We started the week with what they call drivers training. We sat through classes that emphasized the importance of knowing what the heck you are doing while you are driving in Iraq and also presented a lot of the dangers of the road (i.e. IED, small arms fire, etc). On Wednesday, we had the opportunity to sit inside two roll over simulators—called HEAT trainers. It was quite fun but scary at the same time if one start thinking about the possibility of our vehicle rolling over and the possibility of opening a 450 lbs door while upside down and hurt. After the HEAT trainers, we were taken out to a muddy trail where we had to maneuver through with our vehicle to make sure that we know how to handle a similar situation. It was real fun, much like going four wheeling. Then we came back at night and drove our vehicle for a short stretch of the road on black out operations—all lights off—and wearing our night vision goggles.
Last week we were told that we would be going to Kirkuk which is in the northeastern part of Iraq. The news is better than hearing that we would be going to Baghdad so I was happy to be somewhat up north.
The news channels have broadcasted that Sec. Gates announced all army troops will have their tour extended from 12 months to 15 months. This is a blow to all soldiers and their families since it makes it even more difficult to deal with 15 months of separation from their loved ones—married or unmarried.
As I sit here and observe my fellow soldiers I can’t help but to wonder if the media have asked deployed or soon to deploy soldiers what they think about this extension and if it affected the morale of the troops. I have watched several officers here that are so disgruntled, they have resolved to write editorials in various newspapers indicating the weaknesses of our contemporary Army and the problems we will continue to foresee as a consequence of “the war on terror.”
