Now We’re In Hot Water - 6 October 2009 - 2115

This very well may be the last blog I post from FOB Leatherneck. I’m not saying it’s the last one I write, or even the last I write from Leatherneck, but due to an issue that blindsided us today, I may be in radio silence from here on out. We found out today that the Marines that run the power generators out at the FASP are cutting us off tomorrow morning because “The Marines don’t support the Army.” their words, not mine. This is ironic, to say the least, since my and 4 other Soldiers job since May 16 has almost exclusively been to support the Marines at the FASP with 24 hour MHE (Material Handling Equipment; i.e. Forklift) operation. Now we have been helping MALS 40 and CLC 151 and these generator guys are a different unit within the Marines, but don’t thing that we still don’t feel a little slighted. We have yet to decide if we will try and track down a generator (which are near impossible to find) to continue our work at the FASP assisting the Marines, or essentially “taking our ball and going home.” The Navy Seabees are currently constructing the 2 buildings in which the Marines will power both, but until that point, they refuse to power our truck or tent. Construction won’t be completed until long after we leave this place. The main problem is now that when our replacement unit gets here it should be about the same time that our ammo cells are FINALLY completed, but without power they will have no place to track the stocks or generate any of the necessary paperwork. The only other task we do out there right now is escorting the various Army units into the FASP to since no one but FASP personnel can be on the access roster. Once a unit is issued ammo they just can’t take the pallets back and keep them in their living tent. A: It would be a pain in the butt, B: It would be difficult to secure, and C: some of the explosives would not be allowed in the living area anyway. Thus, all the ammo is stored at the BLAHA (Basic Load Ammo Holding Area) between the time the unit draws it from us and the time they come and get it for either a range or when they go out on missions. They have to be escorted on to the FASP though so they don’t stop off at one of the many cells and grab some cool stuff that isn’t theirs. The only thing that could be done, if we stopped work out there, is to make the Marines escort them. Like I said, we still don’t know what’s going to happen.
In other news, last week SGT Trimble and I heard that there was a place down on LSA 2 that had the AFN network and showed NFL games on Sunday nights. We wondered down there at around 2115 and peaked in a couple tents until we found the one we were looking for. LSA 2 is predominantly Marines. We found the TV in the Marine Chaplain’s tent. It was a nice big, probably 46ish’’, LCD. There were only 3 guys in there watching too. They had cots set up to sit on as well as bean bags. They also had all sorts of snacks to include popcorn. Last week we only stayed for the first half of the Patriots/Falcons game since it was so late, but it was glorious. Being able to do something normal like that is always a boost to morale. This week when we went there were a couple more guys in there. We bounce back and forth between the Colts/Seahawks game and the Patriots/Ravens game. This time when halftime rolled around, we decided to finish out the games. We really wanted to stay for the Jets/Saints game, but by that time it was already 0100 and we figured we should probably sleep at some point. Plus, the room filled up with Cowboys fans and we knew we would be hard pressed to get them to change it from the Cowboys/Broncos game. So when we got back to the tent I decided it was already really late so I might as well shower and shave to save some time in the morning, when I knew I would be draggin’. For a couple months after I got back from R&R I was going to bed between about 2030 and 2100. I’ve lately been pushing that farther and farther but I’ve been pretty tired in the mornings. Anyway, so I went to shower only to discover that the water was a balmy 33 degrees. That’s estimation of course. I wanted to guess lower but beyond that it would have been solid ice. It was the coldest shower I can ever remember taking. To make matters worse it’s been getting cooler here, probably down to the upper 50’s at night, and the AC in the shower tent was on full bore. The shower facility was one thing this whole deployment that they just never got figured out. The water was always cold and the bladder was usually empty in the morning before they would come refill it; that is until about a week ago. A few days back they removed the single water bladder that supplied water to the shower tent and replaced it with 3, X gallon vats. Additionally, the very next morning after my ice shower, they installed a HUGE water heater. I showered tonight and almost had my skin melt off. I got out of the shower and looked in the mirror at my chest and back which were scaldy red, and thought “How wonderful!” This place, from a base standpoint, is really coming around. The only things we are missing down here that a base like Kandahar has are fast food joints (minus the Pizza Hut on Bastian 1), an MWR or USO recreation tent, paved roads and modular housing. There are probably more amenities that I’m not thinking of, but those are the ones that stand out to me. We are still crammed in pretty tight here on Leatherneck, but I’m fairly certain that it’s a theatre wide problem with the massive troop surge that we were on the front edge of.
Just in case this is my last post while I’m on this little slice of heaven, I kind of wanted to sum up the base as a whole, similarly to the way I did with KAF when I left there. This will be stuff that the unit replacing us would possibly be curious about, as well as any other inbound units.
Moondust: I’m not sure how the rest of Afghanistan is but when the ‘120 days of wind’ or whatever it was rolls around, this place is the suck. It rained quite a bit in the early months. The last day I believe it rained was April 14th. With the exception of a 15 min sprinkle on June 14th, we never saw rain again. The moondust on Leatherneck has been reduced quite a bit with the rocking of the roads, but out at the FASP it’s still out of control. Be prepared for a dusty stay. Stock up on WetOnes, air duster and screen wipes.
