream line.  They ship in at least 8 different flavors of Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream….and then put a whole cart full of toppings right next to it.   If you have never had strawberry ice cream with pineapple chunks, drizzled chocolate sauce and some crumbled sugar cookies, you do not know the meaning of nirvana. 

1LT Joseph Larrew cleans up before entering the DFAC.

1LT Larrew grabs his tray, plate and utensils before choosing his preferred food line(s).

Lots of good food in the main line served by friendly staff.

Most of the staff in our DFAC are from outside Iraq. They run the facility almost non-stop (it shuts down only 2 hours every day).

A DFAC employee scoops up some mashed potatoes and gravy.

This is better than Burger King! Grilled the way you like while you watch (extra onions please).

Today's international line has spicy chicken curry and a mixed vegetable curry.

The taco bar is one of my favorite places....especially when they have guacamole!

This is only side of the salad bar. Lots to choose from...and very fresh.

I love broccoli!

Bacon bits, cheese, croutons? What else could a person want?

Every time one of these trays gets close to empty, a replacement is rushed out to fill the void.

Staying hydrated in Iraq is important...and the DFAC gives you plenty of options.

Coffee -- regular and decaf -- and next to this is a variety of creamers.

Just when you thought it was safe to sit down, you pass by these desserts.

I'm sure my mom is asking, "Why did he ask me to send cookies and fudge?"

After you get a scoop of vanilla ice cream, you might want to put some strawberries or caramel on it.

MAJ Lincoln is a "meat and potatoes" kind of guy.

1LT Larrew prefers his food a little more exotic.

Everyone from Birmingham will be glad to know that Soldiers like SGT Richardson can get sweet tea in Baghdad (well, at least you can at the DFAC).

SPC Clifton knows that nothing goes better with sweet tea than a hot slice of pecan pie.

Of course, you can choose to eat healthy at the DFAC. Every day we get a wide selection of fresh fruit.

The first thing you see when you enter the main hall of the DFAC, and the last thing you see as you exit are U.S. Soldiers. They maintain order, track numbers, and always greet you with a smile.

A sunset picture taken by a Soldier from the 126th PAOC on November 6, 2008.

Karaka –

I wish I could take credit for this sunset picture, since it is very nicely done.  I got it from the archives of previous CPIC units.  It was taken back in 2008, so it has be one taken by a Soldier in the 126th Public Affairs Operations Center.  I looked for information identifying the photographer, but couldn’t find it.  Perhaps someone will comment and tell us who it was.

The picture is taken not far from the previous location of the CPIC, in an area we called Ocean Cliffs (there was no ocean and no cliffs, but the British were there, so they probably named it for their Cliffs of Dover).  Nearby Ocean Cliffs is the Convention Center, the Al-Rasheed Hotel, the Parliment, and offices of Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.  Lot of stuff going on it that neighborhood!

I can tell it is a sunset picture since we are facing west.  The anchor is from an Iraqi naval vessel.  To the immediate right in the Monument to the Unknown Soldier — a very impressive structure that I had hoped to visit, but that never happened.  I imagine it is as sacred to Iraq’s miltiary members as our own Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery.

In the distance you can see the famed Crossed Swords which is the entry to a stadium and parade ground where Saddam Hussein staged elaborate displays of his power.   About a mile or so behind that is the current location of the CPIC.

I suppose we can all see some sort of symbolism in the picture, but I will leave the interpretation to the individual. 

Thanks for the request Karaka….and thank you 126th PAOC for the picture.

For the past 10 months and change, this blog was a lot like the old TV series “Outer Limits” — we (the Soldiers of the 314th PAOC) have controlled the vertical and horizontal, etc.  Well, that has all changed — at least for the next few days. 

Until Friday, our faithful blog readers are going to be in control.  You tell us what you want to see (I’ve got my point-and-shoot camera ready to snap) or what you want to read (got the pen and paper ready, too).

Send your requests to this blog entry as a comment, and we will do our best as long as it does not violate the four forbidden government topics — security (can’t violate national security concerns), accuracy (has to be truthful), propriety (can’t be inappropriate), and policy (can’t go against government rules).

This might be your last chance, so go on….make your request!

Today, one of our interpreters came into my office and asked how I was.  I gave the stock answer: “I can’t complain.” 

The truth is that I am often seen mumbling under my breath about something that irks me. 

After he left, however, I thought about my statement, and some of the things that have happened here in Baghdad over the past few months, and how insignificant my troubles seem in comparison to the events that are affecting people like these:

-  One of custodial staff is a local Iraqi (there are about 10 total).  He’s a wonderful man…a father of four children who drags himself out of bed at 4 a.m. every morning (and I mean EVERY morning — he has no weekends off).  He traverses the red zone (where all the bombs explode) and makes his way to the Combined Press Information Center to spend his 10-hour work day providing grounds maintenance (in extreme heat) and cleaning up after we fortunate American Soldiers leave here in a few weeks.  Unfortunately, he will stay.   Thanks to a bomb that exploded in August, the car that brings him here to work is even less dependable than it was before.  And, how much do you think he makes for all his troubles?  Less for a full day’s work than most of our Soldiers make in one hour working entry-level jobs.

-  Another man I know asked the Americans if he could build a restaurant on one of our forward operating bases about a year ago.  We told him yes, so he spent, by his estimate, about $200,000 creating a very nice building.  Then, we changed the rules and told him he could not open the building.  We told him the food from the local economy is not safe to feed American Soldiers, even though this man has catered all the special events at the CPIC for Soldiers and our guests, and no one has ever become ill.   He is a gracious man who always smiles….maybe because he knows that a frown may ruin any chance he has of someone, anyone, changing the rules again and letting him open his restaurant.

-  A local Iraqi woman who has visited the CPIC wants nothing else but to be a journalist.  She wants to make this country live up to promises of freedom.  She wants to be able to tell the stories that need to be told, but she cannot.  She fears for her life if some of her stories are printed.  Whether or not the fear is real or imagined is not important.  The truth is that Iraq has been the most dangerous place for journalists for the past six years.  When we dedicated the Combined Press Information Center to all those who had died to guarantee the freedoms of the people of Iraq, the number included more than the 4,300 American sons and daughters…it also included the more than 250 media staff that have died here since 2003.

With all this conflict and pain, and the hundreds of other similiar stories I’ve encountered over the past 10 months, you would think that I would become jaded and disillusioned, but just the opposite is true.  I realize that there is pain and suffering everywhere….Iraq is no different than any other place…but there is something special here that keeps me from mumbling too loud when I get upset. 

But, more than the acts of our own Soldiers, I am humbled by the generosity and resiliency of those with even less to give.  Today, our custodial staff — including the man I mentioned at the beginning of this blog — dug into their pockets and, with cooking assistance from their wives, brought our staff a delicious meal of barbequed fish, freshvegetables, stuffed grape leaves, baked bread, and a local dish with rice, dates, and nuts.  As we lined up to take part in this feast, they stood on the side refusing to eat until all of us had our fill. 

As LTC Perez has stated to me on several occasions, our CPIC is an oasis in many ways.  It seems to me that all those who come here have found a way to peacefully coexist and support each other.  So, I really have no right or need to complain.  We might not be able to change the overall course of the nation of Iraq, but together we have all changed the course for many of those who have passed through our doors.  Although we are all ready to leave Iraq, I hope each of us can bring some of that back with us.  Now I ask you, how could I complain about that?

Donzens of individuals and groups -- most strangers -- have sent us boxes of treats to make our time pass by quickly.

SPC Gardner and SGT Lee put smiles on the faces of children at the refugee center.

1LT Larrew poses with some of the friends he has helped during his year in Iraq.

SGT Leech's special friend visits her for a midnight snack (she wants to tell everyone she NEVER touched the cat since that is against the rules and could transmit disease).

Keeping family members and friends of 314th PAOC Soldiers “in the know” has always been a prime motivation for the Blogsoverbaghdad.com website.  LTC Ignacio Perez, the unit commander, has worked closely with Mr. Del Tull, our Family Readiness Group coordinator (an intense, under-appreciated and unpaid position) to share all the news from Iraq. 

A couple days ago, LTC Perez sent the following letter to family members and friends of 314th Soldiers through Mr. Tull, to update everyone about the accomplishments behind us and the challenges that lie ahead.

———————————————————————-

Dear Friends and Families,

As we prepare our return home for the holidays, I’d like to share with you my appreciation of the Soldiers for their many accomplishments, as well as for their numerous personal sacrifices to carry out our mission during our year in Iraq.  It took a group of 30 Soldiers—the public affairs dream team—to achieve success, and every member added significance to the organization.  I could not be more proud of these Soldiers for their leadership and commitment to the Army Values and Warrior Ethos.

