Hello all,
Been along time since I have updated, I know. Our company has finally all moved back to a central location so I have been pretty busy trying to get all the medical things in order. We are soon to be splitting the company up again so I have been spending time getting our medical SOP's revised and current for our operations, briefing the commanding officer on medical issues, getting all the necessary supplies for our trucks, getting study material out for my corpsman for their upcoming advancement exams and many of the other admin issues I have to deal with as the chief of the medical department for our company.
This last week I have made airway kits, IV start kits, barbicide for the barbers in the company, changed and revised where things go on the trucks, put stitches in one of my Marines for a small accident getting out of his MRAP, made many runs to our Battalion Aide Station to get supplies and get dates for evaluations, awards,reenlistment packages and advancement. Put submissions in to my 1st Sgt. for docs worthy of awards, taught, counseled my junior docs, got the program up and running for my docs to get certified with the Marines, which is called the Fleet Marine Force Enlisted Warfare Qualification.
On the lighter side, for those of you who know MASH as well as I do, have joy rided in a soft top ambulance with my derlict roommate in places on the base we probably shouldn't have been, stolen, or let's just say acquired meds and drugs from places that will not be posted on here, to wheel chair races, watching the Marines that are from Oklahoma practice roping a fake cow to just the everyday humor that we must have to get through the times like these.
Overall, days are short and quick. No real action going on anywhere in our province. Mostly country building at this time, not what the Marines are trained for by the way, we are warriors. I am very interested in what the next few months hold. I really hope that the Iraqis can hold their own when we go. Our next fight will be Afghanistan. We won't make it there, we will stay our time here and come home. Looks like we have come in at the end of this party. But the good thing is just the other day the Shia and Sunni had a huge meeting for the first time with all the big wigs on security of the country. They finally realize, we think, that the only way for us to exit, as we have planned to do since day 1, is to take control for themselves so we can leave their country.
I hope all is well back home. We got word the other day, rumor of course but pretty good one, that we may be RIPPING in July, that is a term for relieving in place, and then heading back to the states in August. As with the military though, as I have seen time and time again, don't bank on any rumor until your feet are on the ground. So, with that I am off to mark off yet another task complete on my dry erase board.
Doc
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Stopped at a couple schools today....
Hello all!! Superbowl Sunday and I'm going to miss it. The game is supposed to be on at like 2:30am our time, not sure if we are going to be able to see it here, but they say we will. Have a few beers for me today and some good food!!
We visited two schools today and had lunch at a Shieks house. All a great experience. The unit we are relieving donated soccer uniforms to one of the local schools, so we went by to provide security and watch the game. What is amazing to me is how much these kids want anything you have. I forgot how third world children are, so appreciative of anything. My last visit was many years ago to the Philippines I had similar experiences. The children come up to you saying "Mista, mista, chocolate?" Something as simple as a pencil makes their day. A lot of the kids know a few English words, and they were showing me their books and actually are being taught English here. We spent a couple hours there. They are so fascinated with cameras and being able to see themselves as soon as you take the picture.
From there we visited a second school where they were having some kind of ceremony. All the kids were sitting on the deck outside while the higher ups, Shieks and our staff was sitting sharing food and chai. The kids were handed out rulers, folders and pencils, all of which they couldn't get enough of. Overall, kids are kids. Even with the huge language barrier, you can still communicate enough with hand gestures. We probably spent more time talking with them then their own parents do. Kind of reminded me of the south side of Chicago. Discipline is kind of like the old Catholic schools here. One of the teachers was walking around with a little stickthey would use to keep the kids in line.
Next we went down the road to a Shieks house. Our staff had lunch with them while we provided security outside. The Iraqi Police were with us and I spent about at hour with my Arabic language book having the Iraqis teach me the proper pronuciation of words. They brought a table outside and had all kinds of food for us too. I stayed away from the meat, but the veggies and flat bread with whatever sauce they had was very tasty. I hope I don't get the runs on the way out. It was good.
Other than that...all is good here. The big picture is we are trying to handover as soon as we can to the Iraqis. Not to sure what the media is saying these days back home, but there is a plan. It does take time though to do it right and leave this country stable enough for them to take over for themselves.
Until next post.......
Doc
We visited two schools today and had lunch at a Shieks house. All a great experience. The unit we are relieving donated soccer uniforms to one of the local schools, so we went by to provide security and watch the game. What is amazing to me is how much these kids want anything you have. I forgot how third world children are, so appreciative of anything. My last visit was many years ago to the Philippines I had similar experiences. The children come up to you saying "Mista, mista, chocolate?" Something as simple as a pencil makes their day. A lot of the kids know a few English words, and they were showing me their books and actually are being taught English here. We spent a couple hours there. They are so fascinated with cameras and being able to see themselves as soon as you take the picture.
From there we visited a second school where they were having some kind of ceremony. All the kids were sitting on the deck outside while the higher ups, Shieks and our staff was sitting sharing food and chai. The kids were handed out rulers, folders and pencils, all of which they couldn't get enough of. Overall, kids are kids. Even with the huge language barrier, you can still communicate enough with hand gestures. We probably spent more time talking with them then their own parents do. Kind of reminded me of the south side of Chicago. Discipline is kind of like the old Catholic schools here. One of the teachers was walking around with a little stickthey would use to keep the kids in line.
Next we went down the road to a Shieks house. Our staff had lunch with them while we provided security outside. The Iraqi Police were with us and I spent about at hour with my Arabic language book having the Iraqis teach me the proper pronuciation of words. They brought a table outside and had all kinds of food for us too. I stayed away from the meat, but the veggies and flat bread with whatever sauce they had was very tasty. I hope I don't get the runs on the way out. It was good.
Other than that...all is good here. The big picture is we are trying to handover as soon as we can to the Iraqis. Not to sure what the media is saying these days back home, but there is a plan. It does take time though to do it right and leave this country stable enough for them to take over for themselves.
Until next post.......
Doc
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