RIP/TOA

I am doing some "catch up" with my blogs. The most significant event that has happened is that the 101st has take over from the 82nd in this area. This has affected me in two ways: I've had to attend a crap-load of meetings (even though I am NOT redeploying with the 82nd) and I am the Battalions' "Continuity Book" as I am the only officer-type who is staying behind. Fortunately / unfortunately I have scheduled my leave so that I am off for New Zealand when the 82nd finally goes away.

It will be very interesting to see how the command styles differ and how quickly the company commanders can learn their areas of operation. Certainly it is impossible to transfer all the knowledge and relationships learned and built over a 15 month time span in a matter of weeks. The unit that preceded the 82nd (the "Rakassans") made a name for itself by not patrolling and being very heavy-handed with the locals, thus ensuring that the 82nd would receive a warm reception. I think it took more than a couple of months for the 82nd to develop the relationships that allowed them to make some real progress here. Hopefully the next element of the 101st won't be anything like the Rakassans. So far, it seems that they will be exemplary.

More to follow... stay tuned.