Since our arrival in Iraq in January 2009, the 314th PAOC has been part of a remarkable period of transition marked by the Security Agreement.  Our Soldiers have been witnesses to history as this nation conducted elections and steered a course toward democracy. We have also seen changes in the political landscape.  Iraqi security forces have assumed greater responsibility in protecting their citizens, and for the first time, control both the roads and skies.  For some of us who served in Iraq previously, adapting from counterinsurgency operations to stability operations was a trying task.  But despite changes to our operational environment, every one of our Soldiers met the challenges with a positive attitude and a steadfast adherence to professional standards. Ultimately, their efforts may seem transparent at much higher levels of authority, but they will be measured as successes among the many Iraqi and Western journalists we have supported.  Every endeavor and good deed made by a Soldier from the 314th PAOC, especially toward local residents, left a positive impression of citizen-Soldiers serving with dignity and courage in their call to duty.

I trust you will share my admiration and pride in the remarkable accomplishments of our Soldiers.  They have undoubtedly left the Combined Press Information Center in Baghdad, Iraq a better place through their enormous talents, creativity, and extraordinary versatility. Here are just a few highlights of their superb performance during the deployment:

·         60% of the Soldiers have advanced in rank

·         Completed over 2,500 hours of military correspondence courses

·         Credentialed over 1,400 members of the media

·         Conducted over 3,100 escort missions

·         Embedded over 400 international reporters in units throughout Iraq

·         Translated over 1,100 press releases

·         Orchestrated more than 100 media events

·         Relocated to a new forward operations base within 72 hours without loss of mission capability

Homecomings are times of great joy, anticipation and anxiety for everyone. As the Soldiers return to their families, homes and careers, I ask for your patience.  It takes time to adjust to relationships, work environments, and even dreams placed on hold.  The reality of deployments is change. We are not the same individuals that bade farewell to you one year ago. We are veterans of war– a little older, and possibly a little weary, but certainly wiser in many aspects.  It is my greatest hope that in spite of the many challenges everyone has faced, all have experienced personal and professional growth.

The Army Reserve expects and encourages its Soldiers to use the first three months back home to reintegrate into the life they left behind a year ago.  We know you have shouldered many additional responsibilities to allow your loved ones to focus on the mission and their safety.  It is likely that you, too, have changed.  We are reminded by experts here to avoid big decisions during this time, so I ask that you also take things one day at a time until your lives together reach a new equilibrium. 

To support those efforts, Soldiers may attend monthly battle training assemblies during this 90-day period, but it is not required.  Also, the Army has special services to help Soldiers and family members during this period, with free medical care for six months and post-deployment counselors who have access to a variety of resources.  The best place to start if you or your Soldier needs support is the Warrior and Family Assistance Center at 1-866-436-6290 or www.arfp.org/wfac.

The outstanding Soldiers of the 314th Public Affairs Operations Center have wrenched life into each assignment from start to finish, and never wavered in the performance of their duties in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Furthermore, they have distinguished themselves in every aspect of technical and tactical proficiency, and continue to be a driving force through their contributions. I have been privileged to serve alongside a remarkable group of talented men and women who personify the finest reflection of the American Soldier.  Please welcome these warriors home and embrace their dedication to our nation.

Yours sincerely,

Ignacio J. Perez

LTC, U. S. Army

Commanding

Over the past month or so, my stream of blogs has diminished to a trickle.  I apologize to all the regular readers, but preparations for the redeployment of the 314th PAOC back to the United States has been a big undertaking.  As Army Reserve Soldiers, we all realize the impact that redeployment will have on all of us and out familiees, as the resources available to us diminish and/or change once we return home.

I would like to remind all family members and friends of the 314th of a few programs available to Soldiers and their families once they arrive back home.

1.  VA.  The Department of Veterans Affairs has many programs and services for Soldiers.  Some of the most important are the educational and medical benefits. 

a.  The GI Bill educational benefits changed as of August 1, 2009, and now allows a qualified Soldier to transfer his or her entitlements to a spouse or children.  For more information, our Soldiers here have the opportunity to meet with a local Education Center briefer on November 4; those of you at home can check out the program at http://www.gibill.va.gov/.  In addition to the transferability, the new GI Bill has some changes that could impact the amount A Soldier receives for other things like books and housing.  As always, I encourage you and your Soldier to meet with your local VA educational representative to figure out what is best option.

b.  The VA Healthcare System includes hospitals and outpatient clinics across the country.  When we redeploy back through Fort Dix, one of our briefings will be on this program.  Every Soldier will fill out a VA Form 1010EZ that automatically enrolls each of us into the VA Healthcare System in our home state.  During that first five years after our deployment, Soldiers are able to see treatment for conditions related to deployment.

c.  Other stuff.  In addition to these programs, Soldiers also become eligible for VA home loans and employment preference for government jobs.  Check out http://www.va.gov/ for details.

2.  TRICARE.  The military healthcare system is called TRICARE, and while Soldiers are deployed and in the final stage of preparing to deploy, they and their family enjoy treatment though this program.  Thanks to changes a few years ago, Army Reserve Soldiers also have access after they return home.

a.  Unless one of our unit members is returning to a government job, they will likely qualify for the Transitional Assistance Management Program, or TAMP.  This program allows Soldiers and family members to continue on TRICARE at little or no cost if you meet certain eligibility criteria.  That criteria will be confirmed at Fort Dix once we receive our DD 214.  EVERY TPU SOLDIER WILL GET THEIR TAMP CARD BEFORE DEPARTING FORT DIX.  TAMP gives Army Reserve Soldiers 180 days of TRICARE Standard, or TRICARE Prime if you ask for that program.  Go to http://www.tricare.mil/Transparency/ to see the difference costs and benefits these two TRICARE programs.

b.  After your TAMP coverage ends, Army Reserve Soldiers can continue TRICARE coverage with TRICARE Reserve Select, for a relatively low cost.  Check out the program here: www.tricare.mil/reserve/reserveselect/index.cfm.

The cost is only $47.51 per month for an individual, and $180.17 for a family.  If you were enrolled in TRS before you were activated, your coverage will not automatically resume.  You can visit the Guard and Reserve Web Portal at https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/appj/trs/ and follow the instructions to re-purchase the plan.

You must have your TRS Request Form (DD Form 2896-1) in the mail and postmarked within 60 days of the last day of your previous TRICARE coverage (e.g., active duty benefits, TAMP), to receive continuous benefits.

Each 314th Soldiers received details about Army Reserve dental coverage and telephone numbers with more information.

3.  Strong Bonds.  FINALLY we are coming home.  Do you need a free 3-day retreat when your Soldier returns home (transportation provided)?  Or maybe you are single Soldier who wants a chance to relax and recharge? 

If you will reside in the 81st RSC region (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina or Tennessee) upon your return home — this information is for you.  (IF YOU RESIDE IN ANOTHER AREA OF THE US, CONTACT THE RSC CHAPLAIN’S OFFICE THERE FOR MORE INFORMATION)

The 81st RSC is sponsoring Strong Bonds events in 2010 at no cost to you (and your spouse).  This is a perfect way to re-connect with a spouse, or just enjoy a weekend with other Army Reserve single Soldiers.  Strong Bonds is a unit-based, chaplain-led program that helps Soldiers and their families build strong relationships.  The program website is http://www.strongbonds.org

Each 314th Soldier has received the forms necessary to apply for a weekend in great places like Atlanta, New Orleans, Orlando, or Hilton Head, SC.

4.  WFAC.  I’ve saved the best for last with the Warrior and Family Assistance Center.  The staff here have a motto, “Whatever It Takes,” and they mean it.  They are a one-stop shop to connect Soldiers and their family members with military organizations, government agencies and others who can solve problems.  It doesn’t matter what you need — administrative, medical, legal, financial, benefits, personnel actions, family counseling, etc. — the staff will help Soldiers and family members.  You can see their website at www.arfp.org/wfac or call them 24/7 at 1-866-436-6290.   I’ve personally met and worked with the staff herer, and they are committed to helping Army Reserve Soldiers and families.

The most recent issue of the Army Reserve’s “Warrior Citizen” magazine hit the streets…and this blog site is featured prominently on page 7.  As Public Affairs professionals, our Soldiers know the value of getting the word out.  Many of our younger unit members are also “social media” experts, with MySpace, FaceBook, Linked-In, and other similar accounts.  For many it is the primary way they communicate with friends and family around the world.

For better or worse, people don’t sit down and watch the evening news with Walter Cronkite anymore.  Instead they get their news (and share it with others) over the Internet.  Personally, I don’t understand Twitter, but it apparently has played a role in social movements and international relief efforts in places like Iran and Indonesia.

Blogsoverbaghdad.com website in the spotlight.

Aloha!  I want to personally thank each of you who helped make this a reality —you should know what you did for my Soldiers and the people who attended the luau. 

