Finaly In Afghanistan

12 February 2009
Since I haven’t had internet access I have been saving what little has happened as word documents on my computer. Now I have internet – YEAH!! I have told some people that I would be at FOB Sharonna. Things have changed, as they often do in the Army. When we arrived at Bagram Airfield (BAF) we found that there was a need for a topo guy (or gal as the case may be) at the Mine Action Center (MAC) on BAF. As of now it’s me. I will be working with an Australian Major, a Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant, and another SPC and a PFC. The hours are easy for being deployed, 0800 ‘till we are done, tonight it was 1900, but it could also be 1700 or 2200. BAF used to be a Russian base, so it is mined like crazy so there is plenty of work to do at the MAC, also the database has passed through many hands, and it shows, so I will also work on that so it will make some kind of sense for whoever replaces me.
BAF is one of the larger bases in Afghanistan, as airfields tend to be. The main drag, Disney, is about 4 miles long. The base, excluding the runway and flight line, is not that wide. Most everything is on or just off of Disney.
BAF is an airfield, so there are all sorts of planes taking off and landing at all hours. It is funny how the largest ones, C17s, make hardly any noise, and the smaller ones, some sort of fighter, are so loud! Today was overcast and drizzly all day. This morning as I was on my way to work I saw 2 of the fighters taking off and I could see the glow of the exhaust –COOL!! :)