Greetings all,

Those of you on the East Coast are probably just getting the dug out from what I believe has been dubbed "snowmagedon."  Did it warrant such a title?  As I hoped and expected, winter has arrived here in northern Afghanistan.  It took a month, but I think it will be here for at least the foreseeable future.  I can't even believe it has been a month.

This is definately not the B-Team experience I was expecting or hoping for.  Our higher headquarters is a USMC unit things are running a bit different.  Instead of being knee deep in logistics as I expected, they apparently take care of most resupply needs.  I personally dislike this as no one likes the boss or manager doing their job for them.  I hate to say it, but this system really makes us more of a hinderance then an asset.  We are on standby for emergency logistical requirements which has occurred mostly when the weather prevents routine resupply from taking place.  The lack of resupply duties frees up my time for my force protection and base defense duties.  As mentioned in the first email, the outgoing AOB left lots of room for improvement.  I've dropped by the guard towers in the middle of the night to spot check the guards and see how they were doing.  They seemed to appreciate the interest and concern. 

Luckily my company commander gets cabin fever every once and a while and we go on logistic runs.  We've only done two, but the ODA's really appreciated getting their mail, bullets and personnell delivered to them.  I enjoyed being outside the wire and seeing more of the Afghanistan country side.  In addition to logistics runs, I've started doing ATV patrols with some of the guys in the hills surrounding camp.  They are more reconnaisance patrols than presence patrols, for the range facility I am building.  The Germans quickly tired of my requests to use their machine gun ranges and gave me a valley to train in.  They pretty much highlighted a swath of land on the map and said, "This is for you to use.  You will manage it, ensure it complies with your range regulations."  I believe it will become increasingly valuable as 'surge' forces begin to move into the area and need to finish their train up. 

One mission that deserves special attention is the CASEVAC mission I went on with my medic.  The US Army CASEVAC (Casualty Evacuation) helicopter unit stationed across the airfield from us does not have attached medical support.  We received a call requesting assistance on a mission to pick up a German soldier with serious shrapnel wounds to his head after hitting an IED.  Jon and I immediately grabbed our gear and drove to the helicopters which were already spinning.  It wasn't so much the flight to and pick up and treatment of the soldier that was exciting.  Don't get me wrong it was great to be on the mission.  The flight back however, well, was very remeniscent of a few helicopter rides in Iraq.  To put it mildly, white out conditions at night in the mountains with strong winds makes for interesting flying.  I had the pleasure of listening to the pilots and crew as they battled the elements and fought to keep the helicopter in the air.  I know for a fact that we came within a few feet of "punching in" as the pilots would say.  I vividly remember sitting in the back with my headset as this was all happening and thinking to myself, "really?  This is happening again?" I wasn't at all nervous, I ran my quick mental checklist of actions to take post crash with all concievable contingencies and then sat back, eyes glued to the windows, hands on my weapon and blow out bag. It was a relief to make it back to the airfield and off load the German soldier who has since been evac'd to Germany.

I included a few pictures this time for your enjoyment.  The first is sunrise over the mountains as seen from the turret on our first patrol.  The second is a small portion of the collection of abandoned Soviet battle tanks the Afghan National Army has acquired.  I am told they are all operational.  Last is a picture of me at an overlook on one of the ATV patrols.  I will probably visit that spot countless times in the next 6 months, how can you not? 

  Thank you for your time, I hope this finds you warm, well and happy.  May 2010 continue to be a good one for everyone.  Take care and I look forward to hearing from you all. 

- Chris