News From Iraq ::Radioactiveninja is now Jester::

[Jester]

Ok lets see if I can remember everything I tried to post last night until glc decided he wanted to mess with my log on . I asked Glc to change my name to Jester because that is my callsign over here and my handle in the gaming world.
I have been lurking around for the last 4 months and have answered a few posts, but have not been as active as in the past. Mainly because I haven't been keeping up with the tech and I have been busy with Honor Guard, projects, and issues at home. It really is amazing that an experience like this can make you mature even more in 4 months. I have looked back at posts in the past here and on other forums and I think "man that was kind of immature". I think I have aged, metephorically, about another 2 or 3 years since being over here. Part of that is being on the Honor Guard. We are more disciplined than even the regular military. It has been a wonderful experience. We just did a ceremony for 5 of the original Tuskegee Airmen. For those of you that aren't up on your history they were the first black pilots that lead the way for the desegrigation of the military. It was exciting to meet men of history and true honor. We are also doing a veterans day ceremony and we did a POW/MIA ceremony a month back. All in all it has been a great time. That has been keeping me busy along with my main mission.
My main mission over here is Engineering Support for the Army. I am with a specialized Air Force unit that was put together to go on missions outside the wire, and some small projects on base. That has been a growth experience as well. I have learned more about my career field here than I could have ever hoped to learn in the states. I now have much more than a working knowledge of the Trimble 5700 GPS survey equipment, and I am proficent with AutoCad Land Developement Desktop; which is a god send for civil engineering design work. I also just got back from the town of Tel-Afar. Up until september when I was up there it was an insurgent hot spot. They were clearing it out while I was up there. We went up there for a humanitarian mission of getting the towns electricity back up and designing them a sewage system, which is a completely new idea to them. It was interesting to work with the electircal engineers up there. These guys really know thier stuff and they are working with some of the most archaic stuff that I have seen. Talking to them through and interperter was interesting, but an experience that I will never forget. We were also working on reparing all of their roads. While being shot at and running over and IED (improvised explosive device) was scary it didn't deter our efforts. The Iraqi people have to deal with that day to day, and still they work at rebuilding thier country and go vote. They are the bravest people in this country right now. We spoke to an Iraqi general and he stated "we want you to leave, but not now. Now we are happy to have you and need you to accomplish our goal". That was a motivation booster. To know that the poeple you are trying to help appriceate you is a great boost of confidence. We have done about 50 different CE missions here most of which I have worked on. I know that I have left it better than I found it and that is an accomplishment in and of itself. I would be lying if I said it wasn't stressfull being over here. We have to deal with small arms fire and mortars. You get used to it, but I worry about what I will be like when I get home. Not to mention all the stuff that went on at home while I was gone.
While I was gone, my wife tore her ACL, so she has been only semi moblie. Luckily I have a great unit back home and they have come together to help her with mowing the lawan, keepin the yard looking nice, and walking my dogs. She was also still able to work at the emergency vet that she works at. On her way home one night there was a drunk driver in her lane and she had to swerve into the median. Her arm was forced through the driver side window and she messed up her knee even more. She is fine and healed now, but the car rolled and was totaled. Needless to say dealing with an insurance company, even USAA, is a bit difficult while over seas. Its all taken care of and the car is paid off now . I will be getting a Toyota Tacoma when i get back. Another stress has been my brother. I love him to death, but he is starting to go down the same path that i was in life. He has lost his motivation for school, and work. The only problem with this is that he cannot join the military like I did to get my life back in order. I now see the amount of pain and frustration that I put my parents through when I was 19-21. Oh well the important thing is to come home safe, so that I can help him when I get home. Not much else is going on here. We are going to try to get home in about two months. It will be my first time away from the family for the holidays. Such is the life of a service member. I will keep in touch and be a little more active on the forums to prevent long posts like this one. Thanks for reading. Talk to y'all later.

[Jester]

Just thougt that I would post this picture of us getting ready to go surey outside the wire to go along with the post.

[mairving]

Stay safe there bro. Last year my family sent a care package out to one of the units. Maybe we here at PCMech could do the same for your unit. Some restrictions on what can be sent though.