We publicized the luau all over the place. I sure wish I was on that beach right now!

The attached pictures are just a sample of the craziness and “aloha spirit” the Soldiers in my 314th PAOC from Birmingham, Ala., created for folks from all over the world here in the International Zone on August 21.  More than 300 attended – and of those about 10-15 were from Hawaii and many more had either been stationed there or visited the islands. 

SPC Brittany Gardner circulated in the crowd distributing plastic, silk and shell leis to luau attendees.

The Soldiers in my unit are great.  I convinced the 314th Soldeirs to wear donated aloha shirts and circulate through the crowd and give everyone a warm welcome and lei.  They made everyone feel special — you can tell from all smiles in the pictures.  It might not have been an “authentic” luau (we could not put a pig in the ground in a Muslim country, for example) but I could definitely feel the spirit.  Besides, with no mai tais (General Order #1), we had to act a little silly to get everyone to “hang loose”.  Of course, we could not have done this without the support of my friends in Hawaii like Sherri Okinaga, Lorraine Nakaji and Mike Mau.  And then they told their friends and co-workers.  

SGT Mary Lee was our photo assistant. We took photos of all the participants with their leis at a small kiddie pool (the closest thing we could find to simulate Waimea Bay).

 For instance, Lorraine told David Gonsalves at Hilo Hattie, a store in Hilo that sells aloha clothing and other items that make you think about Hawaii.  Collectively they shipped us everything from aloha shirts, grass skirts and haupia to tiki god statues, calendars of the men and women of Hawaii (in bathing suits) and more than 750 leis of all sorts.  Now tell me, how could this not have been fun?  We even had a huge Hawaii state flag flying over here (I think even King Kamehameha would have been happy). 

Soldiers at the luau got to try local food favorites like roast pork, macaroni salad, sticky rice (with seaweed sprinkled on top), chicken long rice, and haupia.

After we finished our luau, we took part in a teleconference with Hawaii  Governor Linda Lingle, U.S. Pacific Command Admiral Timothy Keating, Maj. Gen. Robert Lee, and Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki.  One Soldier from Hawaii now in Kentucky for college, SPC Amy Balli, a 2006 graduate of Konawaena High School, joined us in sending our collective “aloha” to the thousands of people in the Hawaii Convention Center listening in on that conversation.  It was quite an evening for all of us!

SFCs Jeremiah Glassford and Adam Daley enjoyed the food...and their aloha woven hats.

 I know some people in Hawaii did not want the state to celebrate.  They see statehood as a negative thing.  From my point of view, however, all this outpouring of love, generosity and the aloha spirit showered on my Soldiers and those at the luau would not have happened without statehood. 

 People stuck around the luau for more than hour after we closed everything down, just basking in the “aloha spirit” and enjoying a break from the reality of Iraq with all the boredom interrupted by moments of violence, death and insanity.

 For that, I thank all of you.  And to those who made my 17 years in Hawaii some of the best in my life, mahalo nui loa! 

LTC Lee Reynolds (left), a former resident of Hawaii, gives the shaka sign with our luau emcee SFC Benari Poulten, a Soldier in the 314th PAOC (and a Broadway actor and comedian when he is home in Manhattan).

There was no beach, so no surfing competition, so we improvised -- we had a limbo contest. I don't know, but I think MAJ James Lincoln, the 314th Executive Officer, might do pretty well "hanging ten" at Banzai Pipeline.

After the experienced hula dancers at the luau showed how to do it right, we opened it up to others (prizes for everyone who got up to entertain us). Here is SGT EMily Anderson. I think she looks pretty authentic...and she was darn good with the dancing, too.

At the end of the night, the Soldiers of the 314th took a well-deserve break from cleaning up the luau. Shortly after this, we moved to our Combined Press Information Center for a telephone call to talk to the thousands of people assembled in the Hawaii Convention Center. (Photos by SSG Paul Roberts, 314th PAOC)

Fresh from her R&R leave, SPC(P) Roshonda Thurston walked into the press conference room at the Combined Press Information Center thinking it was a supply issue that needed her expertise.  Instead, she found a room full of her fellow 314th PAOC Soldiers ready to celebrate her promotion to SGT.

MAJ James Lincoln, Acting Commander (and CPIC Director), officiated the ceremony and reminded the group about the role she played, from being a last minute addition to the team to the supply sergeant responsbile for bringing all our Soldiers and equipment home to the United States (no pressure, huh?).

Congratulations SGT Thurston….job well done!

SGT Thurston is standing tall and ready to official become and NCO and MAJ Lincoln prepares to promote her.

After her new rank has been affixed, MAJ Lincoln congratulates SGT Thurston while her fellow Soldiers look on.

Finally it is time for the 314th Soldiers to share in the excitement -- and SSG Tull almost tackles SGT Thurston to show his joy. (All photos by SPC Brittany Gardner)

When BG Lanza returned to the room a few minutes later, LTC Ignacio Perez, the 314th PAOC Commander and CPIC Director, called the room to order, but BG Lanza instructed everyone to relax as he said a few things. 

What he said next is what every commander hopes to hear about his Soldiers.  BG Lanza spoke about the achievements of each of the five Soldiers in the front row — how they were indicative of the entire unit — which he called “high-performing.”  When he finished his comments, he told LTC Perez it was time to proceed.  With LTC Leela Dawson, former 314th PAOC Commander, at his side, each of the five Soldiers was called forward to receive their much-deserved promotion.

The follow pictures from the promotion ceremony were taken by SGT Kellena Leech, 314th PAOC.

Shortly before they entered the CPIC conference room, the five Soldiers posed for a picture with their current rank -- waiting for the promotion to the next higher one.

BG Stephen Lanza shares some comments with the Soldiers of the 314th PAOC shortly before the promotion ceremony.

While BG Lanza lists some of the achievements of each promotees, SFC Benari Poulten captures the moment on video (to be posted soon).

Before they begin to promote Soldiers, BG Lanza shakes hands with LTC Leela Dawson, former 314th PAOC Commander.

After CPT Joseph Thames was called forward, but before he was promoted, BG Lanza asked him to face the crowd and reminded him of the gravity of this step in his career as he became a field-grade officer.

BG Lanza removed the captain rank and replaced it with major.

Next to be promoted was SSG Paul Roberts, one of the newest arrivals into the units.

Newly-promoted SSG Roberts salutes BG Lanza before returning to the formation.

SSG Jeremy Fowler may not look like it on the outside, but he is very excited on the inside about his promotion (and that nice tax-free pay raise).

See, I told you he was happy!

SGT Bryan Tull got a "thump" for good luck as BG Lanza promoted him -- to make it stick.

SGT Tull and BG Lanza pose for the "grip and grin."

SGT Autumn Hope stands at attention while BG Lanza formally makes her an NCO.

BG Lanza shakes SGT Hope's hand while the remainder of the 314th PAOC look on.

BG Lanza asks everyone in the audience to join him in congratulating the Soldiers promoted today.

After the ceremony finished, it was time for some handshakes...

...and some hugs. Congratulations to all five of these fine "high-performing" Soldiers from the 314th PAOC.

The soldiers of the 314th Public Affairs Operations Center gathered in the Combined Press Information Center’s conference room on July 14 to witness an award ceremony for three of its own. 

Congratulations to SPC James Clifton, SPC Justin Wright and SGT Emily Anderson.

The three were presented Army Achievement Medals for actions in the past three months that made them stand out.   Each of them lives up to the unit’s motto:  maximum effort, minimum delay! 

SPC James Clifton is awarded for this actions supporting all four CPIC staff sections simultaneously during several weeks when other unit members were on R&R leave.

SPC Justin Wright receives an award for his actions in the Administrative, Biometrics and Credentialing (ABC) Section -- including on-the-spot repairs of the BATS equipment and stepping up when the section NCO was away.

SGT Emily Anderson receives an award from LTC Ignacio Perez for her work to support junior enlisted promotion boards at Victory Base Complex and the International Zone. (All photos by SGT Paul Roberts)

What a week!  In all my years in the Army Reserve, I have never seen anything like this.  Am I talking about the dust storms or the 130 degree heat?  NO!  I am talking about the SIX promotions in the 314th Public Affairs Operations Center in the past 48 hours.  Yep, you read that right.

The first five Soldiers were recommended for promotion during a junior enlisted board held here in the International Zone on July 7.  The enlisted Soldiers recommended were:

SGT(P) Jeremy Fowler
SGT(P) Paul Roberts
SGT(P) Bryan Tull
SPC(P) Autumn Hope
SPC(P) Roshonda Thurston

We are hoping to be able to announce their official promotion dates soon, but until then, they will have the (P) behind their current rank. 

As if that were not enough, we received word this afternoon that one of our officers, CPT Joseph Thames, was also selected for promotion — to the rank of major — so we will start using CPT(P) for him.

