On one hand I didn’t like getting stuck in Al Asad because of a sandstorm.  On the other hand when I did catch a flight out it was on the Marine Corps newest aircraft the MV-22 or as most call it, the Osprey.

The Osprey is arguably the most radical one built in the last 20+ years.  It is radical because it can take off horizontally (like a jet) as well as a vertically (like a helicopter).

Primarily, the pilots choose to take off like a helicopter and wow it’s not like any helicopter I have ever been.  The Osprey just seems to jump right up off the runway.  And fast speed?  Better than any rotary-wing aircraft that’s out there too.  In fact, after we left the Landing Zone (LZ) in Baghdad we touched down so quickly (like 5 minutes) that I figured we had to stop at another LZ.  I was wrong as we were in TQ.  Normally, I would expect about a 20 minute trip from Baghdad to TQ.

If I was to make any recommendation for improvement then it would be to have even another foot between the people sitting across from me so that we can more easily store our gear.  But as fast as it can go why complain?

Check another item of my wish list on my Iraq vacation.

Semper Fi,

GySgt Jonathan Jenkins

Popularity: 70% [?]

Ok this may sound weird but since I already clued you in on my food-touching-issue  (See my blog entry Why Does My French Toast Smell Like Bananas?) why not tell you about my potential PJ and slipper issue.

First, I don’t wear PJs or slippers.  Second, I will never wear PJs or slippers.  Third, if I did then that’s something I wouldn’t admit in a public forum anyway.  Oh mom and sisters, don’t put your two cents in on this blog entry.

Ok getting to my latest “issue”.  Each morning when I awake and finally walk outside to drink my coffee or head to the chow hall I find my inner voice yelling “I hope you are not wearing PJs and manly slippers socks”.   Seriously, this has been happening the last few weeks now.

It’s just that since my little piggies are better and found great cushions for my boots too it always feels like I am wearing a new pair of ubber-supper-fantasic-best-acme-zenith-thick socks.

As for the cammies, until about 9AM they always feel light and soft (ahhhhhhhh).  From 9AM  until I crash later that night they of course just suck.  With the nearly 120 degrees they feel water logged (ewwwwwww).

So there you go.  My latest issue.   Ha-ha

Thoughts on a cure??????

Semper Fi,

GySgt Jonathan Jenkins

Popularity: 52% [?]

Yesterday was the second day of a sandstorm which to be honest I don’t mind because 99% of the time the temperature is much more bearable.  I think it only made it up to 103 yesterday so Woo Hoo for that.

After a little traveling it doesn’t take long before you realize you need to acquaint yourself with where things are in case the weather goes south on you.  I still remember one time leaving the chow hall and in just 30 or so minutes the visibility dropped to what I would guesstimate to be just 20 yards.

In the Iraqi Version of Where’s Waldo you are Waldo and you need to find out where to eat, sleep, and pretend to work. 

Let’s see how you do!

Wheres Home?

Wheres Chow?

Wheres Work?

Semper Fi,

GySgt Jonathan Jenkins
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Popularity: 56% [?]

As I didn’t stop working until 1AM last night I thought it best to get up at 6AM vice 4AM.  Yes that’s sleeping in for me.  I know you’re probably jealous.  After all how many of you are lucky enough to enjoy sleeping in until 6?

Because of a daily Intel briefing I attend I wasn’t able lift until 9AM and didn’t start running till 10:30.  The flag was green which basically meant was already in the 90s but about 10 minutes in the flag went to yellow (low 100s).  Afterwards I found out it was 109 degrees.  With a total disregard for common sense I thought it best to keep running.

Running is never fun for me.  I just loathe it but today really sucked.  Still have no idea why I choose to pay good money to run a half marathon and full marathon each year.

Anyway… I think I was sipping from my camelback every 3 or so minutes and when I finally stopped my once green shirt and shorts now had large streaks of whites and gray.  Amazing how much salt you can sweat out in such a short time.

Sometimes it gets so hot that as you sweat it evaporates nearly immediately.  Your shirt may be moist but not appear or even feel wet.  Today was just that case.  I barely had any noticeable sweat until a few minutes after I stopped running.  Odd, I know.

So did I learn anything today running in 109 degree heat?  Yes run faster to get it over with.

Semper Fi,

GySgt Jonathan Jenkins

Popularity: 56% [?]

As I wrote the other day, there is almost no plant life on TQ.  Other then desert plants we need to grow something we would expect to see growing in Pennsylvania.

We have a shaded area and can water them daily but still needs to endure temperatures up to 125 degrees.

So if anyone has any cool ideas of what to grow please write.  We would like you to tell us what plant(s) you think would work as well as links to order seeds and how to grow them.

So please forward this to your “plant” nerds friends.

Semper Fi,

GySgt Jonathan Jenkins

Popularity: 57% [?]

I just wanted to once again thank everyone for their generosity by writing and sending care packages.

