OK, the replacement team is here and we have transferred authority to them. One last task to be done, signing the property book, which will take place on Wednesday, after that, it is all over but the waiting.
8 folks flew to Baghdad last night, the remaining three will join them on Wednesday when we go up to do the paperwork.
I am spending the time researching fantasy football statistics and plotting the downfall of Wade.
We fly out of Baghdad to Kuwait on the 10th, and out of Kuwait to Kansas on the 12th. We should hit the ground on the 13th of SEP.
I will probably have a few more posts, probably to sum up the mission and put it in perspective.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Small Victory
Yesterday, COL Alaa, the Brigade Deputy Commander, had a meeting with all of the Sons of Iraq (SOI) leaders in the area. The meeting was to go over the Government of Iraq (GOI) SOI Transition Plan. From earlier posts you might recall these were the mostly Sunni fighters and tribe leaders that decided to stop fighting the GOI and US Forces and start helping out against the insurgents in Iraq. Pretty big step for them, turning against other Sunni and Shia tribes in the area and trying to do good instead of evil. The US recognized them and started to pay the heck out of the, last November or so the GOI took over the payment of the SOI and earlier this spring the GOI started to talk about transitioning the SOI into normal government work.
The SOI leaders were very upset, they were pretty sure that now that security was pretty good the US and GOI would just forget about them and let them fend for themselves in the job world and against the insurgents that were still out there. The GOI developed a transition plan, basically absorbing the SOI leaders into the government leadership and the SOI members into government ministry jobs. Yesterday, COL Alaa read off the first 622 SOI members in the area that will be transitioned and where they would be working. The SOI leaders, who were initially very skeptical about the program, were giggling like school girls because they were so happy. The transition will take several months, but this is a good start.
Funny part of the meeting: As the list was being read off, one of the names that was read off was recognized by a couple of the leaders - - - they thought it was pretty funny that he was going to the Ministry of Education because the dude can't read, right or do any sort of educational thing. "What will XXXXX do at the Ministry of Education?" "umm, security?"
The rest of the meeting was pretty standard for an Iraqi meeting led by COL Alaa - - - talk a lot, say the same thing over and over again, talk some more, say the same thing again, until everyone is bludgeoned into submission. The meeting could have been done in about 10 minutes, but COL Alaa went over everything several times, and then went over them again. Nobody can say the man ain't thorough. He also read off all 622 names, I didn't think he would, but he did. I chew a lot of gum to keep from falling asleep.
Other than that, it has been a very quiet 3 weeks in the area. There were a few IEDs and EFPs (0 casualties, MRAPs and Up Armored HMMWVs work) on our side of the river early in JUL, but nothing since. There were also some rockets that were allegedly fired at our COP, but they weren't aimed very well and missed by literally a mile or so.
Other notes:
Our replacements will be here Monday, ten days after that we will be standing at the airport with our thumbs out for a ride.
My running has been pretty consistent. I was able to maintain my desired race pace for 4 miles last week, I was supposed to do 1 x 2 mile interval and 3 x 1 mile intervals, but I felt so good after the first 2 mile interval that I extended it a mile. In the words of Indiana Jones' faithful assistant in the "Temple of Doom" Shortround: " Big Mistake". I was able to eak out 1 of the 1 x mile intervals, but was dead after that. Overall, good week of running. This week's speed workout (the hardest day of the week) is 4 x 1 mile intervals at faster than race pace. I will do 4 x 1 mile intervals.
Fantasy Football: The much anticipated Fantasy Football kit has come out, I have developed a few rosters, I am pretty set on the players I want but I want to watch the rest of pre-season before I make my final selections. This year's strategy: Beat Wade.
The SOI leaders were very upset, they were pretty sure that now that security was pretty good the US and GOI would just forget about them and let them fend for themselves in the job world and against the insurgents that were still out there. The GOI developed a transition plan, basically absorbing the SOI leaders into the government leadership and the SOI members into government ministry jobs. Yesterday, COL Alaa read off the first 622 SOI members in the area that will be transitioned and where they would be working. The SOI leaders, who were initially very skeptical about the program, were giggling like school girls because they were so happy. The transition will take several months, but this is a good start.
Funny part of the meeting: As the list was being read off, one of the names that was read off was recognized by a couple of the leaders - - - they thought it was pretty funny that he was going to the Ministry of Education because the dude can't read, right or do any sort of educational thing. "What will XXXXX do at the Ministry of Education?" "umm, security?"
