Geez I can not believe that I have to leave in just a little more then 2 months.  There is so much to still help out with.

Not knowing if the Marine following me will be as ambitious to get involved, I wish there was an opportunity to stay here for a year instead of this quick 6 months.  Then again, I am sure I will feel the same way when I year is up too.

I know this bothers some back home when I talk about staying.  However, I just love being involved and basically having card-blanch to go anywhere for a chance to help the cause.

The last two days, for instance, was spent at the southwest corner of Iraq where there was only 15 Marines.  Having the opportunity to talk with the Marines to learn about their mission and their challenges to be successful and then trying to help mitigate the concerns is very rewarding.   I will tell you more about COP (Combat Outpost) Nukhayb later this week, if not tomorrow.

With so much to still do before redeploying back to the states, I have decided to forego R&R to Qatar.

Those serving in OEF or OIF in the CENTCOM AOR for a year are given an opportunity to go on leave for 2 weeks.  Those serving just 6 to 7 months have an opportunity to get 4 days of leave (really ends up being about 7) to Qatar. 

Exploring countries is always a rewarding experience but I know I would regret missing of week of Iraq vice the Guinness in Qatar.

Semper Fi,

GySgt Jonathan Jenkins

Popularity: 63% [?]

Yet another unique experience last night in Iraq. Being in Al Asad for a few meetings I had the opportunity to attend a Jewish Shabbat service. Shabbat or Shabbos is the weekly Sabbath i.e. day of rest in Judaism. I must confess that being in the heart of the Middle East I erroneously didn’t expect to see anyone practicing their Jewish faith.

Before the 1st millennium it is said that the Jews were nearly 300,000 strong in what we now considered Iraq. At the time this was the largest Jewish population in the world. Sadly now, they number only 9. Yes 9. 9 followers of the Jewish faith amongst the 25 million people of Iraq.

As for the number of Synagogues in Iraq? 1. I had no idea I would be observing and eating dinner in the only Synagogue in Iraq.

Service was led by Rabbi John Cutler who is in the Navy and is the Chaplain for the Third Marine Air Wing stationed here in Al Asad. Rabbi Cutler is also from Pennsylvania and lives in Bucks County (not too far from Philly).

Afterwards the dinner, the Rabbi and I talked for awhile so that I can gather some of his thoughts and opinions on how religion can play a role in the counter-insurgency (COIN) in Iraq.

All the left-wing nuts so badly wanted to call this a civil war (yes including MoveOn.orgs favorite son B. Hussein Obama) so that their blame-America-first rants would start to have more validity. In keeping with tradition of the loony left they failed to look at the facts nor show a desire to help a culture other then theirs.

We have now been fighting a COIN for the past couple years. Since General David Petraeus was able to implement a surge our ability to conduct COIN operations has proved huge dividends. By the way, McCain supported the surge and the General while B. Hussein Obama still speaks against both.

While we are doing a terrific job with COIN operations we still lack probably the most necessary ingredient for quicker success and that is the implementation of religious engagement programs. We need more American Muslim Chaplains to live with and work the Iraqi religious leaders.

Iraqis do not identify themselves as Iraqis. They first identify themselves by their household (family), then their clan (group of families), then their tribe (groups of clans), and finally a confederation or qabila (groups of tribes). Essentially, we are talking about what is known as blood loyalty.

With loyalty based on local leadership (predominantly religious leaders) vice those in Baghdad it would be in Americas best interest to expand our Chaplain Corps well beyond the 2 Muslims Chaplains we have now.

If you attended any meetings with military, political, and religious leaders in Iraq its easily recognizable that the Iraqis listen to the religious leaders first and foremost. This is the sort of knowledge that we must exploit.

Let me close by thanking Rabbi Cutler for the Shabbat dinner and follow-on discussion and of course the warm welcome I received from all of my new friends who also attended last night.

Shabbat Shalom and Semper Fi,

GySgt Jonathan Jenkins

Popularity: 74% [?]

