Leaving forever.

[Chemical Ollie]

Originally posted by Oerdin


RBA has been standard issue to all US soldiers since the at least the Panama invasion. Everyone in Bosnia & Kosovo got RBA and I'm sure everyone in Iraq has RBA. It does have all of the downsides that MtG spoke about and it weights in about about 35lbs to boot. As an added detraction it is also bulky and uncomfortable as hell.

Still, it will be a standing order to wear it and I'm not likely to take it off unless I'm on base.

Did you read my link to the DoD propaganda? The new one is only about half that weight if I understand the text correctly. Still stronger than the previous type. Or were those 16.4 pounds only the jacket without plates and add-ons?

What's the nick of your unit then? 7th Psycho Group?

[Sirotnikov]

What the heck is "psy ops"? Do you go around handing out flyers or do you do 'sppoky ghost noises"?

[Lonestar]

Nope. They spin the US Army's booboos.

[Dinner]

Well, right now I'm in Aurora, Colorado which is a little ghetto town outside of Denver. I've meet most of the people I'm going to be working with over the next year and a half and by and large they seem like a good, if inexperienced, bunch. I have been having problems with one PFC in my squad who can't seem to get his ass to formation in time but other then that everything is well.

Right now I'm sick as a dog because they gave me eight immunization shots yesterday plus they made us do a ruck march this morning. Why they couldn't have waited until we were done with PT and ruck marching before they gave everyone flu and Thyfoid I will never know. Still, I passed with plenty of time to spare though being at 5000ft (as opposed to sea level) made it much more difficult then I remembered. Cheers.

[The Mad Monk]

Good to see you're having fun at camp.

[korn469]

Oerdin,

Take care over there, and if you meet any 12-Bravo's from Virginia over there ask them if they know of a place called Richlands. If they do, then I have some friends in that unit.

[Chemical Ollie]

Saw you in the pics thread. You look more like a military guy than an unemployed Internet addict, or a geologist for that matter. Or perhaps geologists really do look like Pierce Brosnan in that Volcano movie (can't remember title)

What's your military grade anyway?

[The Mad Monk]

If Rutgers was anything to go by, a lot of geologists are ex-military.

[Lancer]

Oerdin, try to post from NorCal.

Hey, it's an adventure. I look back on my service as one of the best times in my life. Wish I could be in your boots, soldier.

May God be with you...

"Right now I'm sick as a dog because they gave me eight immunization shots yesterday plus they made us do a ruck march this morning. Why they couldn't have waited until we were done with PT and ruck marching before they gave everyone flu and Thyfoid I will never know. Still, I passed with plenty of time to spare though being at 5000ft (as opposed to sea level) made it much more difficult then I remembered. Cheers."

It does have a downside now and again. Gets better when you get to your duty station.

[Dinner]

Ollie: I'm an E-5 but with luck I'll be an E-6 by this time next month.

Everyone else: They realigned our area of opporation so that we're covering everything from Baghdad north. That means I could potentially (read: likely) be stationed in the infamous "Sunni Triangle" where all of Saddam's supporters have been causing so much trouble. The unit I'm being sent over there with is an entirely new unit which is being created on the spot. The good news is that there isn't a bunch of baggage but the bad news is they're the low man on the totem pole so it might be difficult to get all the equipment we need.

As off right now we're only being issued M-16 instead of the M-4 (a shortened urban assult version of the M-16) and they're not issuing us M-9 pistols due to a shortage. Still, I plan to buy a pistol when I get to Iraq just so I can have a back up weapon encase my rifle jams; I've heard old Soviet made pistols are selling for around $100 in Baghdad.

That's about it. I'm working 16 hour days right now trying to jump through all of the hoops the Army keeps putting in front of me but hopefully things will start to slow down soon. The latest schedule has me going back to San Diego on Nov 23 through the 31st then going to Fort Hunter-Ligget from Dec 1st through the 21st. If anyone is going to be in San Diego at the same time I am then drop me a line and let's go for a couple of beers.

[Sirotnikov]

The army allows you to buy personal fire arms??

[Japher]

Man, why does it take so long for Oerdin to leave?!!

Seriously, Oerdin, keep you head down and duck and weave, duck and weave... I don't pray, but I'll ask some ppl to pray for your safety, and Thank You

[Chemical Ollie]

Originally posted by Oerdin
Ollie: I'm an E-5 but with luck I'll be an E-6 by this time next month.

Those domestic American codes tells me nothing. Are you a Leutenant or Captain or what?

Also, I have the same question as Siro: Would it be legal to buy a pistol in Bagdhad?

[Dis]

no, those would be officer ranks. Those are designated with O-4, O-5 etc.

An E-5 in the army is like a seargant (they have several different seargants- staff seargant etc.) or something. I never really learned all the army grades . All I cared about was the navy grades .

[OneFootInTheGrave]

Good Luck there!