Pride and Joy

Fire

Partamian's finer side. Oh ya baby, you know you like it. Just don't magnify it!

I forgot about the fire. I was driving our vehicle with Partamian, as the gunner, and MAJ Berry as the truck commander. We were coming in from a mission and went by the fuel dump to fill up. Just after we got out of the collection well we caught fire. I promised Partamian that I wouldn't steel the glory of the story. Words really can't do it justice but go to the Partamian Report link on the right to read about it. I hope he makes it as entertaining for you as it was for me.

Still Going

Well, I just typed about 5 paragraphs and forgot to save it. My motivation is waning. I'll save you the ranting and raving I previously "loaded" and tell you the bottom line. Funston stinks and needs MWR desparately. In fact, this is an APB for MWR. If you see them, send them to Camp Fuston. If your team is coming, demand the state pay for a big van for you while you are here. Ask for a couple of POVs to boot. Don't take no for an answer from 1st ID. Just bring them. Your life will be much improved for it. In fact, enriched. Love that word. Also, see if you can get ahold of some of the cellular computer cards for your laptops. You won't regret it. Sprint and Verizon seem to cover the area fairly well.
Did CLS this week. A breath of fresh air for me. The first day was all powerpoint ie. a day of for me. I did however go in for the last two days to help with skills labs and the last day to run lanes with the team. Overall, the medics here run a good course. The lanes were well done and appropriate for the mission at hand. GO AMEDD!!!! Hands down better than the infantry stuff that's been going on, ex the weapons and Hummer course.
We have going out on missions in the hummers and I have a few pics to add. Some are from the missions and some are from CLS. Inside shot of those hot buns belong to Partamian. Don't ask why I took the shot. Maybe I thought his wife would like the pic. Firm. Just in case you wanted to know. He was on the 50 cal and had to sit on the 4 inch strap much of the day. It'll make you grateful for your commute, I promise.

Some Pics

I went home for St Patrick's day and my daughter's 5th birthday this past weekend. I don't have all the pics but I thought I'd share some of my daughter, my dog and me. I'll put more daily activity stuff on tomorrow. I did lot's of email catchup today. Right now there's a Woodford Reserve with my name on it. And yes, I'll take a free bottle for the plug if any Woodford employees are reading this!

Just for the Medical Folks

Sorry for the long break. I came off a 4 day weekend for St Patrick's Day weekend and a long week ensued to make up for the time off. Of course, there's still no true, realistic internet access on Camp Funston, so checking email and updating the blog became secondary to sleep.
I've had some requests from readers to expound on my position on this team. Our sites are supposed to be screened for OPSEC and even if not I try my best not to elude too much info. If you have specific questions, please email me if I don't answer them in a post. My email is nathanamanda99@yahoo.com. When you email me, I'll email you from another aol account, so be looking for it. I don't like putting my real email on the site because of spam. My us.army acct is frozen secondary to the (#Y&TY CAC system and I'm not in the mood to waist hours of precious time on the phone with the "help desk." Yes, I went to the local CAC people who told me there was nothing they could do. I'll get off this soap box because I know most of you hate the CAC thing as much as I do.
So, let me get to it. I'm a PA that was mobilized to support a 16 man light infantry team who is tasked to mentor the ANA at battalion level. This is obviously not a full company or even platoon, thus the support to the ETT is not typical. ETTs are at multiple levels, the 16 man team being the smallest of the teams. Most teams are Army, some are Air Force and Navy. They very in size from ours to significantly more depending on the level they are designed to support ie. Brigade, Corps etc, with the goals of training the ANA/ANP.
Some Medics and PAs are falling in at the Brigade level as trainers to our medical counterparts in the ANA. Some of us, ie me, are falling in at lower levels to support our own guys. Remember, most of the small teams don't have assigned medics because they aren't companies.
My goal is variable depending on where we go and how rural we are. If I am super rural, there may not be a BAS. I will make one and supply care to my men and the ANA as I am able. If there is an established BAS, I'll make my services available to the station as well as assist my team in any personnel issues that come up. I'd also like to do some local medical treatment to establish report among the locals.
As far as training goes, medics go through 4 two hour courses and a check off for mass casualty type situations. I attended just to be with my AMEDD brethren. I needed a break from my killer buddies. Lovem' as the are! Your team will all go through CLS and all will carry cards by departure. Why, because you don't have a medical platoon! You may be the only medical professional for 1 to 2 days before possible evac. They will become your assistants in time of need. I like the concept especially if something happens to me!
Anyway, that's the gist. Anything else, I'll be glad to help as I have more to offer.

Finally

All week is torture awaiting a four day weekend. I have a ticket home for Friday. I have a ride to the airport. All I need to do now is get rid of the 4 days holding me back until I get to my family. My daughter turns 5 on the 16th and she doesn't know I'm coming...now about those damn four days called Monday, Tuesday etc...

Monday--Tons of PPT on COIN. Counter Intelligence training, theory, purpose..... What more can I say.

Tuesday--weapons qualifications with M4. March out 0600 and return at 0100 after night quals. Yes, for you long-termers it is now no longer familiarization fire, its a true qualification. With the ancient NVGs on your head it can be a pain in the back side while in the prone position. So, about 2100 we all get started. Half way through quals, the power goes down on the post. So, guess what. Quals will be held tomorrow night again. Ah hell, there goes Wednesday.

