06.06.08
Sorry it has taken me a while to get back to you. Things, as you can imagine, were really busy around here for about the first month and a half.
We took over the mission from another unit and there were a few things we has to assess for ourselves and make changes as needed. I was really busy going through all of our vehicles and giving them a very thorough inspection to determine what repairs we needed to have done. There is only one other soldier working with me on this project, but she is developing into a rather good mechanic. The other soldiers have fallen into a regular routing and we now have some regular work hours as opposed to doing the 14 hour long days.
The weather here is getting a little miserable. There was a big dust storm a few weeks ago and I could not even see 50 feet in front of me. Of course that was the day I had to work outside most of the time instead of inside our maintenance tent where I normally spend my days. I had safety glasses and a dust mask on, so it was tolerable. The temperatures have been climbing and we have already seen a few days in the 120s. When the wind blows, it is like turning a hair dryer on yourself. I drink about 1.5-2 gallons of water a day, but then I have to get up in the middle of the night. It's worth it to prevent becoming a hot weather casualty.
Overall, we are doing just fine. We can wear civilian clothes (shorts and t-shirts) when we are not on duty and there is a gym that stays quite busy. The food is getting routine and I miss home cooking, but I will be home on leave at the end of August for about 2 weeks. I look forward to seeing my family more than anything, even though I get to see them on our webcams.
Talk to you later,
Mark
04.02.08
Hi all, I have arrived in Kuwait, after traveling about 28 hours. We are at the in processing station and will be here about a week before heading to our "home." The weather is very sunny and sunglasses are definitely needed. Our tents are air conditioned, so it is tolerable. There are calling centers, but they are expensive, so I will not call much until I can get a line that connects to the US for free. That should be next week. This keyboard is not that good, so I will follow up with more next week when I can get on a better computer. My new mailing address is:
SFC Mark Pancake
G Co., 237th BSB
Camp Arafjan, Kuwait
APO, AE 09366
Look forward to hearing from you later,
Mark
03.20.08
All,
Just a quick announcement about my recent promotion. I was promoted to Sergeant First Class (SFC) (E-7) yesterday afternoon. This is a significant promotion and I am now considered as a senior non-commissioned office, but I can also perform duties assigned to junior commissioned officers (lieutenants). My duty position has not changed and I am still in charge of the logistic (supply, maintenance, weapons, mail, administrative) functions of the company, I am just now getting comparable pay and designation.
In most Army companies, there are normally only 1-2 promotions to this rank every 12-18 months.
Mark
03.13.08
I have been busy for the past 2 months and we will be moving to the next phase of our mobilization. We have spent many long days heading out to classes and briefings along with getting all of our medical and financial affairs in order. Some of our soldiers were home the past few days and others just left. The last group will be home for Easter or will have family members here. Cynthia and the kids will be visiting me here. We leave for Kuwait at the end of the month.
Overall we have done very well at all of the tasks we were required to be trained on. We were given several cultural briefs, learned some key phrases (some forgotten by now), and had numerous classes. We also spent days training and developing as a team on tasks such as convoy movement (I was a convoy commander in some of the scenarios), entering villages and towns, providing security and going through refresher training on skills we learned at basic training.
It is an interesting lifestyle change having to share a room with 30 other grown men. We each get either an upper or lower bunk and a small locker to keep a few things in. We share a latrine along with colds and coughs. We have been fortunate that there was only some minor bickering, but no major confrontations. I hope that remains for the rest of the deployment.
We have been on duty every day since we arrived here, but a few of the days did not have any activity scheduled. We were able to get a few vans and go to Wal Mart to pick up things that were not available at the PX. Funny how the highlight of a month is a simple trip to Wal Mart. We have not been able to wear civilian clothes the entire time, only duty or physical training uniforms. At least there are some recreational activities available during off duty hours. Internet is available, there is a center with pool tables, a TV and a small gym. We have a volleyball court next to the barracks and have played football and soccer for physical training. Phone contact is best made with cell phones.
Overall not a bad experience so far, but we are ready for the next phase of the deployment so we will be one day closer to returning home with our families.
Mark
02.02.08
As far as what we are doing here in TX, the training is slower that we expected. The key leaders plan and conduct most of the training in order to keep our soldiers busy to make the time pass by. We have been going over basic skills, went to the rifle range and the gas chamber. We are still developing our teams and trust in one another since we had a large number of our soldiers come from another unit. We are also training on urban operations (which requires tight teamwork and rehearsals) and building searches. Some of this is new to us older soldiers, but we are learning quickly.
Overall, things could be much worse. We have internet access and cell phone service, the food is tolerable (but the service could be better from the contractors), the USO is set up here and we have a recreation building right next door.
I have to run,
Mark
1.15.08
I just wanted to send all of you a quick update to how I am doing. The days are long, but the weeks are short. When I think about it, I have already been gone a week and a half. The weather has been rather tolerable, in the mid 60's and sunny. The nights get cooler, something in the upper 30's and the wind blows most of the time.
We are living in an open bay barracks, which is big open room and bunks are lined against the wall. There are 34 men living in the barracks bay with me. There are another 34 soldiers on the other side and we have to share 6 sinks, 4 toilets and 7 showers. So far there has not been a problem and we keep everything clean. The only distraction is that some of the guys want to get loud at night and watch their movies while others are trying to sleep.
We have been spending our days going through personnel, medical and finance processing early last week and we have been working on getting in shape. I don't hurt as bad as I did after the Thanksgiving football game though. Our leadership has been conducting training on our own for our soldiers to help prepare them for the "official" training we will be starting soon. About 15 soldiers gathered on Sunday morning to pray together since scheduled training can interfere with regular chaplain services. We see the chaplain a few times a week when he comes around to talk with the soldiers.
I have to run, but wanted to thank all of you for your prayers and support of my family, who I get to talk with daily.
Mark
1.08.08
We have 2 mailing addresses, one for letters and one for UPS, as follows;
U.S. Mail;
SSG Mark Pancake
Building 56482
G Co., 237th BSB, North Fort Hood
Fort Hood, TX 76544
UPS;
SSG Mark Pancake
Building 56482
G Co., 237th BSB, North Fort Hood
Gatesville, TX 76528
We have been in-processing the past few days going through personnel, finance, legal and medical. I had to get a smallpox vaccination and anthrax shot. My arm is a little sore, but I'm doing well. We have a small PX up the street where I can buy what I need and if they don't have it, they will get it in a few days. The days will be getting busier soon as we will start training. I should be able to check my email almost daily and I also have a good signal on my cell phone.
Mark