Home Sweet Home

Well, I've been at Bagram for nearly two weeks now. It has been quite the adjustment in life style and in the time change (I am 8.5 hours ahead of the East Coast). I spent my first days trying to keep my eyes open during the day and avoiding midday naps. I've already become a coffee drinker and I am now trying to ween myself off. It seems everyone knows I am new here...apparently smiling is a dead give away. One thing I have noticed is that people don't like to smile. But I've learned in my short two weeks, that more people need smiles in their lives. So I make it a point to greet everyone with a smile. I know it will probably fade away as my time goes on, but I'm gonna try. I am happy to report that my stuff came from FOB Shank! Yay! Now I have pictures in my office. 

My job will be interesting. I work for the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA). I don't want to bore you with the details, but it is my job to ensure that the contractor is properly ceasing all of its services throughout the northern region of Afghanistan. I will be traveling to different FOBs (Forward Operating Bases) at several points in the cessation process to make sure they are doing what they are supposed to be doing. I also will work as a Government Technical Product Representative (GTPR). I will go around the base here at Bagram and audit the different services provided by the contractor (i.e, water, facilities, chow hall). 

The people I work with have been great. I am in a predominately male office and it has been interesting, to say the least...I've participated in my first  (and probably LAST) Cigar Night. The after taste is disgusting. (I had to wake up in the middle of the night to brush my teeth again! YUCK!) And I have been invited to return to the weekly poker night...God Bless Beginners Luck! I think they invite me back because I don't have a poker face and they like to take my chips (Don't worry, No money is involved!) 

My living arrangements are pretty nice. I live in a Containerized Housing Unit (CHU). It's the length of half a shipping container and I have it all to myself. Yesterday, we had to spend some time in a bunker  due to Indirect Fire (IDF) on Base. As we were sitting there, complaining about things like how we could hear someone slam the door or how my coworker's TV doesn't work (I opted to not get a TV) an Army Private mentioned how he shares a giant room with 8 other men. That there are dividers, but no privacy what-so-ever. I am counting my blessings and glad I joined the AIR FORCE!! 

This is a look at my CHU. It is about as decorated as my apartment, so i think it looks great!

Those are my Air Force Academy Sheets! 

This is my neighborhood! There are about 10 CHUs lined up in a row. They just built showers at the end of the row strictly for my organization, DCMA. No more sharing with dozens of army women. And no more losing my flip flop on the rocks when leaving the shower! YAY! 

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CIPHER LOCKS!! You can't get into very many buildings or use any of the bathrooms/showers without having a DAMN code. You will know it is me at the door, because I am the person that has to do a code 3 or 4 times before I get it right! These will be the death of me here!

Water bottles are EVERYWHERE! I bet when I get back to the States, I will get charged with shoplifting bottled water. Around here, we just grab a case and go.  The water in the bathrooms and showers is Potable, but not meant for consumption. A lil side note: A did a water audit here on Bagram and found out that the water from the wells are actually very clean. (Surprising!) But the military has to take extra measures, so we run it through filters and but chemicals in before we can shower with them. 

 BUNKER ACTION! Far Back is Major Medeiros, my boss, and from my home base, Hanscom. Then there's TSgt Clonick he is an Administrative Contracting Officer here. Both of them are awesome and have helped me get settled in. 

The other side of the bunker. Yes, the base does get hit by rocker attacks. They are often on the other side of the base and there are sirens to alert us. Also, around holidays like September 11th, we have to wear our vests and helmets in the evening. Its a little extra precaution incase the insurgents plan on getting a lil froggy. 

Its surreal being here, especially during the anniversary of the start of our longest war. I ask that you keep all the troops who serve and have served (especially those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice) in your thoughts and prayers and that we take the time to remember the lives lost on that tragic day. 

I hope you enjoyed this week's Trish Tale! xoxox 

First Class Flight

On Monday, the few remaining Air Force people and a whole bunch of Army soldiers donned our vests, holstered or slung our weapons, (I’m sporting a M9) and put on our helmets as we boarded a C-17 to Kandahar. Turns out everyone on the flight was going to there, but me. I was excited to be in this particular plane because my boyfriend, Jared, is finishing up pilot training for the C-17. I was grinning. Total SAPPY MOMENT. When we got to Kandahar everyone else in the plane offloaded and I sat in the cargo bin all by myself. Then the pilots came down and invited to me to sit in the cockpit for the next leg. EEEK! There was no way to play off my excitement. I told them all about my “pilot boyfriend” and how “he was gonna fly one of these too.” UGH... I was that girl!

Oh Yea..I'm looking so hot in this pic! Ready for the flight. 

 

All the Army Folks on board the C-17.

 

Sitting in the cockpit as the Pilots prepare for flight! 

