Army COM

My time in Herat is rapidly drawing to an end so I thought I would make one last entry from over here, I might have one or two more before I become a free man again. I will be leaving Herat tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon and spend a few days in Camp Phoenix in Kabul. One day there is one day too many as far as I am concerned, but at least it will be on the way out of here this time. Then we will be flying to Kuwait for 3-4 days to turn in our weapons and equipment and attend a few briefings. After that, it will be on to Norfolk, VA on 13 November. Apparently my flight will be from Kuwait to Baltimore on a charter, then most likely on a commercial flight to New York City before going down to Norfolk. I know, doesn't make sense to me neither to have to fly north to fly south! And after a few days in Norfolk for medical exams and administrative issues I will be a free man again and looking for a home, but I thankfully have friends that will accommodate me so graciously until I find that home. I could use some help from the stock market as well!
Anyway, about my time here, I will say that I would never have volunteered to come over here, and I cannot say I enjoyed most of my time here. I was never really busy or busy enough to make time go by faster, and my duties were fairly benign. I will say that it has been a very interesting experience to say the least, and interacting with Afghan military personnel can be fascinating at times, such a different culture and frame of mind. I will also say that I have enjoyed to a certain extent interacting with US Army personnel but am glad I chose the Navy. These are two different organizations with different mindsets and ways of carrying out business, and I guess they each work. To my benefit, I have noticed that it does not take much to impress the Army, or maybe they were just being polite. And as people who know me, I am never one to look for additional work, and the law of least effort certainly applies to me. Why do more work to get the same job done?
Other than that, I have had to attend many meetings that I will most certainly not miss, have had to prepare briefings and presentations that I will most certainly not miss, and have had to live in a wooden cabin with 20 other people that I will certainly not miss. I have enjoyed working with the Italian military, great espresso, but their work ethic could be better.
So, guess that sums it about up for me, I received an Army Commendation Medal for my time spent over here, looks like I must have done some work to deserve it and I guess I have, but I feel like I really didn't do all that much. It must just be a matter of perspective then, maybe I expect more of myself while being happy doing as little as I can. Contradictory?