So we have been in Iraq for something like 8 days, and let me just say that the first couple of days have been nothing like what you would think when entering a war zone. We have spent most of these first few days sitting in giant hangers having hours apon hours of classes. Classes about everything from the rules of engagement (which is actually good to know) to classes about have not sleeping enough will effect your performance (Duh). Lets just say that we have pretty much wasted the first couple days here. Especially since every class we sat through have already sat through at least 4 or 5 times before coming here.
But before I get into what we do here let me first tell you a little about myself and my unit. My name is Aaron and I am here in Iraq with TS Company but I am in the security element. My company is a mix of a lot of different people from all kinds of jobs throughout the Marine Corps. We have everything from water purifiers, arty mechs, MP, and motor t operators, which is what I am. As a security element our job is pretty much to provide security for the TS convoys. It is pretty lame but, we actually see more action than grunts so it isn't as bad as it could be. Yeah that is right a bunch of supper POGs getting some. Unfortunatly since we are still in TS company we have to deal with all the TS shanagins, which are plenty. They are everything from having to be a hour early to the stupid classes, to sitting in the motor pool until 6 in the morning waiting on the truck people to finish unloading, But thrust me I will delve into this many more time in the next 6 months.
Now back to catching yall up on what has been going on the past couple days, so when we finally got done with doing the same classes for I think the count is now up to like 6 times, we actually began learning what our job is going to be from the Company that is leaving. They pretty much just said that this place sucks and all the Iraqi cities smell like shit. Oh yeah and that you have to be careful because while driving security for the convoys you will probaly get shot and and maybe blown up by an IED. All I could think was really I don't think I have ever heard that. But then about two nights ago we finally got the good word, a select few of us from our security element would be rolling out with the old one to learn what goes on, while on a convoy. Lucky me got to roll out with them, oh yeah I forgot to tell you that I was also lucky enough to get chosen to drive Scout 1, which is the lead truck in the convoy, and has a mine roller on it. man was I stocked. Here is a little side note on that Scout 1 and Scout 2 roll about 6 clicks or Kilometers in front of the rest of the convoy, so we can get out of our trucks and look for IEDs and other things that go boom.
So we finally left on the convoy which was heading from our base to another base about 5 hours away. We actually left oh about 2 hours behind schedule because TS forgot to load a truck or something stupid like that. Then after finally leaving he had a pretty easy way there not to many stops and no contact. Which kinda pissed me off, if I could have talked to my recruiter at that point in time I probaly would have punched him for showing me all those crazy movies of Marines shooting and blowing shit up. He should have just showed me a video of driving down the road at a whopping 30 mph stopping every hour for some stupid reason. So we finally got to the other base at like 3 or so in the morning and for once we did not have to wait on TS, YAY!!! The next day we got to sleep in and then that night we loaded up to head back, and guess what TS was yet again about 2 hours late to leave. But this time the drive home was actually a little exciting for a while, while rolling through one of the only cities on the route we encountered what we believed to be an IED, then the fun began. We instantly slammed on the brakes in the truck and a small group of guys jumped out to go and check it out. Let it be known that this is in the middle of a shit smelling Irai city with civillian cars all around, not exactly a good place to be. We finally found it though and it wasn't an IED so we pressed on yet again. Then after about 3 or 4 piss breaks that we just called short halts to check somthing out we made it home, at about 4 no big deal. Then after a good night of sleep and an easy day yesterday we are right back to where we have been the whole time sitting in the motor pool dealing with all TS companies silly games.
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