Doors Open Over Baghdad

I don't know if I've mentioned it, but we just got a new CAB (combat aviation brigade) here. The old one just went home, and we got some new guys. So far I haven't been too impressed with the. Normally, I'm not a real big fan of pilots and crew chiefs in the first place. Nearly all that I have met to date have an over inflated sense of self worth. So this new unit just Ripped in and they are even more arrogant than the baseline fliers, plus they keep doing stupid things like, not posting manifests on time, trying to land on motorpools instead of the HLZ, and dusting camps knocking over tents. However, one thing they do that has been kind of nice is they fly with the doors open. The first time I flew with them with doors open was quite enjoyable. I was looking out the doors with the counter measure flares fired off and I could actually feel the heat from them on my face. Additionally, it's a very surreal feeling when you're flying low over neighborhoods. It almost makes you feel like you're a part of their lives. So for the most part, flying doors open is the way to go, especially since it is warming up and the birds only have 2/60 AC. However, there is one drawback to this experience. There are 2 seats that you absolutely do not want. They are in the back row by either door. When you sit in this seat, you get the full force of the windblast as it comes through the doors and gets trapped, like a eddie current. Imagine if you will sticking your head out the car window at 120-150 miles per hour and doing this for about 45 minutes. Not the most pleasant experience. I didn't have my goggles and a lot of air gets in through the sides of my balistic eyewear, so my eyes went dry almost immediately. I had to hold a hand infront of my face the entire flight to block the wind, otherwise my cheeks would flap, kind of like you see when people are sky diving. Needless to say, I will be doing everything I can in the future to avoid sitting in that seat!
As far as everything else goes, it's business as usually. The pace of my missions is slowing down now that we're closing bases. I think I may only have 1 or 2 more trips. This is both good and bad. Bad because the time goes by really slow when I'm just sitting around on Hammer. Good because I've been able to get into a good workout routine doing 2 a days, so I'm finally getting back into good shape. I'm finding this is proving more and more work the older I get! Oh well, I guess that's the price of the "wisdom" that comes with age.

FEPP

So I really don't have any idea what the actual full term is for this Acronymn. It is found on a sticker about 6 inches by 8 inches with yellow and black diagonal stripes (like the caution tape). The essence of the acronymn is that it designates equipment that we will be leaving for the Iraqis when we turn over bases. I just got to one of the medium size FOBs and when I got here there were stickers on everything. I do mean everything too. Cheap plastic tables, fire extinguishers, broken down refrigerators, buildings, porta-johns...everything. The comparison that comes to mind is that of a wedding registry. It's like the Iraqis were given a scanning gun (in this case a stack of stickers) and told to go put them on everything they wanted. Obviously that's not exactly how it was done, but that's what I imagine. Anyway, I guess the whole point is that number one it's a sign that we're actually getting ready to had over these bases and pull up stakes. It also kind of demonstrates how ill-equiped the local Federal Police and Iraqi Army are. I'm not sure what they are going to do without us when we leave with all of our logistical support. I honestly have very little confidence in their ability to provide security to this country, especially in a non-corupt manner. Oh well, I guess there will be some growing pains!

The Flying Ninjas

Since coming here to hammer, myself and a few other people play volleyball on a pretty regular basis. When there are enough of us around we usually try to get out at least twice a week. Now I believe I've shared my feelings about volleyball as a competitive sport before. The readers digest version is that I think it's one of those sports where a simple increase in effort does not make up for a lack of talent. Additionally, it's one of those sports where people think they can just disregard the rules. It's like playing basketball, just because someone isn't good doesn't mean we let them travel; and soccer, we don't let people use their hands because they aren't coordinated with their feet. Yet, in volleyball people don't think the rules matter, like: touching the net, carrying the ball, double hits, etc. Anyway, the group we usually play with is pretty good as far as basic skills and knowledge of the game go. So in the past few tournaments we've gotten to the championship game only to face a team of foreigners that works for AAFES. I'm not exactly sure where they are from, but if I had to guess it would be somewhere in southeast Asia. We lovingly refer to these guys as the flying ninjas! They can all jump crazy high and play pretty well too. They're a team of a few good setters and a bunch of hitters. It seems like they're flying around the court the whole time, thus the nick name. So far we have not been able to beat them in tournament play because our team ends up turning into a "rec league" team. One of those where everyone that comes out gets to play. I swear though, before we leave here we'll put together a team that can beat them. I think we have the players to beat them, we just need to work on our line up and rotation to better match up.
Anyway, the past few times we've gone out to play just for fun, a lof of the Ninjas end up stopping by for the pick up games. Lately it's been a lot of fun playing with them because they actually can play so the games are competitive. Anyway, those are the flying ninjas!
So I'm currently stuck at Hammer due to weather cancellations on my flight. It seems like fate doesn't want me to go to this one FOB because 3 of the last 4 missions there, my flight has been delayed or cancelled due to weather. However, there is a silver lining. At the DFAC, my favorite specialty bar is Taco Bar. On all 3 of those occasions the day I was delayed they had taco bar. So if my flights had been on time, I would have missed out! Oh the humanity!
Yesterday was Organization day. What organization day is for anyone that doesn't know is it's a mandatory fun day. It usually consists of a BBQ of some type and sporting event competitions between the different companies in the battalion. Unfortunately this is again one of those rec league things where it's supposed to be just for fun, but many people take it very seriously. So you have teams that are stacked and really good, and others, such as our own, which have a lot of non-athletic type individuals. Our softball and football teams were of the latter version. I personally do not mind losing, however, I hate loooking bad and being embarrased. Needless to say we did not do so well and I ended up being very frustrated! I love the Army and it's mandatory fun days!
With all of the sporting events that have been happening lately, I've learned something about my body. It just doesn't seem to be able to respond quite as quickly to the demands I place on it, nor does it recover as quickly afterward. It reminds me of the line from Top Gun where the commander is lecturing Maverick and says "son, your ego is writing checks that your body can't cash"! So far I'm really not enjoying this whole getting old thing!