Ooooooo, a Heat Wave

"Hot, humid air is blanketing wide areas of the nation this week..." with a heat index of 105. Oooooo. I'm thow thorry for everyone.

This week we've been outside in 50 lbs of body armor (that don't breath) in areas of 115 degrees. I have no idea what the heat index is, but I'm sure it amounts to somewhere between really hot and damn hot.

I've experienced the heat during my first rotation out here, so it isn't exactly new to me. But I really don't think that it is something that anyone really gets used to. However, it does add to your appreciation for air conditioning and the vast network that supports such devices.

Have a nice vacation!

Ahh, the irony of it all. While we are here, putting our lives on the line for the benefit of a new, prosperous and free Iraq, we find the Iraqi parliment responding to our example by bravely stepping forward...and going on a month of vacation.

So, let me get this straight: whilst we patrol in 130 degree heat with 70+ lbs of armor on for hours on end, trying to bring security to the streets, they've decided to go on vacation while their country burns down around them. My, my, wouldn't thier fathers be proud of them. Perhaps we'll have everything fixed by the time they get back!

'Terps

I think the most delicate persons by far are the interpriters (aka "'Terps"). As their title describes, they are the link between the Soldiers and the local population. Therefore they are frequently called to go out with Soldiers on patrols, stay at austire Joint Security Stations...basically, do anything the Soldiers do that may require them to communicate with the locals. They wear the uniforms of the CF. However, they are NOT Soldiers. They haven't gone through the physical or tactical training that Soldiers have gone through. So, we have to treat them with kid gloves while expecting them to cowboy up at the same time.

One of my 'terps has been btching incessently about the horrid treatment he received while he was staying at the JSS. Apparently, someone took his bed while he wasn't looking. So, he sulked all night, refusing to go get a cot and sleep on that. Note: this JSS isn't exactly Motel 6. Shoot, it isn't even a Motel 1! There aren't enough beds to go around, and if you aren't in it by 10pm, your stuff gets pushed aside so a Soldier (who's probably been patroling in 120 degree heat all day) can collapse and go to sleep. In fact, even my stuff go pushed off a bed! I was up until 3am working, so I can't say that I blame them. Anyway, my terp is saying he won't go again, that he'll quit, etc. So, what do I do? Stay here on the FOB where I am useless? or go to the JSS w/o a terp and burden them by using one of theirs? I wouldn't mind firing the joker if terps weren't so hard to come by. Sheesh. What did my terp expect? Since when did he become a primma donna?

Just another source of frustration...

Well it has taken long enough...

...to set up this blog. I kept going to the Turkish homepage for blogger, which didn't do me any good. However, I finally figured out how to get the english version and can now start recording my experiences here for posterity.