LTC Ignacio Perez, the 314th PAOC commander, said it best — there is nothing more exciting for a commander than to be able to promote a Soldier….so he has six times the excitement coming up in the next few weeks. 

If you know any of the six, join us in congratulating them and wishing them well as leaders in the next highest rank.  More details and pictures will follow when we have the promotion ceremony for each of these great Soldiers who continue to set the standard here in Iraq.

Oh, and in case you aren’t keeping track (because we are), that makes 16 out of 30 Soldiers in the 314th PAOC that have been promoted since we mobilized back in Birmingham, Alabama, late last year, and 18 out of 30 in the past 12 months.

I think both PFC Bernat (l) and LTC Perez are enjoying this moment.

One of the best things about being the commander of a military unit is being able to recognize Soldiers for their achievements.  My boss, LTC Ignacio Perez, would definitely agree.  He relishes the moments when he can bring a smile to a Soldier’s face by presenting them with an award.  Today, he was able to do that for our most junior Soldier.

For those of you who follow our blog, you likely will recognize PFC Christine Bernat.  She is a “renaissance woman” — able to draw wonderful anime art, solve complex computer problems as our assistant Information Management Officer, create rich multi-layered graphics with Photoshop, put together musical presentations with her photographs, and shoot the heck out of anything with a variety of weapons.  Now you can add one more skill — poetry.

Last week you were able to read one of her poems on this blog in an entry titled, “How I Cope”.  If you have not read it yet, I encourage you to take a couple minutes and learn more about the challenges we all face – and how she insightfully describes it through her words and emotions.   The poem was recently sent to various military publications with words of encouragement — so look for it elsewhere in the near future.

Today, LTC Perez added his own stamp of approval by presenting PFC Bernat with a Certificate of Achievement as part of the 314th Public Affairs Excellence Program.  Her poem took 1st place in the “Special Products” category. 

Besides the kudos from the commander, and the smile on her face (as evidenced in the picture), PFC Bernat also earns 5 points in future promotion boards.

If you want to see more of PFC Bernat’s work, check out her previous blog entries.

Soldiers from the Army Reserve's 314th Public Affairs Operations Center raise the flag over the Combined Press Information Center in Baghdad, Iraq.

Of course, the Fourth of July is in our hearts and minds on this special day, but in so many other ways, this is just another day when Soldiers are on duty and working to defend America’s national interests.

Do we have anything special planned?  Thankfully, our Army Reserve Family Readiness Group back in Birmingham, Alabama, sent us decorations for our unit area.  By tomorrow morning — July 4th — our overnight crew will have hung streamers and put miniature U.S. flags and red, white and blue candies at our work areas.  It will likely only remind us that it is another holiday when we are away from our loved ones.

My “independence day” is still a few months away — so instead today I reflect on those NCOs who came before us.  Whether it was our fight to be an independent nation, our struggle to hold that nation together, or our promises to protect our nation or our allies, those Soldiers of yesteryear gave all Americans a gift that billions around the world long to enjoy.

Today’s Soldiers have given that gift to Iraqis.  I hope they realize the ultimate sacrifice that so many of our nation’s sons and daughters have made over the past six years to secure their freedoms and confirm their independence.  However, June 30, 2009, is now in the past; they can no longer be spectators to their freedom.  

I have spoken to many Iraqis who wonder (and sometimes fear) what will happen when we are gone in the very near future.  I think Jerry Kammer, a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist who recently visited the Combined Press Information Center in Baghdad, addressed those concerns best.  He told a group of Iraqi journalists they cannot think only about themselves as they work to protect their freedoms in the face of possible danger.  Instead, he said, they must think about the world they want to leave their children, and let that guide their actions.

That sounds like good advice for everyone.

I suppose most people in the United States who follow news from Iraq know that June 30 is a big event here.  It is for Iraqis — they have declared it a national holiday. 

CPT Joe Thames is just one of the 314th PAOC Soldiers in Iraq. Here, he takes a moment to relax outside the CPIC before returning to his duty as the OIC for the Iraqi Media Engagement Team.

On Tuesday of next week, according to the security agreement signed between the U.S. and Iraqi governments, U.S. combat forces will withdraw to Forward Operating Bases outside the cities nationwide.   This will enable the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) to provide security and stability for Iraqi people.

We also have been handing over facilities and bases throughout the country to ISF.   Many of the ones where we remain are now joint bases with the Iraqis commanding there. 

Finally, any counter-terrorism or security operations conducted by U.S. Forces will be done in conjuction with ISF or at the explicit request of the Government of Iraq.  

I don’t think most Iraqis are necessarily happy that our combat forces are leaving the cities – because  most of the ones I meet seem to like Americans, whether it is us personally or the opportunities we bring to exercise their freedoms or make a better living.  Rather, I think they are happy because this is a first step on the path to normalcy by their own nation accepting responsibility for a big part of their national security after six years of war and military occupation.

Added all up, it means that in many key areas the Iraqis are in charge starting on Wednesday.   It is a sign that the U.S. presence here is drawing to an end.  No, it won’t happen overnight, but it is happening (and ending by January 1, 2012, unless something unexpected happens as a result of the January 2010 elections here).

There has been some news that the celebration on Tuesday may be tempered by an increase in violence.  Only time will tell about this.  There has been an “uptick”, as military leaders say, in the bombings here in Iraq, including Baghdad.  Recent news over the past two weeks has included bombings at markets in different parts of the city — areas that are far from the 314th.  But, what does all this change and news mean for you, the loved one of a 314th Soldier (or just a curious blog reader)?

According to Geoff Morrell, a Pentagon spokesperson, such a spike in violence is to be expected, “based upon the pattern of behavior that we’ve seen over the past few weeks, and, frankly, historically in Iraq, leading up to seminal dates, whether it be elections or other significant dates, of an uptick in the operational tempo of terrorists and insurgents.”

Most likely the uptick will subside soon after June 30, like it has after other key events, like the national elections earlier this year.

With that in mind, the 314th has redoubled its communication to Soldiers to stay focused on their surroundings.  The risk to our Soldiers compared many others is greatly decreased since they live and work most of their days here within the walls of Forward Operating Base Prosperity.  Additionally, when they do leave the FOB they travel in areas that have historically been considered safe and under U.S. control (and that is expected to continue past June 30).

Throughout this deployment, LTC Ignacio Perez, the unit commander, has also implemented security measures to protect all Soldiers.  Some are just good practices no matter where someone is — like always traveling with a “battle buddy.”

The bottom line is that 314th PAOC Soldiers, now and after June 30, are safe, and they are all looking forward to returning home to all of you in just a few more months, knowing that they have played a role in bringing peace, freedom and stability over here.

When I first heard I was selected to attend the Sergeants Major Academy (I was a master sergeant at the time) back in early 2006, I was excited and a little trepidacious.  Was I up to the challenge…and what would people expect of me once I had graduated?  My friends and colleagues in the Army Reserve told me not to worry, and that it would be a great experience. 

(L to R) SGM Patrick McEver, CSM Paul Belanger and SGM Troy Falardeau pose in front of the U.S. and Iraqi national flags in the conference room at the Combined Press Information Center (Photo by SGT Ferdinand Thomas, 222nd BOD).

When I asked the few sergeants major I knew they jokingly told me “the Army did all it could to cram six weeks of training into a 10-month course.”   However, they were quick to add that the coursework was not the most important part of the experience.  No, they would say, the most important part is getting to know sergeants major from the active duty, National Guard and Army Reserve (and other countries I discovered once I got there) who will be serving in positions throughout the world once they graduate.   This was the biggest benefit of being there — the connections that I would make and the military fraternity I would be joining.

Of course, being the over-achiever that I am, I threw myself into the coursework and other academic-related programs.  I tried to learn as much as possible, but despite my best efforts to do otherwise, I started to make friends with my fellow students and develop those bonds.  I began to realize that in the Army, like in all areas of life, talent and ambition will only get you so far.  It truly is who you know and how to leverage that friendship to bring about success. 

I have been thinking about this off and on during this deployment, but it really hit home last week when we had a visit from MG Eldon Regua, the commander of the Army Reserve’s 75th Battle Command Training Division, and CSM Paul Belanger, his command’s top enlisted Soldier.  During the visit CSM Belanger, SGM Patrick McEver and I had the chance to take a group photograph. 

When I was looking at the photo last night, I began to think back to other times during this deployment I have called back to the U.S. Army Reserve Command in Atlanta to ask one of my fellow sergeants major to point me in the right direction with a problem.  I knew I could not solve it myself.  More than once they gave me a piece of information that made a huge difference in the life of  a 314th PAOC Soldier…and that helped me to maintain my status as a trusted leader of our Soldiers. 

