06 in the AO

Today was great I had an unexpected day off the flight schedule and I enjoyed not having much to do. I have three RL progressions going on right now and that is over and beyond the APARTs that I am taking care of not to mention flying missions two to three days a week. So all that being said when a day off comes your way you embrace it and enjoy the time off, just like I did today.

Tomorrow I am on QRF for 14 hours and I hope that we get some deliberate operations it makes the day go bye so much faster. I dropped off my laundry today and it will be ready tomorrow they have a pretty quick turn around as long as they let the local Afghani’s on post to do the work. KBR is the big contractor over here that takes care of most of the life support stuff like meals and laundry and what not. I have no idea what KBR stands for but they are all over the FOB doing all sorts of jobs. It is really amazing how many contract workers there are on each and every FOB in this theater. I guess most are here for the same reasons the super pay check, a good friend of mine is over here flying MI-17s for the DEA he will be here for two years and take home a half Mil. Not bad money for the work but none the less he is still putting his life in harm’s way. He retired last year as a CW4 and they fly him home for two weeks every 4 months which is not a bad deal really when you think about it. He received about a week of training from a Russian instructor Pilot on how to fly the MI-17 and now he is the head pilot in charge. Most helicopters fly pretty much the same way it’s just learning the systems and emergency procedures. I hope this war is over long before I retire but I can’t say that I would pass up the opportunity to come over as a contractor and make some quick bank to really set up my retirement but that is still 6 years away. It’s hard to believe that I only have 6 left. When Marie and I left for Germany We had 18 years in front of us and now we only have 6 or so, time flies. Hopefully by the time I am ready to retire Marie will be in good with a clinic doing physical therapy and Robby will be done with his bachelor’s degree Shirley will just be getting started and Elli will be the big high schooler, damn where does the time go. I tease Marie telling her that once I retire I will live off here for a while; she thinks I am kidding, Not. Although I am just kidding, I am so proud of her. It’s great to see her so fired up about something that doesn’t involve the kids or me. This is all her and I wish here the very best all right time to change the subject she get so mad at me when I talk to much about how proud of here I am.

I did tell my buddy Joe that I would help him make IATF “training folders” for all of his crew chiefs so that they can run the APU “ auxiliary power unit “ on the aircraft to help perform certain maintenance functions to lessen his work load. So I will sit here talking about my day until Joe shows up. Today we had a visit from our Brigade Commander and our Brigade SP. It went pretty well and they will fly out tomorrow after they do a day mission with our first up QRF team. Once they are gone I will assume QRF for the rest of the day. Well me and three other pilots our QRF consist of Two AH-64s for a 12 hour period with an hour in the front and an hour after hence 14 hours. Ok Joe just showed up so I will cut this short and give him a hand. I hope that you are all doing well, night all