What else can I say. I've been on the plane home since I woke up on Wednesday morning. You'll see what I mean when you get here. You should have seen the mass exodus out of this place today. Safety brief then sheer silence, except for the sounds of car engines starting.

Happy St Patrick's Day.

Happy birthday Leah

Drive on

To look at the training schedule and see "driver training" couldn't have been more appropriately timed. I'm pretty sure the language training and classroom tactics were about ready to drive a majority of us 6 feet under. There's nothing like going through a PMCS/-10 (vehicle maintenance) briefing to get relief from sundry other weary power points. This would mean to the rest of us that we'd be out driving a Hummer soon. Over the river and through the woods therapy. Its like a go cart track for big boys and girls. It's the only time I've asked for seconds since I've been here. Well, excluding beer!
Next week--weapons quals......and more Dari.
All you other medical personnel, you'll get class VIII when you get here. If you have extra from your unit go ahead and bring what you've got. It takes a while to get issue and if you come with a big team you'll need plenty of cold med remedies.
Don't go buy new ACUs before you get here. If you have a couple sets and/or BDUs you'll be fine because they issue plenty of boots and 4 sets ACUs etc....
Access to washer/dryer are plentiful. That's one thing they really have going on here.

You had me at hello!

So there we were, 150 tired guys in a room awaiting 8 hours of computer and live teaching on Dari, Afghanistan's primary language. We all start on this 4 hour computer module to learn more about the history as well as words and phrases pertinent to specific situations that soldiers may run into. About 2 hours into it an elderly gentleman comes in to teach the course. We're all expecting to start out with the basics. You know, a little review on sentence structure, maybe start with simple phrases and words.....NO, we go into conjugation etc.... I don't even remember English that well to start out with that!!! So, about an hour later, after break, he decides to break into writing Dari. Ha! About 5 minutes and 150 confused guys later I said "Hold up, sir. You had us at hello!" Squiggly lines were flying everywhere all over my note pad. It looked more like a set of my orders that my favorite unit secretary would challenge me on than Arabic writing. At least it got the teacher laughing!
Beyond the joy of Dari, the camp is catching a cold. I'm starting to give out enough pseudophed to warrant looking over my shoulder for meth producers.
Have I told that Kansas is cold and windy yet!!
Good Lord!

Today started with a brisk 2 mile run at 0600 promptly followed by a two minute ingestion of miniwheats and yogurt. I'm sure it was good but I didn't take time to taste it in fear of missing weapons draw and the innevitable harrassment that would follow from the NCOs for not being on time.
Ah yes, the weapons draw. There's nothing like getting handed a brand new M4 Carbine (machine gun )with CCO (close combat optics-"scope") and PEQ2 (laser site). Then you get a brand new M9 (9MM pistol). Ah, yeah. Wait!! What the heck is a PA-c doing with a tool like this? Where the hell am I going that I need this and quick, get me my script pad and stethoscope so I can feel at home!! Suddenly, the overwhelming truth hit me. "I won't be in a sterile field/environment for at least another year. I know a few MDs that would stroke at that thought. Now I get it. That's why they send PAs. OK, I do have a purpose and I am in the right place!"
Well, not much else happening but cultural briefs on Afghanistan all packaged in a nice politically correct package. We had two Afghans come in and answer real questions and an excellent speaker/expert on Afghanistan give talks as well. Very informative and all agreed that our purpose is still honorable and desired by the people we are going to train.
Later all.

Back to the FOB

Ok, so we moved back down the Camp Funston yesterday. Nice place!! Muddy, windy. The kinder, gentler side of army living. At any rate, a few of us thought it'd be a good idea to do a ruck march on Saturday with all our gear, excluding weapons, about 0700. 0615 rolled around and it was about 15 degrees with a 40 mph wind. 5 of us went out and met Jack Frost head on. Anyway, we got our "hooah" on and determined to start these voluntary marches a little later in the morning for circulation's sake. I tacked a few pics on for fun. LT Goddard didn't wear silk liners underneath and was grateful when feeling came back to his 5th appendage.

Nathan

ARRGHH!!

OK. So, after a stormy embedded night in Kansistan, one filled with power outages, clanging window screens, howling winds and an early awakening, our 8 hour briefing was cancelled due to a power outage. Now in the National Guard/Reserves we would have sat for that long getting the stinking powerpoints read to us by some poor soul. Instead, in the almighty wisdom of the active component it would be cancelled and fit in at, let's say, midnight somewhere along the way.
ON THE UPSIDE. My fellow S1 (paper-pushers) counterpart SSG Corrigan and I went for a road trip in the trusty Wrangler to Manhattan to do some S1 duties, like go to Chili's for lunch, then buy a new digital camera and then grab a cup of coffee at the local Barnes and Noblish type place. No B&N or SB here. Coffee was fair though.
The goal of the camera is to be able to actually give you all something to look at as reference and for me to be able to have something to clue you in on besides the prolonged torture we are going through until starting training on Monday. Mind you, my time spectrum is getting ready to get rocked for the next 60 days. Not so much downtime in my future.
I plan on adding a section in here for sayings by individuals in the group. Fake names will be given for embarrassing ones and true credit will be applied when due.
My daughter turns five this month. She's very excited to be one year older. I can't imagine what she'll be like when I return.

Nathan