But, the longer I am here in Iraq the more I am realizing that this acknowledgement of the tantamount importance of “the team approach” is the key to success in the Army (and to some lesser degree in all organizations).  I am sure many social science researchers have studied the dynamics of military units, and I probably even read some of this during my NCO professional development courses over the years.  However, until you see it firsthand, until you are the direct beneficiary of this comradeship (or worse, the recipient of a lesson in working against this norm), it doesn’t really hit home. 

I don’t want any of you to think I was totally clueless of this fact all these 28 years in the Army Reserve.  I always knew I had to “play well with others” to ensure a team victory, and I have always known my first and foremost job is to take care of the Soldiers who serve with me; that is the role of a leader.  However, I am the first to acknowledge that I am somewhat of an outsider within this organization.  I may have the outward appearance of being gregarious, but inside I am a loner in many social settings.   That trait has probably caused me to miss out on opportunities to help my Soldiers in the past since you can only change human nature so much.

Of all my personal discoveries about teamwork here in Iraq, however, the one that I hope I never forget (and the one I hope you take away from this blog entry) is that no leader can succeed without the support of his or her subordinates (I am hesitant to use that word, in light of this lesson).   No matter how good an idea from a leader — even when it is done with the best of intentions to help Soldiers — the true test of its chances of success is how much groundswell of support that leader inspires in others.  And, the best way to ensure that support is to make sure any “good ideas” have been developed with a team approach.

Yes, it is always possible for a leader to impose his or her will on others, especially in the military, but perhaps GEN Shinseki would have garnered more support for his policy change requiring berets if he had turned this good idea into a team effort, rather than what seemed to be a personal goal.  Any leader who accepts this approach must acknowledge up front that the team approach could lead to any idea being rejected or changed. 

With that in mind, I have tried to slow down the flow of “good ideas” I throw out for implementation, and instead talk to section NCOICs and other key individuals in the 314th PAOC.  In the end, I know the unit will be more successful with this team approach, rather than my over-achieving “get it done quickly and move on to the next thing” approach.  And, the team approach usually results in improvements on the original idea — and isn’t that the ultimate goal?

Perhaps there is still time to teach this old dog a few new tricks before I retire and join the ranks of old sergeants major.

There is probably no rank in the Army worse than second lieutenant.  When an enlisted Soldier is a private, he or she has no responsibility and leaders have little or no expectations.  Just show up and stay out of trouble, and you have earned a promotion. 

Not so for second lieutenants.  As an officer, albiet the lowliest of all officers, they are expected by enlisted Soldiers and other officers, to be a leader.  They carry on their chest a rank insignia with a solitary gold rectangle — the infamous “butter bar.”  Commanders and NCOs know their responsibility to second lieutenants is to mentor them, and keep them out of trouble while they develop their leadership skills.   It’s a lot of pressure for a young officer — probably akin to treading water while studying for final exams.

The happiest day for a second lieutenant is probably not the first day they pin on their rank and initially join the ranks of officers.  Instead, it is alm0st assuredly the last day at that rank — the day they complete this rite of passage and are promoted to first lieutenant, hopefully never to return that rank. 

1LT Joseph Larrew shares a proud moment with two of his Peruvian friends at FOB Prosperity.

For 2LT Joseph Larrew that day was today. 

1LT Larrew has a leg-up on many of his fellow first lieutenants because he served five years as an enlisted Soldier, rising to the rank of specialist.  Ask any NCO and they will tell you that an officer with enlisted experience is an officer who knows why NCOs are the backbone of the Army.

On December 17, 2007, SPC Larrew graduated from Austin Peay University in Clarksville, TN, with his degree in Computer Science.  He left behind his former rank, but not his knowledge of the pride and potential of enlisted Soldiers.  Today, standing in the audience were NCOs who previously stood in formation with him when he work the rank of an enlisted Soldier.

Shortly after lunch, the combined staffs of the 314th Public Affairs Operations Center and the 222nd Broadcast Operatons Detatchment (and even a few Triple Canopy guards) gathered in the CPIC. At slightly after 2 p.m. (Baghdad time) on June 19, 2009, the audience witnessed the reading of the promotion orders as LTC Ignacio Perez removed the infamous butter bar from the lieutenant’s uniform and replaced it with a new one with the black rectangle of a first lieutenant.  The crowd erupted into a cheer as it became official.

As they exited the room, each person shook 1LT Larrew’s hand, some joked about his new rank and the added responsibility, but all shared the excitement, pride and relief that he felt.

Yes folks, the voting is over and the ballots have been counted, but Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei HAS NOT named our winner.  No, you — our faithful blog readers — have decided who won the 314th PAOC’s Mustache May competition. 

BEST LOOKING

If you voted for Contestant A, you chose SGT Bryan Tull.

The winner of the Best Looking mustache category was SGT Bryan Tull.  This is his second time visiting Iraq, so perhaps he knows about some special techniques for facial hair (or maybe he had a team of voters stuffing the ballot box).  Either way, he was the hands-down winner in that category, far ahead of SPC James Clifton, the second place contender.

SGT Tull has lived in Iraq more than the United States over the past 3 years.  He deployed here in 2006-2007 with the 210th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment of Garner, NC.  During that deployment, he said he got to see a lot more of the country.  During this tour of duty he has been stuck behind a desk much of the time since he serves as the NCOIC for the Escort Section of the Combined Press Information Center (oh the inhumanity of entering middle management!).

SGT Tull leads by example. The day after a big duststorm, he cleans the very dirty windows at the Combined Press Information Center.

According to SGT Tull, his girlfriend is happy he won the best-looking category, but is even happier that he has shaved if off.  Laura is a recent psychology graduate at the University of Alabama-Birmingham, and SGT Tull is a junior there in History and Education (hopefully he will not be volunteering to deploy again before he can finish his bachelor’s degree).

In addition to the votes from Laura and her friends at UAB, SGT Tull also got the support of his parents.  His father Del is the leader of the 314th PAOC Family Readiness Group, a volunteer position that maintains communication with the friends and family members of the 314th PAOC’s deployed Soldiers.  According to SGT Tull, his mom Carole spends lots of time helping out.

 FUNNIEST LOOKING AND SHAVE THAT THING OFF

If you voted for Contestant D, you were voting for MAJ James Lincoln. Since he won both the Funniest-Looking and Shave That Thing Off categories, we can assume that our voters had no sense of humor for his mustache.

In a suprise double win, MAJ James Lincoln, the Executive Officer for the 314th PAOC, won both the Funniest-Looking and Shave That Thing Off categories — leaving all others “in the dust” (pardon the Iraqi pun).

He said he was happy to win both categories because it meant he would win two prizes — twice as many as the best-looking mustache winner (hmmmm, sounds like rationalization to me).  The winner of each category wins a coffee mug from the American Mustache Institute, and we all know MAJ Lincoln is a two-fisted drinker (of coffee).

MAJ Lincoln seemed to have drawn votes from many different demographic groups — Democrats, Republicans, Independents, and even members of the American Mustache Institute — making him the “Barack Obama of the Mustache World”.   Most importantly, he got the vote of his wife Brenda, who is very happy that her husband is now ’sans mustache.”  All these people united to say, “Thanks for the laugh, now lose it!”

MAJ James Lincoln may be without his mustache now, but he still has the hairy attitude!

The 314th PAOC would like to thank everyone around the world who took time to send in a vote this Mustache May contest — including members of the American Mustache Institute (especially you Miss Mustache, columnist from the AMI website), judges from the 2009 Beard and Moustache World Championships (held this year in Alaska), and supporters of our troops who serve our country!

Recently award-winning country music star Toby Keith spoke at the National Press Club in Washington, DC.  At the end of his speech, he made a “shout out” to the Soldiers of the 314th Public Affairs Operations Center.

In case you don’t know what a “shout out” is, here is how it is described on Wikipedia:  a greeting or acknowledgment of a person, group, or organization of significance. It is often done as a sign of respect, synonymous with “giving props”. 

Mr. Keith (or does he prefer to be called Toby?) has a long history of patriotism and giving props to the military and the United States, evidenced by his recording, “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue.”   He takes time at concerts to honor members of the military (and speeches at the National Press Club).

Although he said in a 2007 interview that he was not a supporter of the Iraq War, he went on to say he has always been and will continue to support U.S. troops.  He also said, “I don’t apologize for being patriotic… If there is something socially incorrect about being patriotic and supporting your troops, then they can kiss my #&% on that, because I’m not going to budge on that at all.”

Click here for the shout out.

On behalf of the Soldiers of the 314th PAOC, thank you Mr. Keith for the shout out — and for standing firm on your support for us and the things we defend!

Comedian Stephen Colbert gets a complimentary haircut from Gen. Ray Odierno during the opening night USO tour in Baghdad. Photo by Steve Manuel, Associated Press.

