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  MAY 2012  next month
s m t w t f s
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 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



5 Mar 2009
Building Basra, American-style
The COB (Coalition Operating Base) is in full tilt expansion as the American forces are making ready to assume control from the British. UK forces have done a great job in Basra, and now we must keep up their momentum, and ensure that the Iraqis can peacefully exist, even thrive, without us. There's a lot that has to happen, though. We'll be living in Containerized Housing Units (CHUs) instead of tents, which offers nice privacy, and much better insulation against the heat and cold. Popular British jokes, that we laugh at too, include poking fun at us for building a bigger fuel farm to power our oversized vehicles, adding deep-fat fryers to the dining facilities, and putting in hamburger and pizza joints because we just can't eat enough in 3 meals a day. Plus midnight snack. Sooo true!

Here you see lots of CHUs being placed, over a setting, hazy sun.
 
Army Deployment , General
posted by  henry at  13:24 | permalink | trackbacks [13]



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]





page 13 of 26previous pages   11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20   next pages