In the 'Stan

Hey everybody! Sorry for no pictures on this one. My laptop battery crapped out and I have to get a new one. Until then, I'm using the MWR computers on post. As you can tell by the title, I have arrived in the 'stan. I've been here for a couple of days now and the main thing I can tell you now is that the only that separates the 'stan from hell is a screen door...and somebody left it open. It is incredibly hot here. Yesterday was around 110. And this is the dustiest place I've ever seen. Rocks and dust as far as the eye can see.

They still don't know what they're going to do with me. I may move down south and work with the Afghani National Police or they may send one of the more experienced LTs and let me take over his platoon and do force security work here. It's 50/50 right now. I've gone on 2 combat patrols outside the wire so far and they were pretty uneventful...thank goodness. It's not so bad here.

Well, it's lunch time here...let's see that makes it 3:30 in the morning there. Hope you all have a good night's sleep. As soon as I know what they're going to do with me, I'll get an address and send it to you all. Until then, I just want you all to know that I'm safe and everything is going pretty good.

Love you all.....
Jeff

FRAGO

There are three types of combat orders in the Army. There's the Warning Order (WARNO) that gives you basic info that something's coming up. There's the Operation Order (OPORD) that details the plan out. And then there's the Fragmentary Order (FRAGO).

FRAGOs are what are issued when there is a change to the plan. In fact, stuff changes so much in the Army that that is what we pretty much run off of 24/7. Well, transportation to the 'stan is no different. Long story short, I'm still stuck in Germany. I may be stuck here for a while waiting to catch a plane. Could be worse I guess. I'll tell you what...these Air Force people know how to live. I guess I can rough it out here waiting for a ride.

So, anyway, here's some more pictures from Germany....

This was a cool looking building on our way into the little base at Hanau.

This was some kind of cargo ship on some river in Germany. These ships are really short and wide. The bridges here aren't very tall over the water for some reason.


I knew everything would be alright when I saw this.

This was a little village between Hanau and Rhine Ordinance Barracks here in Kaiserslautern. The whole trip here was like this. Hundreds and hundreds of acres of neatly kept farmland with little villages scattered throughout.

They have windmills all over the countryside generating electricity. These things are huge. They are probably 200 feet tall.

This is a little Christmas shop here on post at Ramstein. I couldn't afford anything in there and couldn't afford to ship it back to the States if I could. Cool stuff like cuckoo clocks and handmade ornaments.

I'll blog some more if I get a minute.

Quick One from Germany

Hey everybody!!! I'm in Germany. Who ever imagine that some small town boy would ever set foot in a foreign country. Germany is pretty nice. The countryside is beautiful. It was raining when I got here but it's been fairly sunny since. I had to take a taxi yesterday to get to my hotel. The driver didn't know where the place was, so between his English and my German, we finally found the place. Oh, by the way, don't argue directions with someone in a foreign language on the Autobahn. It's not for the faint of heart.

My flight into Afghanistan (hereafter referred to as the 'stan) leaves tomorrow at 1140 EST. I fly into Bagram and then move to Camp Phoenix near Kabul.

To all of you, thank you for the prayers. Keep 'em coming. To my family, I love you and miss you all very much. I'll blog again when I get a minute.