A couple days ago the comedian Stephen Colbert performed at Al Faw Palace here in Baghdad.  He came over here as part of a USO-sponsored event to entertain the troops (I was lucky enough to see part of his first show on Sunday night).  One of his jokes was about a young Soldier here in Iraq who spent his spare time taking online college classes.  Apparently the Soldier just got his degree, and Colbert got big laughs when he mentioned that the Soldier was one of the few 2009 college graduates with a job.  I guess most 2009 graduates back home are not doing as well.

Colbert’s remark was very well received by the audience, but for those of us over here in Iraq, it is reality.  Many of us follow the stock reports, government unemployment statistics and news of our struggling U.S. economy.  I know my home has lost about 30-40 percent of its value over the past two years, so having a steady paycheck puts us ahead of more than 10 percent of our U.S. population who are unemployed.  We wish the best to all those who are struggling, but we are also very glad that we are here, able to pay our bills and care for our loved ones who are holding down the homefront. 

The military is not normally seen as a path to riches (well, unless you owned shares in some of the contracting companies), but it is a steady job with great benefits.  I’ve always felt it is one of America’s best kept secrets.  For decades, service in the U.S. military has been a path for many to enter the middle class and obtain “the American Dream.”

Where else can a person get free medical coverage for himself (or herself) and all family members?  I read every day about the battle in Congress amd elsewhere for universal health coverage for Americans.  My coverage may not be perfect, but what is in bureaucracy?  And my coverage continues after retirement (when my poor body begins to fall apart). 

Before we forget what started this conversation, what about the G.I. Bill money that paid for that Soldier’s college classes?  I know I used military education benefits to help pay for my bachelor’s and master’s degrees, and even part of my doctoral studies.  As an Army Reserve Soldier, I know that all that education has helped keep me competitive when looking for civilian jobs over the years.

You might be looking for a place to put your money to beat inflation, but the military has me covered there, too.  The Savings Deposit Program gives me a 10% annual return on investment (on up to $10,000) for the time I am here in Iraq.  The last time I checked my savings back home, I was getting about 1%.  Oh, and if that is not good enough, all my pay here is tax-free.

Ok, so there is a downside.  There are people here who want to kill us, but last time I checked the news people back home were doing the same.   Our Soldiers are also far away from their loved ones, but they do get to converse on the phone and through email — and their families know they are working hard to secure not only freedoms for Iraqis, but the financial future of their loved ones.

I know this sounds like I am trying to convince you to join the military, but the truth is I don’t have to – the recruiting numbers are through the roof right now.  In fact, I’ve heard that our recruiting and retention bonuses might be reduced or removed if the trend continues. Young (and not so young) people across the country are seeing that being in the military is not a joke….and I am sure Colbert realizes this.

For the past 31 days, eight Army Reserve Soldiers in the 314th have used all that pent-up testosterone to sprout mustaches.  For some it was a welcome improvement to their looks, while others provided us some comic relief, and some we were not sure what to say.  That is why we are leaving it up to you — our faithful blog readers–to decide which mustaches receive which of our three awards:

Category1:  Best-looking mustache

Catergory2:  Funniest-looking mustache

Category3:  Please shave that thing off!

We can’t tell you the name, rank or serial number of any of the contestants…yet.  You only have those 14 square inches of face to use in your judging.  You can vote once in each of the three categories.   Vote by submitting them as a comment to this blog entry – just tell us the letter of which contestant gets your vote in category in 1, 2 and 3.  Voting ends on June 15 at midnight, Birmingham, AL time.

Contestant A

Contestant B

Contestant C

Contestant D

Contestant E

Contestant F

Mustache G

Contestant H

Tell all your friends to visit this site and vote.  The final votes will be revealed June 16 (just in case you don’t want to read all the comments and do the math yourself).  A profile of each of the winners will also be posted shortly thereafter — so you can see the rest of the winners’ faces and a little bit about them.

Oh, in case you wanted to know, a couple of the contestants are now sans mustache,  Now that it is 120+ degrees in Baghdad, they said they didn’t want a sweaty upper lip).  Perhaps they will change their mind this fall when it dips back below freezing.

The Army Reserve Soldiers of the 314th Public Affairs Operations Center and the 222nd Broadcast Operations Detachment and their U.S. contracted translators took time from their busy schedules today to honor the memory of those who gave their lives serving our country. 

For some of the Soldiers, it was a very personal occasion.  They knew friends, neighbors and family members who had made that ultimate sacrifice. 

For instance, SFC Adam Daley knew of a young man from his hometown of Rome, GA, who was killed in Iraq.  Despite the grief of the loss (or perhaps because of it), the Soldier’s mother led an effort to make vehicles safer for servicemembers.

One of our translators, Mr. Ali Kahbi, felt the loss as well.  In one of his previous assignments here in Iraq before the arrival of the 314th PAOC, he was assigned to a unit that lost both a sergeant and a captain.  “It was very tragic and painful for the unit,” he said, becoming somber as he remembered their faces and names.

I am not sure if my military career is the same as others, but I have had the privilege to play a part in honoring five fallen heroes over the past decade.

The first was in June 2000 when the Department of Defense reviewed the records of World War II veterans, and 22 of them had their military awards upgraded to the Congressional Medal of Honor.  One of the Soldiers honored was Pvt. Joe Hayashi, a former member of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.  I felt honored to be selected to assist the family of Pvt. Hayashi for a couple reasons.  The first is that I had studied Japanese in college, so I felt a certain kinship to his family from Pasadena, CA, and the second is that I served for four years in the 100th Battalion/442nd Infantry, the successor of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team’s military lineage. 

I threw myself into this mission and made sure that Pvt. Hayashi’s family knew that the U.S. government was proud of his military service, and honored the ultimate sacrifice he made in April 1945 in Italy.  This was communicated directly by President Bill Clinton at a White House ceremony and Secretary of Defense William Cohen at the Pentagon.

The next time I was involved in honoring a fallen hero was also in Washington, DC, when a fellow Army Reserve Soldier was killed on the Pentagon attack on September 11, 2001.  I was asked to take part in the funeral ceremony at Arlington National Cemetary. 

LTC David Scales left behind a wife and two children.  They were present that day in late 2001 when we assembled.  I remember vividly now that his wife had brought a card for her late husband.  She said she had written a note to him in the card….and she wanted me to tie the card to the helium-filled balloons she also carried.   I tied the balloons to the card and watched as she released it at the end of the funeral ceremony.  It floated up into the blue sky over the Pentagon toward the east.  After a few minutes it disappeared into the clouds.

Gravesite of SPC Michael G. Karr, Jr., and four other Soldiers who died with him.

Two years later I was asked to take Casualty Assistance Office training at Fort Myer.   Casualty Assistance Officers provide a variety of roles, including being the initial notifier of a death to the next of kin.  Within a couple months of the training, I got a call to report to Fort Myer for my first assignment.  Five Soldiers had been killed on March 31, 2004, in Habbaniyah, Iraq, when a an improvised explosive device hit their armored personnel carrier.  Because of the circumstances, the remains of all five Soldiers were buried together, but each family received the support of a Casualty Assistance Officer in DC.  One of the Soldiers killed that day was SPC Michael G. Karr, Jr., and I was chosen to support his family when they arrived from Texas for the burial at Arlington National Cemetery. 

I worked directly with the primary Casualty Assistance Officer in Texas who had notified SPC Karr’s family .  I was there in DC to support them and their guests throughout the period from their arrival to the burial of their son, brother and friend. 

My cousin Derek T. Stenroos.

A year and a half ago, I received a call from one of my favorite cousins, Kenita Stenroos, who lives in North Pole, Alaska.  I could tell something was wrong when she started talking….and it didn’t take to find out what it was.  Her son, Derek, had been killed in Iraq when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Humvee during combat operations.   He was only 24 years old and assigned to the 10th Mountain Division from Fort Drum, NY.  Three other Soldiers were killed in the attack.

I don’t remember exactly what I said to Kenita at that moment she told me.  I was sitting at my desk at work, and she asked me to get as much information as I could.  I do remember that I wanted to be as supportive as possible.  I remember telling her that I would do anything I could to help her through this.  I did ask for the name of the Casualty Assistance Officer.

Within a couple days I called the Department of Defense’s mortuary at Dover Air Force Base to help expedite Derek’s remains back to his mother.  I also called the Casualty Assistance Officer on several occasions to make sure he realized the importance of his assignment — and that I was available to assist him — and that I was keeping in touch with my cousin to make sure she received the support that she needed and deserved.

Although I was not able to fly to Fairbanks to be with my cousin at the funeral, thankfully my mother was able to go.  I hope that my assistance did something to ease her pain and let her know that Derek’s sacrifice will never be forgotten.

