Post by The Long Awaited Update 12 on Jul 3, 2008 10:45:37 GMT -5
I hadn't realized that it had already been a month since the last update until Cpl. Cruz let me know his family might be sending threats my way if an update wasn't written soon. So for the Cruz family and everyone else back home, here is update #12.
The numbers on the updates used to correspond with the number of weeks which we had been deployed, but that is no longer the case with us coming upon the 5 month mark. Again it seems like yesterday that we first arrived, which means the coming months should pass just as fast.
So what have we been doing for the past month? Well, LOTS.
LCpl. Ebeling was able to enjoy his R&R back home and just arrived back in Ramadi yesterday. Cpl. Johnson will be on his way here soon.
The Detachment ran a PFT a few days ago and it was pretty obvious that we have been wearing nothing but Boots for the past few months. Although, I think our two LCpl.'s who were here, Oliveras and Ray, led the way.
Mama Mia and friends were kind enough to provide school supplies for the children of Jazeera, so the team was mobbed as usual. Even though school is out for the summer, the children still enjoy the supplies. Thanks for the several boxes.
We are doing our best to spend your tax payer money wisely. The team has been tasked with mapping out all of the water treatment plants in all of Ramadi so the money isn't wasted. Over 40 of these and counting. You would think it should be as easy as asking the DG of water for the city. Well, not exactly. He doesn't know how to read a map so it is a little more difficult than that. The team is handling the constant assessments very well. We have done projects to help schools, extend drinking water pipes, repair irrigation systems, feed people, and increase traffic flow over the past month.
Jack, our interpreter, was tired of all the walking he has to do on camp to meet us before missions, so he bought a new bike. Only a matter of time before he adds seven rear view mirrors to the handle bars as the Iraqi style seems to show. Possibly the most ridiculous thing I've seen yet but the Iraqi's love rear view mirrors. On cars, trucks, bikes, it doesn't matter, as long as there are a ton of mirrors, it is cool.
We are currently waiting on PIC or Provicial Iraqi Control to happen. This is the turnover of power from the U.S. Military to the Provincial Government. It's been postponed a few times now due to weather and some other issues. I'm not sure what is being told in the news back home but the hold up isn't a Coalition Forces issue or an issue with the Al Anbar Government not being ready. It is an issue between the different levels of Iraqi Government, so being an Iraqi problem, we are staying out of it.
Recently you may have heard about a bombing in Al Anbar. No need to worry, it wasn't with in a hundred miles of where we are. It happened in Fallujah and the CA team there was not involved either, so no one from 2/11 was involved.
The weather is still hot and sandy so nothing has really changed there. We did have to adjust a mission the other day because we couldn't see 10 meters in front of the trucks. It was like a snow day in elementary school, so no one really minded. Only heat, sand and wind are in the forecast but we are getting used to it.
Now the time for me to praise the accomplishments of the team (This is the easiest part for me to write).
The team is doing very well. Some Marines here in Ramadi are having discipline issues, Some Marines complain that their missions are too long, Some Marines aren't able to uphold the standards required of being a Marine, and Some Marines don't represent themselves, The Marines or the United States in a positive way when out in town. I'm very proud to say that this doesn't apply for any of the Marines on Team 3.
Our missions are some of the longest, both in distance and in time, in the Detachment (Partly because of the size of our AO and partly because of me), yet the Marines don't complain. When children see our trucks come around, they are excited to see us, because they know there is a good chance a Marine is going to give them a toy or at least make them smile. At no time in the 5 months that we have been here, have I had to worry for a single second that they weren't doing what was expected of them. I've led a number of small units, both in the military and in civilian life, and this is without a doubt the easiest. Take your hats off to your Marines or Sailor, because they are making you and America proud.
As always, Thank you for everything you do to take care of us here in Iraq.
Lt. Gilliland
The numbers on the updates used to correspond with the number of weeks which we had been deployed, but that is no longer the case with us coming upon the 5 month mark. Again it seems like yesterday that we first arrived, which means the coming months should pass just as fast.
So what have we been doing for the past month? Well, LOTS.
LCpl. Ebeling was able to enjoy his R&R back home and just arrived back in Ramadi yesterday. Cpl. Johnson will be on his way here soon.
The Detachment ran a PFT a few days ago and it was pretty obvious that we have been wearing nothing but Boots for the past few months. Although, I think our two LCpl.'s who were here, Oliveras and Ray, led the way.
Mama Mia and friends were kind enough to provide school supplies for the children of Jazeera, so the team was mobbed as usual. Even though school is out for the summer, the children still enjoy the supplies. Thanks for the several boxes.
We are doing our best to spend your tax payer money wisely. The team has been tasked with mapping out all of the water treatment plants in all of Ramadi so the money isn't wasted. Over 40 of these and counting. You would think it should be as easy as asking the DG of water for the city. Well, not exactly. He doesn't know how to read a map so it is a little more difficult than that. The team is handling the constant assessments very well. We have done projects to help schools, extend drinking water pipes, repair irrigation systems, feed people, and increase traffic flow over the past month.
Jack, our interpreter, was tired of all the walking he has to do on camp to meet us before missions, so he bought a new bike. Only a matter of time before he adds seven rear view mirrors to the handle bars as the Iraqi style seems to show. Possibly the most ridiculous thing I've seen yet but the Iraqi's love rear view mirrors. On cars, trucks, bikes, it doesn't matter, as long as there are a ton of mirrors, it is cool.
We are currently waiting on PIC or Provicial Iraqi Control to happen. This is the turnover of power from the U.S. Military to the Provincial Government. It's been postponed a few times now due to weather and some other issues. I'm not sure what is being told in the news back home but the hold up isn't a Coalition Forces issue or an issue with the Al Anbar Government not being ready. It is an issue between the different levels of Iraqi Government, so being an Iraqi problem, we are staying out of it.
Recently you may have heard about a bombing in Al Anbar. No need to worry, it wasn't with in a hundred miles of where we are. It happened in Fallujah and the CA team there was not involved either, so no one from 2/11 was involved.
The weather is still hot and sandy so nothing has really changed there. We did have to adjust a mission the other day because we couldn't see 10 meters in front of the trucks. It was like a snow day in elementary school, so no one really minded. Only heat, sand and wind are in the forecast but we are getting used to it.
Now the time for me to praise the accomplishments of the team (This is the easiest part for me to write).
The team is doing very well. Some Marines here in Ramadi are having discipline issues, Some Marines complain that their missions are too long, Some Marines aren't able to uphold the standards required of being a Marine, and Some Marines don't represent themselves, The Marines or the United States in a positive way when out in town. I'm very proud to say that this doesn't apply for any of the Marines on Team 3.
Our missions are some of the longest, both in distance and in time, in the Detachment (Partly because of the size of our AO and partly because of me), yet the Marines don't complain. When children see our trucks come around, they are excited to see us, because they know there is a good chance a Marine is going to give them a toy or at least make them smile. At no time in the 5 months that we have been here, have I had to worry for a single second that they weren't doing what was expected of them. I've led a number of small units, both in the military and in civilian life, and this is without a doubt the easiest. Take your hats off to your Marines or Sailor, because they are making you and America proud.
As always, Thank you for everything you do to take care of us here in Iraq.
Lt. Gilliland