I keep just having great the greatest time and experiences here in Iraq.  Last night proved to be another as I went on what I thought was the observation of a nighttime HST training exercise with a CH-46 Squadron (picture below) and a Landing Support Battalion (LSB).

Every month the CH-46s pilots must perform a certain number of operations (day and night) known as HST (Helicopter Support Teams).  Basically what they do is fly in one at a time, hover just a few feet over the heads of a couple Marines, and await the signal that those Marines hooked up gear to a line hanging down from the helicopter.

Its dangerous work for many reasons but these LSB Marines love it.  Just a few ways the Marines in the LSB can get hurt or killed include sand and rocks flying all over the place, getting electrocuted by the high amount of static electricity, getting squashed by 46, or getting knocked out by one of the 46 tires.

Going there just to observe I was right next to the 46s when they came in but after watching the first set (2 birds) they threw me rubber gloves and told me the rest where mine.  My job was to was to lock the hook when it came in then attach the cargo it to.

Talk about being thrown into the fire.  No training, just get in and do it.  While it was fun it was also a great learning experience.  No better way then to write up an observation and recommendation on nighttime HST operations.

Prep-Time
First we use glow sticks to setup a small landing pad to help guide the 46s coming in and as well to always provide reference to the LSB Marines of rally points in case something goes awry.

Next each of the Marines who will be in the operation gets two glow sticks.  We wear a glow stick in the chest area and back of our protective vests so that no matter what happens we can always find a Marine.

Normally when you use glow sticks you stomp on it and crack it for them to start glowing.  These Marines, however, have a tradition before they start the operations.  Instead of letting the individual Marine cracking their glow sticks the two Marines heading up the operation do it.

Everyone lines up for a gear inspection and then the two Marines heading up the operations kick you in the chest and back to crack them open.  The LSB Marines were all Sergeants and below so they were hesitant about me being of Gunny.  Of course I had no problem with and actually thought it was pretty funny.  It appeared they liked seeing the Gunny kicked too.

Time To Eat Rocks
Now we are ready to start playing so we walk to the cargo and wait for the birds to start coming in one at a time.

The initial wave of sand, rocks, and debris that caused by the 46 coming in is like a wall coming at you.  You crouch down a little, brace yourself, try not to eat dirt, deal with being pelted by rocks, and make sure you don’t lose site of the hook hanging down from the 46.

The reason why you do not take your eyes off the hook, despite the wall of debris, is because of the static electricity being given off by the 46.  Before working with the hook and attaching the cargo I must know the Marine next to me is touching the hook with a grounding rod else I get shocked / electrocuted.

My first one I had a little problem with the hook but afterwards not an issue as I better understood the mechanics and how to work with the other Marine and the grounding rod.  I ended up doing 11 of the 13 lifts.

Rocking Eating Time Is Over
While only being out there for two hours it does get rather draining.  Certainly must be hydrated and we had a good Doc on the scene as she was rather pushy with safety and water.

Just a great job all around from the LSB Marines and the Corpsman.

I continue to have a great time out here and owe the Marine Corps so much for what they have given me.  I have served our country my entire adult life and yet I still feel I owe them.  Love it.

Semper Fi,

GySgt Jonathan Jenkins

Popularity: 50% [?]

Wow, it was like Christmas in July as the Chester County Young Republicans and the Republican Committee of Chester County shipped us 9 boxes of goodies as well as health and comfort items.

Unfortunately, my fellow Republicans back in Chester County, PA included what they thought was just a football.  My naivety saw it more as a weapon of opportunity and quickly engaged on a target of opportunity (Lance-Coconut Price) to see if I was correct.

Pictures don’t lie!

Stage 1 – Target Identified

Stage 2 – Target Acquired

Stage 3 – Target Hit

Ok it wasn’t the Republicans per se that brought the Lance Coconut down but, I am going to take the Democrat approach for my rebuttal:

1. “Well they shouldn’t have given me something that if used completely inappropriate would hurt someone.”

