levitra" /> levitra" />
Weather in Basra now: Click for Basrah, Iraq Forecast

Henry's Homepage
Blog Home
Contact me
(remove 'NOT_FOR_SPAM.' from my address)

Bookmark this page



previous month  JULY 2014  next month
s m t w t f s
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30 31


SEARCH
 


RECENT ENTRIES
 
 
RSS ATOM


CATEGORIES
 
General [ 128 ]  RSS ATOM
    ACI  [ 52RSS ATOM
    Army Deployment [ 113RSS ATOM
    Family  [ 67RSS ATOM
    Startups  [ 6RSS ATOM
    STEM  [ 5RSS ATOM


BLOG ARCHIVE
 
RSS ATOM  Full archive
 
current month



24 Feb 2009
Running in Circles?
I blogged previously about a fun run in Basra- well not to be outdone, ACI’s Laureen Fleming has entered herself, her husband and her best friend in a TRIATHALON!
Way to go, Laureen! And thanks to Anne Clelland, we enjoy your blog and the recent content you provided in Valley Business Front (it’s a real, honest-to-goodness print magazine that ran several pieces on blogging for business in its second edition). Now wouldn't you know it? Anne runs, too. Triathalons and any old whacked out race. She blogs on blogging, blogs about running, and runs on about other blogs. Now I've blogged too much.


 
ACI , Army Deployment , Family , General
posted by  henry at  13:13 | permalink | trackbacks [1268]



22 Feb 2009
Catch and Release
Catch and Release: the Best Strategy for Sustainment
I've blogged before about how we call ourselves "Convoy Catchers" - carrying this analogy a little further, I'd like to apply it to a favorite pasttime: fishing!





Catch and Release, Convoy Style

  • Land convoy as quickly as possible. Keeping exhausted drivers at the gate leads to bad AARs.

  • Keep drivers on hand while removing the load. Avoid brusing the cargo or upsetting the protective gunner escorts.

  • Release drivers back to the road only after they have been rested and fed. If necessary, firmly remind the CC of rest requirements.

  • For missions so critical on time that connexes cannot be downloaded, emptied and returned the same night, download the connex, and put an empty back on; backhaul missions will eventually clear your yard of empty containers.

  • In COBs, release convoys when medevac is green.

  • Use one experienced NCOIC. Experienced NCOs make the mission easy by delegating jobs to each section with a ramp yard, MHE section, and customer waiting area.


 
ACI , Army Deployment , Family , General
posted by  henry at  10:47 | permalink | trackbacks [70611]



20 Feb 2009
Valentine's Day Presents
Don't think I forgot about Valentine's Day! No way- I had a package in the mail to Lisa two weeks ago, plus called her and talked with the whole family. But it turns out, there was something from Uncle Sam waiting for me... at least this time, it wasn't a mobilization order!
I received promotion orders for Lieutenant Colonel! The Army holds a board annually to review the records of Majors who have completed the required military education, years in service and officer efficiency reports. I was notified in January that I had been selected for promotion. While I was in the Individual Ready Reserve, promotions happened in late September. For deployed reserve soldiers, however, Uncle Sam takes care of us and makes the promotion date mid-December, 2008!


We had a great ceremony yesterday, and I was very honored to have Major General Robert B. Newman, Jr. do the promotion. MG Newman is The Adjutant General (TAG) for the state of Virginia, and was here visiting the 226th Military Police unit from Manassas.
 
ACI , Army Deployment , Family , General
posted by  henry at  04:29 | permalink | trackbacks [141]



13 Feb 2009
Our Iraqi Friends
Our Iraqi Friends
For those new to my blog, the military in Iraq requires a LOT of logistics support! Part of my job is to ensure convoys arrive, download, upload, and depart efficiently as the Basra base grows. While the U.S. is fully equipped to do this mission, it’s in everyone’s best interest if we make maximum use of the businesses and citizens of Iraq. Logistics is a great place to do that!

Several Iraqi logistics companies are involved in transporting our supplies, and they are doing an excellent job! Early reports said the Arabic culture really doesn’t include the kind of time synchronization we’re used to in the military, but I want you to know, the drivers running our equipment are all about being on time, minimizing everyone’s wait (including their own), and getting the job done!

Note in above photo: Iraqi driver supervising the loading of his truck, and a British soldier (bending down) inspecting the vehicle.


Why are the Iraqi truck drivers breaking from tradition and becoming great at time management? Well, we pay them for one. Good old capitalism works! We treat them with respect, and we show our appreciation for a job well done with repeat business.
In the continuity of Full Spectrum Operations, we’re at the tail end: transitioning a former battlefield into a self-sufficient economy through stabilization and reconstruction. Our weapons are more carrots than sticks: the economy, infrastructure, media and politics. Certainly we’ve got our heavy arms nearby, but what really makes this work is instilling a desire to succeed in this country.
It’s working, too. I get to have dinner from time to time with the pilots who have been here for almost a year. They tell me that from the air, it is clear that what was once a quiet ghost town has come alive with citizens moving around, shopping, working and making Basra the thriving metropolis it should be.
Furthermore, last month’s general election bore this out. The citizens voted for the leaders who have a vision for infrastructure and growth. The Seattle Times did a great Op Ed piece that sums up the election situation:
Give Iraq Credit for Holding an Election that Butresses Democracy
 
Army Deployment , General
posted by  henry at  06:57 | permalink | trackbacks [163]



9 Feb 2009
Super(?) Bowl XLIII
You’ve no doubt heard that the US Forces were allowed to drink beer in Iraq for the first time during Super Bowl #43. This had its own twists in Basra, where we’re really not quite plugged into the US support system. So our logistics support team was involved in getting the beer to Basra and Bucca camps, while at other camps it was all handled by the US Dining Facility system. Here’s a shot of us loading a plain, unmarked pallet onto the back of a flatbed, at night. Well, it’s plain and unmarked except for a big “SuperBowl XLIII” sign!



As a result of this fantastic event, we now have four nice plasma screen TVs in our dining facility! You can see from the shot below that the layout of the dining room makes it so you really have to stand up in order to see anything. There are barrier walls between each table for both privacy and force protection. The Superbowl aired 3 times in our area: once live at 2am, rebroadcast at lunch, and again at 8pm. Almost all of us in Basra still had a mission to accomplish, so participation was only about 70%. Many folks finished their two beers shortly after kickoff and went back to bed for the live event. Our group had scheduled the 8pm rebroadcast. I saw the kickoff, but had to leave for mission. When I came back, shortly after halftime, the dining facility was vacant except for 8 soldiers! The Armed Forces Network does not permit sponsorships or advertising, so we didn’t see any of the entertaining commercials this year.



The day after the SuperBowl was a highlight, though. I had connected with some of the soldiers whom I’d observed flying radio controlled planes and helicopters! A First Seargent invited my to pilot one of his foam delta wings, and it was a blast! They regularly gather by a small parking lot and fly at night, near a portable generator spotlight. All electric, and the airport makes sure that they keep under 200’ altitude. Oh yeah, I also got my picture taken with three NFL cheerleaders, the “Raiderettes.” They all signed an autograph sheet along with Sammy Morris (Bills, Dolphins, Patriots), Josh Wilson (Seahawks) and Willie Roaf (Saints and Chiefs), made out to my boys, Eric and Ethan. Sammy Morris was on my Fantasy Football Team and did quite well in 2008!

 
Army Deployment , Family , General
posted by  henry at  05:58 | permalink | trackbacks [344]





page 11 of 23previous pages   11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20   next pages