TUESDAY JULY 3, 2008
I finally made it to my final destination. The armored convoy over here was cool!
We had two fully armored Humvees in front and rear while I rode in the Big Black
Armored GMC SUVs in the middle. Yes; just like you see in the movies...
We rode about 40 min into some really crappy areas with lights flashing,
horns blaring and everybody moved the hell out the way.
We moved into FOB Shield which just happens to be right next to SADR City.
Yes; that Sadr City.... I like my roommate. He is a corrections officer, there’s a prison & a corrections
officer's school as well as the BPC (Bagdad Police College) here on the FOB.
His name is Keilan; he’s about a 325lb black guy from Washington State
that nobody would mess with. Not militant but definitely looks seriously mean,
he's actually a family guy. We seem to be well matched so far.
My room is a dorm set up; two to a room and the communal bath is at the end of the bldg.
This place is crawling with a very diverse set of folks. First are the mentors,
all well seasoned (old) office dwelling types trying to move the
Iraqis along the road to self reliance.
Very Multinational crowd but mostly from Britain and the US.
All older than me and it's the group I work in so I feel ahead of the curve.
I sit right next to Lea (said LEE)Billingsly.
He is another intense 300lb black guy but he's an ex cop so were evenly matched.
I did get to meet the Iraqi General I’m mentoring already;
his name is Major General Jassim. Seems like a decent guy
but I need to get a better feel for the place and people before
I start to form opinions. Next group is the Army.
We have a unit that does patrols of the area (Sadr City)
They are all armed to the teeth and ride around on Humvees
or these big new vehicles called MRAPS.
Ill try to get a picture of one and sent it over.
They are so young, just kids really. Third is the Ugandans,
they do the FOB site security. Hired by a security firm at half the price
US guards would cost. Really nice guys very polite and very happy.
Fourth is the personal security folks I work with,
the military pulled cops from every uniformed service to
perform personal security for us while were in the MOI Bldg
which is off the FOB. We all have radios and guns to defend
ourselves but these guys can bring the pain in a hurry if need be.
Fifth are the Police and Corrections trainers.
They contracted cops from all over US to come and train the Iraqi police.
These guys are more my speed and more my age.
We work different hours though. They work from 5AM to about 3:30PM.
(The sun comes up at 4:30 AM around here.)I work from 8:30 to about 8:30.
Lastly we’ve got the EDOT guys; these are all South Africans (
white, big & mean) they do security for the British, Auzzies,
and South Africans. They are all former Special Ops types and it shows.
They drive these silly looking lime green trucks though. It’s funny.
The Forward Operating Base or “FOB” itself is small; the local PX
is a part time convenience store that only operates when people
volunteer to work it. The gym is top notch, apparently the Air Force
SP security guys "acquired" two trailers full of new equipment
and gave it to the FOB and the Mayor (that’s the officer
who is responsible for amenities and maintenance) isn’t
saying a word to anybody. All in all it’s not too bad; it’s not nice...
but not too bad. Its coming up on the 4th of July.
And the local bad guys always treat us real special and
help us celebrate by setting off a few rockets, mortars,
and such. Looks to be real sporty for a day or two.
Starting to get a feel for the lifestyle again.
Spent some time at the firing range this week as well as
the daily convoys to the Ministry of Interior Building to keep me on my toes.
We have been getting these severe dust storms.
They actually hold off the heat because they blot out the sun.
And the dirt in the air is so fine it gets into your lungs and chokes you.
I walk around the base wearing goggles and a balaclava to cover my mouth.
Ive attached a few pics of the stuff around base.
There isnt much to see except for big deadly machines.
Enjoy… Ill write more soon..
http://www.mnstci.iraq.centcom.mil/
Chuck Slaven
Mentor / Contractor
MNSTC-I MoI TT (FOB Shield)
Bagdad, Iraq
EMAIL:
cwslav@msn.com
SEND HIM AN EMAIL WITH YOUR SUPPORT!!