2. “I am sure this is George Bush’s fault, just like when he Rumsfeld conspired to create Hurricane Katrina with the help of Halliburton”

3. “I did not have relations with that pigskin”

4.  “I was for using a football appropriately before using it inappropriately” – Thanks John Kerry

5.  “Then we will hit him in the shoulder, then in the legs, then in the back, and then in the groin.   Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa” – Thanks Howard Dean

Wow again.  Look at all the stuff below.  Not only do I and the junior Marines in the office appreciate the generosity but so do some Marines in Fallujah we may never meet.  There have been a few hut fires in Iraq and almost a companies worth of Marines lost their gear and personal items.  Because of your generosity we were able to send a few boxes to them today.

Pictured: Tough Guy (Me), Sgt Slaughter, Cupcake, and the Lance Coconut

Semper Fi Fellow Republicans,

GySgt Jonathan Jenkins

Popularity: 100% [?]

Tonight 5 of the Philadelphia Eagles cheerleaders came to TQ to give a little show and talk about their appreciation for us.

Nikki, Madeline, Laura, Rachel, and Kjersti got on stage at 8PM to dance, tell a little about themselves, and provide give-aways of Philadelphia Eagles gear. 

As for why I wasn’t issued a hottie during my pre-deployment I am not sure but will certainly mention the concern on my After Action Report. 

In the mean time I guess I will just have to start taking applications for a girlfriend for when I get home in October.  Application questionaire below:

The be Jonathans Hottie Application:
Just email me (Jonathan@ConservativeBOG.org) your name, where you live, a little bit about yourself, a picture, and why your self-esteem so is low you wish to be my hottie.

Attention: Weirdos, psychos, man haters, and cougars need not apply.

Semper Fi,

GySgt Jonathan Jenkins

Popularity: 67% [?]

As of today I have now been in theater one month.  For me, it’s easy to be unfamiliar with the day of the week much less the date.  Honestly, these first 30 days went flying by.

I didn’t know what to expect when I came here but I knew I wanted to get over here and help out however the Marine Corps wanted me to.

As for daily life, the positives are many.  Good food, have a pillow almost every night, time to work out most days, time to read a lot when waiting to fly or convoy, and an blatantly obvious commitment by the leaders of 1st MLG to the Corps and Iraq.

Daily life negatives?  Besides missing Family Guy and the Simpson’s I don’t really have anything negative to say.  I do miss being to just pick up the phone and call friends and family and missed a funeral of one of my dear friends and true patriot Ali Jacobson but again there is nothing negative about where I am.

The Marine Corps has offered me many great opportunities in life and are without a doubt one of the keys to my successes in professional and public life.  They say you get out what you put into something and I guess they are right and sometimes you must take chances in order to be richly rewarded.

Being a Marine was certainly a risk worth taking and coming to Iraq is another.  I cannot imagine a life where you say ‘I wonder what would have happened if I did this’ or ‘What if I had…’

In such a short time I have met many new friends, speaking a little Arabic and Swahili almost every day, traveled to new cities, caught up on some of my reading, played with many of the new toys the Marine Corps has purchased, and all while helping the Marine Corps.

If one can properly take into perspective of how well the US military is now fed, protected, and given communication access we our undoubtedly very lucky.  The veterans who passed before us are the real tough-guys.  All but one fallen soldier has been found.  No POWs.  Limited engagements that are almost always on our time-table and in the situation we want. 

Don’t get me wrong Iraq is a dangerous place and we have IEDs going off every day as well bullets or mortars randomly fired towards us but it’s certainly an asymmetric low intensity war for sure.  The generations that went before us fought hard, fought often, and all the while with little to no correspondence home.

I sometimes think if I can even be half a warrior as those who might have eaten one hot meal a month, rarely had a pillow under the head, fought while be stricken with diseases or injured, went to battle with no body armor and inefficient weapons systems, etc… you get the point. 

It’s all relative.

Semper Fi,
GySgt Jonathan Jenkins

Popularity: 50% [?]