it's the simple things

[Gigabein]

I got out of work this week to play in a 3-day mobility exercise, and let me say... taking a hot shower was like a little slice of heaven. Tuesday morning we got out to the "camp", which hadn't been used in 4 years. It consisted of 3 large quansits and a fence. We swept out the buildings, dusted off some chairs and desks we found and started filling sand-bags for walls. Since I'm part of a career field that doesn't really perform in a deployed environment, they stuck me on night-shift as a door guard. Standing around doing nothing sucks when you do it for 12 hours straight in 50 degree weather with the lights off. The real kicker was that most of the planned attacks on our camp were during the day, when I was supposed to be resting. On top of all of this we were in MOPP level 2 the entire time... goes great with the New Mexico summer sun. Anyways I'm back and have reaffirmed my appreciation for our deployed soldiers.

[Strygun]

I have no idea what you're talking about.

It sounds hard though. The soldiers fighting for us in Iraq and all around the world are truly heroes.

[Rayder]

Oh cmon, not even a couple night attacks? What kind of planners did you have.

[Gigabein]

oh there WERE night attacks... couple long ones... most of the attacks were day-time though, when i was supposed to be resting

[snowwolfe]

Yeah taking a nice shower then hitting the bed is nice when your tired.

[Jaged]

What are you talking about?

[snowwolfe]

Hes probably in the military and probably was training.

[Rayder]

Originally Posted by Gigabein

oh there WERE night attacks... couple long ones... most of the attacks were day-time though, when i was supposed to be resting

Did you die?

[snowwolfe]

Originally Posted by Rayder

Did you die?

[d3ath4u]

where in New Mexico? I live in N.M. (btw, New Mexico is a state, many people and many companies don't realize that).

[UncleDynamite]

Originally Posted by d3ath4u

where in New Mexico? I live in N.M. (btw, New Mexico is a state, many people and many companies don't realize that).

Ugh, as a fellow New Mexican, I hate that. I was in Washington D.C. about a year ago, and I wanted to ship some souvenirs to friends and family. So when I tell the clerk to ship the items to New Mexico, she looks at me with a puzzled look and says, "We don't ship out of the country." Arg!

[d3ath4u]

You live in Albuquerque?

EDIT: DO you live in albuquerque?

[UncleDynamite]

Yup.

[d3ath4u]

omg yay! Me too. I live about a mile from the Albuquerque Academy. Teehee...

[Firefly]

He's talking about National Guard or Reserve training. One weekend a month, and two weeks during the summer. Their "camp" consisted of some primitive, outdated buildings. Quonset huts are the things that look like half of a round tin can laying on its side. LIke a big-ass metal speedbump. You see them in old war movies. And since his job is a "non-combat" support role, and when they go on deployment he doesn't "fight", they decided to put him on guard duty... you know, part beat cop, part night watchman? And since he works at night... that means he's sleeping during the day. And since the "enemy" attacks during the day... that means he doesn't get sleep any which way you look at it. Is that a little clearer now?

MOPP level two: Mission Oriented Protective Posture. Basically, chemical weapons gear. In this case, simulated gear. It consists of a MOPP suit (thick trousers with charcoal lining and a connecting top/shirt, that all buttons together and snaps and ties down to prevent stuff from getting in) and thick rubber galoshes/rain boots. You're also carrying a protective mask in a canvas pouch on your side. It can be a boon in the cold and rain. In the summer heat, it blows... hard. There's five levels. Level zero means you have all your crap with you and ready to go. Levels one thru four mean you're in some sort of protective gear. Here's some pictures of Level Four.