Chow: The food has gotten progressively better. The new chow hall is 100 times what our old one was. It draws in a large crowd even from the other surrounding FOBs. As for the other FOBs, the Cookhouse on Bastian 2 is pretty big and nice too. Only problem is it’s a ways off Leatherneck and the Brits only let you have one portion of one meat. In the American chow hall on LSA 2 they will give you as much food as you want. The chow hall on Bastian 1 isn’t really worth hitting up. Food is average, the tents are crappy and again, only 1 meat. The good things about Bastian 1 are the Pizza Hut, the NAFI (British PX) and Bizarre that shows up ever Tuesday. If you work at the FASP, the Marines have been sending a truck to one of the chow halls and bringing back large containers of food for everyone who works out there; MALS 40, CLC 151 and 295th alike. There is also a new chow hall opening up by the flight line soon, but if you’ve read my other posts, you’ll know how that goes.
Internet: Nothing was more frustrating, amenity wise, while we were here than the internet situation. First we had nothing. Then a computer lab opened up on LSA 1. Then it closed down. Then it reopened a month or so later on LSA 2. There are also internet labs on Bastian 1 and 2, both by their respective chow halls. Towards the end of the tour people found out that you could use the sim cards for our phones in a modem and get wireless internet that way. It is VERY slow and VERY inconsistent, but it’s absolutely better than nothing. At the TOC we have NIPR lines so you can access a few sights from the commands laptops if they aren’t using them. Out at the FASP we have the VSAT. You can access even less with that (only https websites) but its 10x faster than the NIPR. The most important https website that you can access is Gmail. It has a chat function which I used to talk to my wife almost daily. If you want to know about the super secret way to get internet, send me an email.
Phones: Buy a phone in KAF!!! Or wait, buy one from us when you get here. We will actually be having a garage sale to get rid of all the things we have accumulated, which will include probably many phones. Buy phone cards in KAF. Use AWCC and not Roshan. Cell phones are not allowed on Leatherneck. Let me rephrase that. For those of you who haven’t read my earlier posts, this is a Marine FOB. (hence Leatherneck) The Marines are not allowed to have cell phones. They tried to take them away from us when they banned them, but in a compromise we were allowed to keep them as long as we only used them either in our tents, or out of site of the Marines. The only other means of calling are the DSN lines in the TOC area. There are only a couple though, so you may have to wait in line for those.
Missions: Almost no one that is here is doing what they are supposed to be doing. I’m going to get into this more in my last post, but just be aware of that.
Command: The 100th BSB is leaving shortly after we leave so I’m not sure who will be replacing them. Let me just say this; count your blessings.
FASP: The Marines we have been working with hand in hand for the last several months have been primarily cool to work with. It’s been a very interesting experience working around them and seeing how they interact amongst their ranks and do the day to day things slightly different then us. We get along great with MALS 40 and work with them almost daily. CLC 151 has been alright too. We get along alright, but they seem to keep to themselves. We get along with MALS 40 better than either of us get along with CLC 151. Like I mentioned before, when our replacement unit gets here (and we know who they are but I just can’t say) the cells should finally be done. We have 1 expando and 1 tent set up but we aren’t allowed to power either anymore. The buildings aren’t supposed to be done for quite a while. Not exactly sure how that’s going to work out for you, but good luck. Also, the terrain on the FASP is treacherous for our 6 and 10k’s, so be careful or you too could roll one. The FASP is great though. It has been like our own little world away from Leatherneck. The gym is small but pretty nice. I’ve been running a lap around the inside of the burm for a couple weeks now and I’m pretty sure it’s about 2 miles. It’s a bit hilly and moon dusty but I prefer running out there because I don’t partake in the 1000 rules that go along with PT on Leatherneck. Try these on: Must wear PT pants and shirt (no brown t-shirts), must have tennis shoes (no Chuck Taylors or the like), no sunglasses, must wear a reflective belt, run against traffic, no headphones. It’s out of control. At the FASP the Marines don’t care what we do so it’s just me, SPC McLean and CW2 Bohaty and we just do PT however we feel like. It’s a closed in compound and if anyone wants on we have to escort them anyway, so no one can sneak in on us to include the Sergeant Major and Lieutenant Colonel. I’m telling you, if I could have just lived at the FASP, I would have. I never wore my blouse, or hat, or carried my weapon around out there. Here are some of the other wonderful rules to follow on Leatherneck that I wouldn’t have had to deal with if I just lived out at the FASP. If you’re leaving the living area you must have your rifle on you or within arm’s reach at all times. If you’re going to the bathroom you can go in ACUs without your weapon. You must wear a hat but don’t have to wear a blouse to the crapper. If you are working anywhere outside the living area you must have on your hat and blouse at all times. If you are wearing your IOTV you must wear your ACH even when not in a vehicle. Reflective belts have to be worn in Forklifts. No hardhats allowed. No sunglasses in your pen holder or on top of your head; you may wear them around your neck. Your name tape must be on your patrol cap but CAN NOT be on your boony cap. If you go to the shower you can wear flip flops in your ACUs or PTs and get away with not wearing a hat or blouse. No flip flops in the smoking areas. For God’s sake, tuck in your shirt! White socks in PTs must be above your ankle bone. You must ground guide everything in the motor pool, never walk backwards but watch the vehicle you are guiding as you walk…? Welcome to FOB Leatherneck, Afgarristan.
Well, I’ve been typing for quite a while now and hopefully I get the opportunity to post this tomorrow. The next time I post I will more than likely be sipping a double double and eating a cruller. If anyone from our replacement unit, or anyone else for that matter, has any questions about the FOB feel free to email me. I haven’t been super good about responding back to people that have emailed me about this blog, but I’ll try and get a response to you as quickly as I can.