Birthday cards, books, food, letters from kids, stationary supplies, hygiene gear, the list goes on.

And of course socks, socks, and more socks. Because of the socks my little piggies are now good enough to start running again. I only ran for 30 minutes today as I want to ease into it but plan on being up to 45 within a couple weeks and an hour in a couple weeks.  Of course another reason why I am easing into it is because of the crazy heat.  Despite running at 530AM the mid to high 80s still isnt ideal but oh well.

Speaking of running, my friend Cheryl and I usually run a half and full marathon every year. Last year we helped raised money for Autism and would welcome your help again. The money we raise is for the Organization for Autism Research (OAR) and Mission for Educating Children with Autism (MECA). OAR is probably the leading nationally recognized group for advancing research and proving information on this infliction and MECA is a phenomenal organization located in my backyard (Chester County, PA) that provides life skills to young adults with Autism.

Please click http://www.firstgiving.com/runningwithscissors and donate whatever you can to this great cause.

Semper Fi,
GySgt Jonathan Jenkins

Popularity: 67% [?]

Looks like we didn’t have to wait few more days as we got our first Black Flag of the year today.  The high is going to be about 116 degrees today (about 42 Celsius).

I am still thinking about what to grow out here before I leave.  This lack of green is just fundamentally wrong.

If anyone has suggestions for what we can grow other then traditional desert plants please write me.

Semper Fi,

GySgt Jonathan Jenkins

Popularity: 69% [?]

OMG it gets so stinking hot out here.  Right now it’s a red flag.

We have weather forecasters who continually monitor the weather and run up a colored flag depicting the head index.  From lowest to OMG its no flag, green, yellow, red, and finally black.  Its forecasted that the black flags should be here in just a couple more days.  So woo hoo!.

I get emails from back in the states of yahoos complaining about the heat.  Today its gettign up to 117 degrees.  What color is your flag? 

Semper Fi,

GySgt Jonathan Jenkins

Popularity: 62% [?]

A Flail.  Yip that’s it, just a simple flail.

Originally, I was thinking a mace but I think something with a chain looks more medieval.  Being that this country is easy to think of being in 1300 AD I say it should be our secondary weapon of choice

We have been looking online for about a week now and can get a number of them less then $200 but…how do we get it in country.  We can purchase knives at the PX and get some mailed in as long as they are less then a certain length.  But flails are out unless it’s an antique.  Grrrrr

If I cannot get a flail then pray for more sandstorms to get rid of this 115 degree oven.

Ideas?  Anyone?  Buller?  Buller?

Semper Fi,

GySgt Jonathan Jenkins

Popularity: 39% [?]

I am glad to be out here so there is no problem waking up and getting ready to rock and roll.  However, when you look out and it’s already orange all I think about is ‘Who would ever want to live in this place?’

The other day we had a storm pop up and it swooped in with 51 knot winds (that’s just shy of 60 miles per hour) and very heavy rain for about 15 minutes.  It was so strong that I was being pushed across an open lot as I ran for cover.  Again crazy weather.  I went to chow and less then 30 minutes later visibility was barely at 20 feet and everything is being tossed.

Anyway… back to my distain of orange days.  Here is my typical first hour when I awaken to a sandstorm:

• Inner Voice
  • Grrr. its orange already
  • Yuck, I hate the taste of sand.  Where is my water and chapstick?
  • Double grrrr as my cammies are going be trashed after today
  • Ughhhh sand all over the floor of my can
  • Hope my gator is clean (a gator is a clothing item I pull over my head and it covers from the just below my eyes to my shoulders).
  • Sweet…. my gator clean
  • God, I hope they have lids for the coffee today
• Iraqi coffee shop
  • “1 medium coffee please”  “Shakur” (thank you)
  • Inner Voice: Where are the friggin lids?  Grrrr
  • Mumbling under my breath: “I bet if Saddam wanted a lid you find one”
• Inner voice:
  • (10 feet outside of coffee shop)  Sand in my morning coffee?  Already?  grrrrr
  • After coffee and walking to the chow hall: Please no dust cloud in the chow hall this morning
• Ugandan security guard “watching” the chow hall
  • “Jambo” pronounced (jam bo) Swahili for “hello”
  • Watching to make sure his finger is not on the trigger
  • “Asante” (pronounced ahh san tea) – Swahili for “Thank you”
• Inner voice
  • Asante for not shooting me in the back as I walk past you
  • (While clearing my weapon) Grrr, now I have to clean it again
  • That’s just great….. a dust cloud in the chow hall
  • After chow and walking to the dark tower :  I hope my computers and desk are not laying under sand
  • Cool, that’s not too bad.
  • Where is the can of compressed air to clean everything?
  • Well things could be much worse
  • Now, let’s hope no knucklehead emails came in last night…

Semper Fi,

GySgt Jonathan Jenkins

Popularity: 55% [?]