 

Pain in ManASS (Manas)

I took a five hour flight to Manas, Kyrgyzstan and landed about 0330 on Saturday, August 24. No one really knows how to pronounce it... Manas, MANis, ManASS.  I can barely spell the name of the country, let alone find it on a map. But this is a transit center for Military members heading or leaving down range. After arriving here, all the Air Force people received a list of appointments we had to attend that day and were told that at 2200 (10pm) that night we would find out when we would leave. I spent the day enjoying some Green Bean Coffee, the military’s version of Starbucks, and taking cat naps between appointments. I was also thankful that there was internet all over the base, a luxury I took for granted now that I have arrived in Afghanistan.  Manas is my first experience being around so many military people, outside of USAFA, and it was my first encounter with the Army. THEY ARE EVERYWHERE! Little did I know it was only the beginning….

That evening we had a briefing that gave us our points of contacts at our respective locations. Unfortunately for me, the POC listed was not someone I had ever heard of nor was it the location I was supposed to go to. Well, here’s the back story on this one, all my paperwork said Kandahar, a base in the southern region of Afghanistan, BUT my job required me to go through Bagram and on to FOB Shank a forward operating base in the Northern region.  I wanted to clear this up prior to the 10pm Mobility meeting so I met with the 466^th Air Expeditionary Squadron Commander to let him know that I was NOT supposed to be going to Kandahar, but to Bagram and then onward. After some time, he said that I wasn’t on the schedule to leave that night and we would worry about it in the morning. I attended the 2200 mobility meeting feeling confident that I wasn’t on the flight out that night and I was even tempted not to go to the meeting since I had some insider information. Not more than 30 seconds into the meeting, they called my name saying I was on the flight to Kandahar and I had to get my bags palletized in 15 minutes! I was pissed!! I had just been told that I wasn’t leaving that night and now I had 15 minutes to convince them that I should not be on the flight… Well, after explaining myself to 3 different people and a few phone calls later, I was finally removed from the flight to Kandahar. Unfortunately, it was too late to make the flight to Bagram leaving the next day. I would have to wait another 24 hours to find out if I was on the flight leaving on Monday the 26^th. Finally I was confirmed on a flight to Bagram, but it was still going to fly to Kandahar first and then continue on to Bagram. I sent an email to Point of Contact letting them know when I would get in and his reply he informed me that I would not be going to FOB Shank, but I would be staying at Bagram.  Here’s one thing I’ve learned so far in my deployment…STAY FLEXIBLE. Nothing is permanent. NOTHING! I was cool with staying at Bagram for security reasons-- FOB Shank experiences a lot of “action.” I know my parents are happy I am staying. SO, how am I supposed to get the boxes I shipped to Shank??

Frequent Flier Miles

 I travel A LOT, so leaving  Boston Logan International on Wednesday August 22^nd, preparing  to head out to Norfolk International Airport felt and seemed like any other trip. Besides the fact I was carrying around a giant weapons case with a M16 (damn you, Hanscom!) and a M9 inside, it all seemed pretty normal and not like I was embarking on my first deployment to FOB Shank in Afghanistan.  My friend Bri, a former teammate at the Air Force Academy and awesome friend, dropped me off at the airport and gave me some parting words. Truth be told,  we were mostly laughing about how I could rig my luggage to have less to carry. Two words: BUNGEE CORDS!  Then I walked into the terminal feeling ready. I was thankful that I had already visited and said my goodbyes to my boyfriend, Jared, and family in Bartlesville days before. There were no tears. No sad goodbyes, just me waiting in the airport for a fight. I stayed the night at Norfolk Naval Station Lodging where I enjoyed my last night in a full size bed, 30+channels of cable, and one final long hot shower without shower shoes. I checked out about noon on Thursday August 23 and the other people from my base chose to go to the airport although we did not have to be at the airport until 8 pm. I didn’t want to be at an airport terminal all knowing I was going to deploy so I took the Jared’s advice  and went on the hunt for the my final American meal. Turned out there was a Five Guys on base, where I ordered a double cheese burger with Bacon and an order of fries. It was as wonderful as a food court base meal could be, if only there had been shakes.  At around 1130 that night I boarded the commercial rotator filled with about 100 military members from all over the world who were are all headed down range. After a cute Marine soldier put my bags in the over head bin,  I had a row to myself and slept the entire 7 hour flight to Leipzig, Germany.  At Leizpig, obviously I had to buy some Hairbo Gummy candy, while the rest of the plane enjoyed some German Beer. I attempted to access the Internet in their USO, and I am now receiving emails asking me daily about my Penis size. That’s what being impatient will get you… Hacked!! I wasn’t even able to check my email either...

Operation Deployment!

This is my way of sharing my experience in Afghanistan with my friends and family. I'm new to the blogworld, so bare with me as I try to figure this all out. I just hope that you get a taste of my time here in Afghanistan as I travel around the country closing down FOBs (Forward Operating Bases). This is my VERY First Deployment and it all seems and feels unreal. But as I get through each day I'm thankful for the love and support of my family and friends back in the states. I have to count my blessings, the Air Force is a small world and I am lucky enough to work with several people from my base at Hanscom. In just a few short days here, I've run into people I've met at trainings and   have seen plenty of Air Force Academy grads!

For those you that want to send a care package my address is as follows:

Capt Letricia Castillo
DCMA bldg 441
APO AE 09354


Thanks for taking the time to check in and read... Be sure to leave a comment and ask questions. I will try and answer them, but some details may have to be left out for security reasons.

Hugs from afar!

Trish