The rest of the meeting was pretty standard for an Iraqi meeting led by COL Alaa - - - talk a lot, say the same thing over and over again, talk some more, say the same thing again, until everyone is bludgeoned into submission. The meeting could have been done in about 10 minutes, but COL Alaa went over everything several times, and then went over them again. Nobody can say the man ain't thorough. He also read off all 622 names, I didn't think he would, but he did. I chew a lot of gum to keep from falling asleep.
Other than that, it has been a very quiet 3 weeks in the area. There were a few IEDs and EFPs (0 casualties, MRAPs and Up Armored HMMWVs work) on our side of the river early in JUL, but nothing since. There were also some rockets that were allegedly fired at our COP, but they weren't aimed very well and missed by literally a mile or so.
Other notes:
Our replacements will be here Monday, ten days after that we will be standing at the airport with our thumbs out for a ride.
My running has been pretty consistent. I was able to maintain my desired race pace for 4 miles last week, I was supposed to do 1 x 2 mile interval and 3 x 1 mile intervals, but I felt so good after the first 2 mile interval that I extended it a mile. In the words of Indiana Jones' faithful assistant in the "Temple of Doom" Shortround: " Big Mistake". I was able to eak out 1 of the 1 x mile intervals, but was dead after that. Overall, good week of running. This week's speed workout (the hardest day of the week) is 4 x 1 mile intervals at faster than race pace. I will do 4 x 1 mile intervals.
Fantasy Football: The much anticipated Fantasy Football kit has come out, I have developed a few rosters, I am pretty set on the players I want but I want to watch the rest of pre-season before I make my final selections. This year's strategy: Beat Wade.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Hmm, not much to talk about
26 days and counting here . . . . that is the amount of time we should have left in Iraq. Our replacements are currently in Kuwait, going through much of the same training that we went through a year ago. I hope they have a better experience. After Kuwait they head off to Taji, Iraq for a little more frustration. They have been in good contact with us and we have let them know about their future job, the 3-1 Federal Police (formerly known as the National Police).
Our partner unit has changed again, the fine folks from TF 1-82 Field Artillery (the Dragons) have moved on to a different location and 5-73 Airborne Cavalry (Recon) has assumed responsibility for the area. Good thing is that 5-73 has been working in the area out in the northern part of 3-1 FPs operational area. They are very familiar with BG Emad and the rest of the Brigade, so it was a pretty smooth transition.
We have cut way back on our missions, the Federal Police in this area are pretty much on it and have a pretty good plan of action, so we aren't needed as much as we were several months ago.
Other news:
Fantasy football season is upon us again. I know that Wade will remind me that he has beaten me more than I have beaten him, so here goes another year. Normally, after I finish off really bad, I have a pretty good year. We'll see.
Running news: This was a low mileage week. I think I have made some other workout adjustments (cutting out some gym work) and I am had one of those really good runs that made me think I am hitting a good stride. Next week will be a harder week, so I am thinking that the good run times will carry over. I have also altered my route to avoid a lot of the graveled areas (better footing) and most of the smaller, sharper turn areas so I am moving a little faster than before.
Our partner unit has changed again, the fine folks from TF 1-82 Field Artillery (the Dragons) have moved on to a different location and 5-73 Airborne Cavalry (Recon) has assumed responsibility for the area. Good thing is that 5-73 has been working in the area out in the northern part of 3-1 FPs operational area. They are very familiar with BG Emad and the rest of the Brigade, so it was a pretty smooth transition.
We have cut way back on our missions, the Federal Police in this area are pretty much on it and have a pretty good plan of action, so we aren't needed as much as we were several months ago.
Other news:
Fantasy football season is upon us again. I know that Wade will remind me that he has beaten me more than I have beaten him, so here goes another year. Normally, after I finish off really bad, I have a pretty good year. We'll see.
Running news: This was a low mileage week. I think I have made some other workout adjustments (cutting out some gym work) and I am had one of those really good runs that made me think I am hitting a good stride. Next week will be a harder week, so I am thinking that the good run times will carry over. I have also altered my route to avoid a lot of the graveled areas (better footing) and most of the smaller, sharper turn areas so I am moving a little faster than before.
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