  That last posting has a comment by someone named SG...I'm racking my brain trying to figure out who this person is, and how he/she heard about my weblog. Not that I mind , of course, I just didn't think it was interesting enough for a stranger to enjoy. So SG asks if I have any tips for someone deploying to Afghanistan for a six-month stint. So here goes: 1) If you don't already love to read, learn to love it. Bring books, Amazon delivers here (books, but not much else, for some reason ) have your buddies send current magazines (I'm a religious Runner's World and New Yorker fan--the PX carries Runner's World, but I'm probably the Only Soldier in the U.S. Army to read The New Yorker. And I'm not sorry! ). I used to think I was also the Army's only Democrat, but I work with two others.
My take on my politics: I've been a soldier for five years, and female for thirty-three...George Dub-ya has deployed the CRAP out of us and completely decimated reproductive rights, so I ask: What has he done for me lately? Or, EVER? Ok, I digress...I do that a lot, in case you've not noticed. 2) Become very adept at biting your tongue. Pick your battles wisely, they WILL be remembered on redeployment. And yes, this coming from the poor slob who got hugely pissed over cookies...in my own defense, I didn't lose my temper, I don't think anyone (besides Major K, my vent buddy) even knew I was hugely pissed over cookies.
3) You know that black bearsuit thing, the wonderful fleece jacket they issue you but tell you not to wear? Bring it . Unless something changes, it's authorized for wear with PT's, and roundabout October it gets mighty chilly around here. 4) Websites that will greatly improve your quality of life, if you're into Nice Things: www.drugstore.com www.netgrocer.com www.roadrunnersports.com They all deliver over here. It's amazing what a big bottle of expensive Philosophie Pumpkin Pie-scented shower gel will do for your spirits. I procured it just before Thanksgiving and annoyed the crap out of the other ladies in the shower by standing there with a handful of it, eyes closed, smiling, and sniffing happily. It smells just like its namesake. Netgrocer, great for food compatible with microwave and hot pot. You will get so sick of that damn chow hall, you won't even want to put yourself through the trouble of walking 500 yards to it. You'll wear out your running shoes on the rocks, so Roadrunner is a great source--they have everything. Oh, and Victoria's Secret. A girl's gotta have pretty underthings, even in a combat zone. 5) Buy nice, soft earplugs if you're coming to Bagram. The airfield stays maddeningly busy all night, every night, with every flavor of aircraft taking off and landing constantly, and I could hit them with a rock from my back door.
The yellow foam ones and God forbid, those horrid rubber things the Army gives you? Not good enough. Look at the decibel ratings on the packages at the drugstore. The kind I found are light green, very comfortable, and block out 33 decibels of sound. Doesn't stop the bunk from rattling violently as the Chinooks hover right over your head , but they definitely help. 6) If you have a personal computer with games and a DVD player, bring it. The bazaar (if it ever comes back) sports a huge collection of pirated DVD's, muy cheapo.
I even found the first season of Six Feet Under for ten bucks. Can't think of anything else. I think the boredom is the toughest part, and that depends on your job. OH, bring a lamp! Clamp on, whatever. They don't sell them at the PX and you WILL want one! Shit, one more thing--if they don't issue you the WileyX goggle-glasses things, you'll want those, too. If you come here in May, that's the beginning of the Winds of 120 Days. No shit. Think mad, gale-force sandstorms every day for months on end, lovingly accompanied by 110+ degree heat.
This is summer in Afghanistan. You'll think you landed on Mars. Get outside the wire every chance you get. Think the Bible meets Apocalypse Now...camels and donkeys, mud huts, burqas against a backdrop of bombed out tanks and wrecked Russian MIG's. Unreal. It doesn't look anything like any other place on Earth, I'm convinced. 