About two months ago, I had my most recent opportunity to honor another fallen hero.  The military post office at Forward Operating Base Prosperity was preparing to open, and the headquarters wanted to spotlight the work of postal workers in Iraq.  1SG Dave Moore and I proposed a memorialization to name the post office for a fallen hero.  After some research, we found that there was an Army Reserve Soldier killed in Baghdad in April 2004 who worked for the U.S. Postal Service in his civilian career — SGT Lawrence Roukey. 

With the assistance and approval of the Human Resources Command in Alexandria, VA, we were able to contact SGT Roukey’s widow, Ryann, and his former co-workers at the Portland, ME, postal facility.  With their support, we were able to spotlight the efforts of all military postal workers and the sacrifices that Soldiers and their families make.

So, in keeping with the traditions of honoring those gave their lives serving their nation, we assembled early today in the back courtyard of the CPIC.   The following pictures capture our short ceremony.

The Soldiers of the 314th PAOC and 222nd BOD were called to attention by 1SG Jeremiah Glassford.

SGT Bryan Tull (front) and SFC Adam Daley prepare for the order to advance and raise the U.S. flag.

LTC Ignacio Perez addresses the assembled Soldiers about the sacrifices all military members make...and what that means here in Iraq on this Memorial Day.

The flag detail advances to the flag pole.

The flag details attaches the flag.

The flags begins it travels up the pole while Soldiers salute.

SFC Daley pulls and the flag raises.

In keeping with Memorial Day flag etiquette, the flag is first raised to the top of the pole.

After the flag is raised to the top of the pole, it is lowered to half staff until noon. After that it is raised to full staff for the remainder of the day until it is retired.

With the flag at half staff, LTC Perez calls the Soldiers to order arms.

The Soldiers Creed is recited by all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SOLDIERS CREED: I am an American Soldier. I am a warrior and a member of a team. I serve the people of the United States and I live the Army Values. I will always place the mission first. I will never accept defeat. I will never quit. I will never leave a fallen comrade. I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills. I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself. I am an expert and I am a professional. I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy the enemies of the United States of America in close combat. I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life. I am an American Soldier.

A fitting tribute to all fallen heroes.

All photos by SGT Ferdinand Thomas, 222nd BOD.

Here is the front entrance of the CPIC, with bushes and trees surrounding us.

And here is SPC Brittany Gardner exiting the building. You can probably barely see the sign on the door behind here "Please Close the Door Behind You." With temperatures at 112 degrees, I am sure you can understand why.

Here's the back patio to the building. It's shady with trees and benches...but still 112 degrees. We plan to put a small garden here. There are already some flowers, although they are wilted a bit with the heat.

Near our building is a covered parking area....but most vehicles sit out in the sun. Can you "mobile sauna"?

Nearby the CPIC we also have CHUs available for media on their way to embedded opportunities around Iraq. There are pretty basic, but at least they have air conditioning.

Here's the entrance to one of the CHUs. The media who visit will get cots and a night stand -- about the same as the soldiers of the 314th PAOC -- although they have a nicer front porch than I do.

This is the meeting area outside our press conference room. Leather sofas, Persian rug and beautiful tile floor.

Here are SGT Tull and CPT Thames in the central reception area.

Off the central reception area are a several work areas. One of them is a hexagonally shaped room -- nicknamed the "rock-tagon". Here is the IMET work area (can you see SFC Poulten at his desk?).

SGT Lee and SFC Daley are in the Embed Section of the Rock-tagon.

Another door leading off the central reception area leads to the office where I work. The first person you see when you open the door is MAJ Lincoln, the XO for the 314th.

Here's my desk..and my filing cabinet.

Inside the office where I work is a door that leads to LTC Perez's office. If you look closely at his floor, you will notice this used to be a bathroom. Oh well, it's quiet...and the fish he keeps in his office like it.

The final door off the central badging area houses the ABC section (Administration, Badging and Credentialing). Soheir works with Arabic-language media.

Just down the hallway from Soheir are two meeting rooms for the media where they can get a snack or work on a computer while they wait for press conferences.

Also located in the CPIC building is AFN Radio -- with soldiers from the 222nd Broadcast Operations Detachment from California.

There you have it….that is the CPIC….the building where the 314th Public Affairs Operations Center will be working for the next six months.

Don’t get me wrong, I love all those care packages I get from friends and strangers.   It’s like Christmas each time I get one — not knowing exactly what is inside.  No matter is inside, Soldiers appreciate the thought….and the packages almost always include things the Soldiers have been wanting — or pass on to a buddy in need. 

If you want to send a package, feel free to let me know and I can connect you with a unit here in Iraq that would appreciate your support and concern (leave me a comment and I will respond).  I have plenty of SGM colleagues who have Soldiers that have not received a box in a while.

As for me, a few weeks ago — somewhere around Easter — I got a package from a friend in California with a carrot-shaped package of orangle-flavored jelly beans and a jar full of bite-sized chocolate mints with a crunchy coating.   Thanks Elizabeth!

And before that, I got a package from a volunteer group with an assortment of toiletries and some books.  I’ve already read one of the books (and the new tube of toothpaste was perfectly timed).

Just today, one of those special $11 U.S. Postal Service boxes arrived.  When I saw the name of the sender, I knew what it was, and a big smile spread across my face.  It took me about 10 seconds to grab the scissors from my desk drawer and cut open the top.  There inside were the 3M wall hangers that I asked for….and two huge Gladware containers filled with my mom’s incredibly delicious fudge!

My doctor tells me I should cut back on my sweets and fats, but just the thought of eating that fudge throws all his advice out the window.  I know she probably puts a ton of sugar and butter into the mixing bowl with each batch she makes.  I can’t help myself — it just tastes decadent — with that chocolate and those walnuts chunks swirling and melting in your mouth. 

And it smells great, too.  I gave a piece of it to my boss LTC Perez.  He put it up to his nose and sniffed it long enough to get a chocolate “contact high”.  A minute later he was eating it, and asking me to send a big ”thank you” to my mom in Minnesota.  When I got back to my desk, I realized that the carboard box it came in was permeated with the same smell. 

And, it the taste and smell were not enough, I also get a visual treat.  Each piece of the fudge has been loving wrapped in a piece of waxed paxed that has been folded like one of those Christmas presents we all try to create with the corners perfectly shaped.  Then the pieces are stacked carefully to ensure that the maximum calorie-load can fit into each container. 

I walked around the CPIC after I had eaten a couple pieces and offered some to the staff.  Those who had eaten some the last time it arrived a couple months ago ran up, asking if they couple have two this time.  How could I say “no”?   Within 15 minutes, one of the two containers was gone.

The other one is stored safely in the mini-refrigerator here in the office.  Luckily there is a cypher-lock on the door.  Maybe this time, the fudge will last more than a day!

ADDED BONUS FOR READING THIS BLOG ENTRY!

AND, for my nephew Bazil — hope you had a good time at your 8th grade dance.  At the bottom of the box of fudge my mom sent me was a picture of you and your date for the evening Nicole.  I thought I would share it with the world.

On the way to the dance...

This is it -- CHU 52C in B Pod. I do have cement barriers to keep me safe. They are supposed to keep out incoming rounds, but I am more concerned about being right at the corner of an intersection with military and civilian vehicles driving by at high speed all day and night.

Here is my "bedroom" with a blue blanket I bought at the local PX. They gave me all white stuff -- which got dirty during every dust storm. Underneath the bed are my duffel bags, shoes, shower slippers (who wants toe fungus), and hiking boots (can't wear them here, so I will probably send them home). Like my carpet remnant I bought at the PX? Cost me $4.99. And what about the wall paneling? It's paper-thin and filled with holes from the nails that previous occupants left for me.

Next to my bedroom is my combination "kitchen-laundry". I have a table, mini-refrigerator, mop and broom. Inside the fridge is water, diet soda, cereal and dried cuttlefish. Sounds like a bachelor, huh? My laundry is on the floor and the camelback in hanging on the wall (the only nail I left).

In the middle of my CHU are two wall lockers which separate my bedroom from the "spare bedroom", which doubles as a storage area. As I mentioned I don't have a CHU-mate, so I use the other bed as a closet by standing it up and hang clothes and drying towels on it. That leaves room for the spare bed/sofa/storage area -- a cot that I found.

Here is the busy street that is only 10 feet from my bed. Sure, it's noisy and dangerous, but at least I have a pallet of fresh wanter right outside my door (if I get run over, at least the blood will be washed off me).

Here is my "bathroom" -- a combination of a shower trailer here, and a latrine trailer next door. I'll take you in the shower trailer...you don't really need to see the toilets. Nice thing is that there KBR trailers have been inspected and repaired -- no more electrocutions!

Before my shower, I go to this end of the trailer to the sinks to shave and brush my teeth. They tell us not to use the water for brushing our teeth, but I do (I just swish and spit). So far, I have not gotten any weird diseases.