[MakeYourslf2012]

I think it's great what you guys are doing over there --

Keep up the good work!

[David M]

Thanks for the great letter Jester. It's really interesting to hear from someone who is actually there and not the typical one sided stuff we hear from the American journalists. The way it is portrayed is that the US military is not welcome by much of anyone...which is hardly the truth given what you have told us. It would be interesting to hear about more things which the press does not like to report on...like all the positive thing you guys are doing.

Write to us as much as you can. I'm sure many PC Mech members would like to hear your experiences and "war stories".

Also, let us know if we can do anything for you....care packages, books, magazines, make phone calls or whatever you may need to make your life easier and better. No restrictions from me..you want some Playboys?...you got it!

Thanks for serving and be safe.

[catacon]

A care package is a good idea. I have sent a few to a relative of mine and he was very appreciative.

Stay safe!

[Jester]

As far as stuff that we have done over here I have only really seen the rebuilding of tel afar. We are redoing thier roads and power grids. I desgined a new municiple center for them, and we are tearing down and rebuilding ALL the schools. Around the base that I am at we provide medical care to the locals, and I have gone to help in the childrens ward at the hospital. We hand out stuffed animals and stuff. We have a local group in colorado that sends stuff for us to give to the kids. We litteraly have a room full of stuffed animals right now. We are rebuilding the roads around the base too. We work with the local town administration to keep them safe and help them rebuild. We work very closly with them. the media talks to the 1 in 20 peopple that are pissed that we are there. The vast majority wave at us when we drive by convoy and kids are always out cheering and giving a thumbs up, clapping, or the punk rock sign which me and a couple other guys taught them when we were set up on halloween to hand out candy. I really like what we are doing over here. The saying goes "don't believe everything you see on tv" More later I have to get back to designing the base legal center

[MakeYourslf2012]

That is really great to hear.

I'm sure if the general public heard alot mores stories like these, they'd be a little more supportive of the cause. I for one am getting sick and tired of all the negitive stories in the media.

BTW, which is you in the picture you attached?

[Jester]

I am on the left. I tried editing my post to say that last night but it didnt take for some reason. Opporater error I imagine.

[David M]

The left politically?

[Jester]

I tend to lean left, but i just vote for what ever i believe in an think is right, but seeing as how this is a PC forum and not a political forum I say I am the left in the picture. Anyone out there work with an engineering firm that uses GPS surveying or Trimble equipment in general I might be getting out of the AF i haven't decided. If i can find a good job as a cad operator/surveyor and put myself through school while being able to live comfortably I just might get out of the service.

[Jaggannath]

I think David M was being the typical comedian... we need a dunce hat for him I think

[RevCLB]

Originally Posted by Jaggannath I think David M was being the typical comedian... we need a dunce hat for him I think

Don't be so harsh with the young man. Not everyone can be an atypical comedian such as yourself.

[RevCLB]

Hey Jester, Reading through this thread & what you guys are doing over there keeps my hope alive. Broad cast news is pure BS. I keep in better touch w/the world by cruising this forum & checking where the links direct me.I am proud of you & your unit members. Even when you get out of the service you will still be dedicated in what you choose. Thank you, RevCLB

[Statica]

Originally Posted by RevCLB Don't be so harsh with the young man. Not everyone can be an atypical comedian such as yourself.

You give the boy too much credit .. sufficeth it to say "atypical" .. being laughed at does not a comedian make!

[RevCLB]

Originally Posted by Statica You give the boy too much credit .. sufficeth it to say "atypical" .. being laughed at does not a comedian make!

Hi Statica, I got a real belly laugh out of this one. Is there a forum for sarcastic cynics? I'll join. Thanks RevCLB

[David M]

Jagg just does not like the competition. You have me beat with that mutant avatar though.

[glc]

I was wondering about that - are all Aussies that strange looking? I thought Oz was on the same planet - maybe not!

[David M]

I went to Australia in my mid-twenties. The women are gorgeous. Perhaps it only applies to the women?

[RevCLB]

Originally Posted by David M Jagg just does not like the competition. You have me beat with that mutant avatar though.

I'm not in competetion, not smart enough. I do enjoy the irreverant humor. Keep it up. RevCLB