Let me catch everyone up...
Okay, here is where I have been and what I have been done for the past several weeks.
I guess I should first mention that I am excited to be going over to Iraq - I do feel strongly that I can help the people of Iraq in whatever part of Iraq I am asked to "serve". I feel like (for me) I am doing my part in response to what happened on September 11, 2001. That was quite a pivotal day for me; it was then that I recognized that the USA can do a better job of promoting what is good about America but also an obligation it has to seek out the "bad guys". Saddam Hussein is a bad guy and I am glad we are in his country trying to help the vast majority of the Iraqi people become a self-governing nation with economic and political relationships with the West. I know that this sounds idealistic to some and that not everything is black and white, such as the many reasons why the USA chose to invade this country and not others - but for a guy like me who is soon to be "on the ground", working with many good and decent Iraqi people...the high level ideologies are irrelevant to me now. What I know is that I have the opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of everyday Iraqi families through what I do in the Army. As a Civil Affairs officer I will be involved in reconstruction and humanitarian aid projects with the end state being more electricity, better water treatment services, improved school buildings and supplies, etc...than ever before that was realized under the rule of a ruthless dictator.
Okay, now that I am off my soapbox let me recap some key events over the past several weeks.
When I first got mobilized I conducted some weapons training in California. The base there was good in that I got a chance to meet the rest of my unit. There are some great people that I am working with at the moment - we certainly have a sense of humor! After a few weeks there we went to North Carolina for some other training, including weapons qualification, combat skills refresher training, medical training, and some good cultural briefs. In the near future I will be "shipping out" to Iraq and must say that I am really looking for to working my new assignments over there.
I have also had the chance to visit with family and friends while in North Carolina. I really do appreciate all the comments I receive on this website - it makes the deployment that much easier when I feel like I am regularly communicating with people I care about.
Until I get settled in Iraq and have a laptop computer with internet access that I can access daily, it might be a while before I can write but stay tuned....All the best...CPT C
I guess I should first mention that I am excited to be going over to Iraq - I do feel strongly that I can help the people of Iraq in whatever part of Iraq I am asked to "serve". I feel like (for me) I am doing my part in response to what happened on September 11, 2001. That was quite a pivotal day for me; it was then that I recognized that the USA can do a better job of promoting what is good about America but also an obligation it has to seek out the "bad guys". Saddam Hussein is a bad guy and I am glad we are in his country trying to help the vast majority of the Iraqi people become a self-governing nation with economic and political relationships with the West. I know that this sounds idealistic to some and that not everything is black and white, such as the many reasons why the USA chose to invade this country and not others - but for a guy like me who is soon to be "on the ground", working with many good and decent Iraqi people...the high level ideologies are irrelevant to me now. What I know is that I have the opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of everyday Iraqi families through what I do in the Army. As a Civil Affairs officer I will be involved in reconstruction and humanitarian aid projects with the end state being more electricity, better water treatment services, improved school buildings and supplies, etc...than ever before that was realized under the rule of a ruthless dictator.
Okay, now that I am off my soapbox let me recap some key events over the past several weeks.
When I first got mobilized I conducted some weapons training in California. The base there was good in that I got a chance to meet the rest of my unit. There are some great people that I am working with at the moment - we certainly have a sense of humor! After a few weeks there we went to North Carolina for some other training, including weapons qualification, combat skills refresher training, medical training, and some good cultural briefs. In the near future I will be "shipping out" to Iraq and must say that I am really looking for to working my new assignments over there.
I have also had the chance to visit with family and friends while in North Carolina. I really do appreciate all the comments I receive on this website - it makes the deployment that much easier when I feel like I am regularly communicating with people I care about.
Until I get settled in Iraq and have a laptop computer with internet access that I can access daily, it might be a while before I can write but stay tuned....All the best...CPT C
posted by CustardFilled at 5:30 AM
2 Comments:
CPT C,
Man, your out and about again! Jen and I are looking forward to seeing you and your spousal unit on that vacation in Mexico when you and I both return.
CPT W.
I hear you on that one buddy
CPT C
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