Inside the shower trailer at this end are 12 stalls. Empty now, but it is pretty crowded during rush hour.

There you have it — not as nice as what we have back home, but probably a lot better than most of the people in Iraq.  What else could a Soldier ask for?

-

Next week I will give you unclassified tour of our new CPIC location (including people in the pictures).

OK.  I bet you are wondering what this blog entry is about.  A 50/50 luau?  What is that?  And in Iraq?  Before you think I really have lost it, let me explain.

When people ask me where I am from, I usually say I was born in Minnesota (Duluth, to be exact), but I always add that I spent most of my life in Hawaii (some of the best years of my life). 

I left for Hawaii when I was 18.  As long as I can remember I have always been fascinated and captivated by islands.  My favorite book as a kid was “Swiss Family Robinson”, and in 9th grade I event sent a letter to Pitcairn Island asking if I could move there after high school.  I got an answer back saying “yes” (it took a year to get back to me, but I was thrilled).   To satisfy that wanderlust, I applied to the University of Hawaii back in 1980, and unbelievably they accepted me. 

Thanks to hard work in high school, I got a scholarship to attend, so I packed my bags and headed out.  The Army Reserve was nice enough to place me in a unit in Honolulu, so I even had a part-time job waiting for me.

For almost 16 years I studied, worked and lived in Hawaii — from 1981-1997.  The people, the land, and the whole atmosphere of aloha filled me.   Along the way I visited almost every island, and fell in love with the land and the people.  I also graduated with a BA in Journalism (thanks to Professor Bev Keever, who passed away last year) and a MA in Public Administration.  Unlike some people, I never got “rock fever” while I was there.  Each day was amazing.

While I was there I think all my relatives got to experience Hawaii, too.  I have wonderful memories of my grandparents spending a second honeymoon on the North Shore of Oahu at the Turtle Bay Hilton and taking a helicopter ride in Waialeale Crater on Kauai, my aunt and I attending concerts at Blaisdell Arena and nearly getting blown away as the wind swept up the Pali Cliffs, my cousins spending high school spring breaks at Bellows Air Force Station, and my stepdad dressing up like a crazy extra from Gilligan’s Island and dancing hula with the beautiful ladies at the Polynesian Cultural Center.  And, that’s just a few of the memories.

If you ever get a chance to go there, do it (and stay, like me)!   And definitely get out of Honolulu and see the rest of the state.  Waikiki is only one part of Hawaii, but there is SOOO much more.  Meet the people, read about their history, and get to know how they live their lives — the state is filled with such diversity that you will be amazed.  From the descendants of missionaries to the descendants of migrant pineapple workers, a veritable rainbow of people now live there….making it the only state in the Union where no one is in the majority.  And the land is just as varied — from hot summer days on the beaches to the snows on the tops of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea.    If you have time hike the Na Pali coast on Kauai, swim the green sand beach on the Big Island, surf the Banzai Pipeline, and get to know some of the reasons why the aina is so revered.

One of the more entertaining things to do in Hawaii is a luau — a gathering with a feast, music and dancing.   I’ve been to a few — the food is ono (delicious), the music is relaxing, and the hula dancing really does tell the story of the people.

The stories go back hundreds of years, but many involve the past 50 years — when the Hawaii became the 50th state on August 21, 1959 (hence, a 50/50 luau).   I am hoping to invite as many Hawaii residents to a party here at the CPIC on that anniversary date (August 21, 2009, is a Friday — the best day of the week for a part in Iraq). 

I’ve already got the ball rolling by ordering some cool decorations, some hula skirts, a vareity of leis and some surprises.  I also brought my entire collection of Hawaiian music back with me from R&R leave.  If all goes as planned, this is going to be THE place to be on that day.  It will be a chance for me to give Hawaiians a chance to feel like they are back home for a day….and a chance for everyone else to get a sense of what life is like in paradise.

I need to do some research in the next few weeks to get ready for this big party.  I need to find out if there is a pig anywhere in Iraq…and if there is, how can I get all the supplies necessary to bury it in the imu to cook until it melts in your mouth.  I found one site that gives me some ideas,  but where am I am going to find banana leaves, Hawaiian salt and lava rocks in the International Zone?  And don’t even get me started on the lomilomi salmon, fresh ahi and poi.  As they say in Hawaii, “broke da’ mouth”.  Oh well, I will adapt and overcome (unless the Governor of Hawaii Linda Lingle wants to fly over here a couple day before the luau…and can you bring the Brothers Cazimero with you?). 

So, if you are reading this blog entry and wanted to get involved, please feel free to join in.  I am looking for good ideas and support from all over — especially Hawaii.  Also, if you know a Soldier from Hawaii who is in Iraq, let them know about the 50/50 luau.  Maybe they can find their way to the International Zone on August 21.

Keep a watch for more news and updates on the 50/50 luau here in Iraq.

For those of you who have been following my entries on this blog site (yes, all 8 of you), you will be happy to see that I have returned from whirlwind R&R leave in the United States, and have been “reassimilated into the collective.”

The first week back was very difficult.   I couldn’t sleep at regular times, my dietary habits was all mixed up, and worst of all, I had been away during the 3 weeks of CPIC movement, so I felt out of the loop (I had been severed from the collective — I know just how Seven of Nine felt during that first episode).

It took some time, but I have begun to get back into the groove.  I found the best way was just to “thrust myself into the vortex”, or in other words, I forced myself to insert myself into conversations and work teams to let all know that I was back and ready to go. 

One thing that helped me through the rough spot was the delivery of several “care packages” from family and friends back in the United States.  I am not sure if this will help others who are returning, but if you have a loved one here, I would surprise them by sending a care package while they are still back in the United States on R&R leave with you….so they will arrive back (tired and bit disoriented) and see that everything is still right with the world. 

Luckily, when I left the weather was still cool, and I returned to the last gasps of spring.  However, today is probably the first of 120 days or more than will be at least 95 degrees or warmer (with many above 110…and some above 120).  I feel a little sorry for the 314th soldiers who are returning back to family in New England this summer.   The transition back from those cool days on the ocean will probably add an extra challenge that I luckily did not have to face.

I hope that all you blog visitors will resume your periodic stops by this site….and know that your comments are much appreciated (except for those spammers who keep trying to post ads for fake Rolex — or as they spell it “Rollex.”)

COMING UP IN A FUTURE BLOG — the 50/50 luau!

Today is a very busy day at the Combined Press Information Center.  It is officially the first day of our move from Ocean Cliffs to our new home at Camp Prosperity.  We are taking apart electronic equipment, packing boxes, filling conexs, and making this former parking garage look more and more like a parking garage again (yes, the CPIC is really a retro-fitted parking garage adjacent to the Parliment and Baghdad Convention Center).

While everyone else here is doing all this moving work, I am busy for another reason.  I am headed out on my R&R leave.  I leave mid-day on Monday for a short stop at Camp Victory, and then I am on to the United States — to DC, Atlanta and Birmingham. 

When I first planned to take my R&R leave, the move of the CPIC was planned for March.  I though I had it all planned so well – I would move all my “stuff” into my new office and head out the door.  However, the move “got pushed to the right” — in other words, delayed.  That means I am going to be leaving the 314th at a time they could probably use my support the most.  However, I am looking at this from another perspective — maybe it’s good that I am leaving now.

I suppose all of us like to think of ourselves as being indispensible, but the truth is that all of us will be gone some day.  It’s our job as leaders to mentor younger Soldiers to ensure that come retirement day there will be others to take our place.

When I am gone for 3 weeks, Acting Sergeant Major Jeremiah Glassford will be the senior NCO of the 314th PAOC.  Not only will he be responsible for the day-to-day functioning of the difference CPIC sections, he will also take on most of the things I do — things that are largely external to our organization.

Would I like to be here for the move?  Sure (probably because I want to make sure none of my “stuff” gets lost — just kidding).

But, I will make it through the separation.  I found out I can log on to my Iraq email when I back home — so I will only a key stroke or two away from the 314th PAOC.

If all goes as planned, I will arrive back to the CPIC on one of the last days of the move.  LTC Perez joking says that I had this planned the whole time.    Like I said, timing is everything!

SGTs Tull and Fowler prepare to enter the firing line.

Here is the latest art from SPC Brittany Gardner.  This time her subjects are SGTs Bryan Fowler and Jeremy Fowler.  These two amigos from the 314th PAOC were first captured in a photograph, but I hope you agree that SPC Gardner’s line drawing adds something that a digital camera can’t express.

One added note — SPC Gardner was also named the topic graphic artist for the month of March, and received a $25 gift card to the local post exchange.  Congratulations to her and the other monthly winners:  SGT Bryan Tull, SPC Justin Wright, and SGT Emily Anderson.