Even stranger places
October 31st, 2009 by rsm
I had to leave my guys for a few days. Readjustment is strange. I can see there are going to be a few issues when I get home, and that is okay. At least I am recognizing them now, so I’ll be going in with some knowledge of what I will face.
My commander assigned me training. This is normal. Unfortunately, the training is in another country, well away from my unit. I’m back in the desert, back in the heat. I’ll be here for a few days, but I’ll be missing key events going on back in-country.
And I have some guilt. I do not begrudge the military folks at this base for the comforts they have, especially the comforts that are so far and away from what we have down range, but I wish I could send our soldiers here on occasion. There are moments when I want to smack the crap out of an airman or squid as they complain that sometimes the high speed wireless internet doesn’t reach all the way back into their air-conditioned, private room. They even consider this hardship duty. They have a mall. A mall. They are all built huge because of the great gyms, access to supplements, and plenty of time to work out since they work a standard work week, 7-8 hrs a day, 4-5 days a week. The soldiers out where I am, not so much. Again, if I could, I’d certainly like to get away with it, but I can’t. Someone has to be in the fight, while someone else has to support us. The big advantage is that we have far fewer rules out there. No reflective safety belts at night. No saluting. We can carry backpacks wherever the hell we please. It’s called “living far away from the flagpole.”
I almost made myself sick at my first meal here. There was so much good food. I ignored the complaints around me. Incredibly fresh vegetables lined the salad bar, with varieties of fresh fruit, multiple entrees to choose from along with a place that would make your stir-fry to your specification on the spot. It’s nothing like the chow we suffer through out there. They even have the premium, not from concentrate juices. And milk. I never thought I’d crave milk so much, but after seeing the shelves in our dining hall lined with crates of boxed milk gathering dust, real milk is amazing. And pop tarts. I ate like a refugee who finally made it to the shelter, cautious at taking anything then wanting to horde it all to just get flavors.
I’m jumpy as well, loud noises startling me. We don’t wear our armor here. No one has a weapon. My hip feels uncomfortable without at least my sidearm, I’ve noticed. I sometimes awake in the night, a little anxious because I had reached out for my pistol which wasn’t there. There are too many people around, with a feel of a college campus.
Women are everywhere. It’s noticeable. I’m in an infantry unit. With all the combined forces of us, NATO, Afghans and the others in our area, we have one single female soldier, and she’s only around for another month or so. I’m glad the mall here has a variety of shampoos. I breathe in the scent of their hair.
But I arrived here with a slight cold. Nothing serious, though with all the air travel over several days and the shift in temperatures from the mid 30s to the mid 90s, I look a little rough, especially around the eyes. No one messes with me. No one demands a great deal. With the exception of a few other Army folks and some Marines, people avoid me, apparently put off by the look on my face. I’ll have to tone that down back in the states. Today is a full day of rest in the tent for me.
And I miss my soldiers and my fellow soldiers from our NATO partner. We’ve grown on each other, come to rely on each other. They mean a great deal to me, true friendships forming with mutual respect and trust, even some interdependence. Now I’m not there. I’ve received text messages from them, information on a firefight they were engaged in, the fortunes of war in a technology age.
May they be safe while I am. If they are to fight, I’d rather be alongside.
Thanks for posting this and letting us know what you’re up to. I’m glad that you’re “taking a break” so to speak and getting some much needed rest.
I’ve been thinking about your own transition period. I recently received letters from 2 friends who have been stateside for over 3 months. I’ll share these with you as it gets closer to your return so you can get insight about this phase as it gets closer to your return.
Enjoy the veggies, fruit and juices!
As the kids were saying last night: Trick or treat, smell my feet, do u have something good to eat? If you don’t just beware, I will pull your underwear!
Hugs, sweetie.
I have a strong urge to smack the whiners, though.
Get some rest, and fell better soon.
When Trooper was in the Army, it was day old KFC on the top of the tank during the “every other wknd”. He went to the Air Force reserves and called me his first day on the base with an urgent message.
“There are honest-to-God *shrimp* *cocktails* here!” he whispered. Later, he told me they were waited on by stewards with the napkin over the sleeve routine.
The difference is night an day, it’s true. He reckoned that spending a dozen years eating sand and swill was penance enough and he’d earned that shrimp cocktail. Still…he swallowed every bite with hesitation, well-aware of its price to others.
You do guilt entirely too well. And I’ve seen that look – in pictures but unnerving, nonetheless. I’m not sure I’d want to see it in person.