Wow... So I've been busy... but catching up

Wow it's been a busy month so I don't even know where to start. Well I'll start off by saying I'm safe because after all, this blog is to let family and friends know how I'm doing as well. This month is probably the busiest I've been since beginning of March when we started training for this deployment. I am currently working our first newsletter. Now let me begin by saying that having no experience with any other Adobe program besides Photoshop and Bridge really sucks but it is enjoying to learn. I'm learning to use InDesign. Thanks google for the help. I'll have to show you my final version on my next post because it's in the process of getting the finals edits and approval. I put alot of work into this so i'm hoping a few folks like it. I'm trying to make it fun and friendly cuz we're here to win hearts and minds. bummers! lol

So we've done plentyyyyy of missions honestly. Been out to all the fobs again and we even did our first night mission a few weeks ago. It was a success. Success because we're all safe, and we accomplished the PRT mission and I of course accomplished MY mission. Getting some BA photos.

I must admit though, I fell in mud. It was dark and my night vision was adjusted for far depth of field so when i looked at the ground i kinda missed a little slope. Well down the slope I went. I wish it was daylight so see how dirty I was. 



It went from night to day right at that spot.



Armentisssss, where you headgear is? (Inside Joke)

Nicoli said he wishes he was 3rd Squad that night.

Armenta, us on a night mission

 

Today, Sept 3rd, we went to visit the Juvenile Detention Center here in Qalat. We did this last month too. Now this is the part. There is this really young girl, beautiful girl, maybe 15 years old, and she has been in jail for almost 2 years. The crappy part is that is wasn't really her fault. She tried defending herself from being raped or something. I don't know all the details but it's a sad story. I really wish I could do a multimedia piece on them but i don't have the time to get all the audio and photos. Plus, I can't really be a fly on the wall when I'm there for only 30 minutes. 

Well like I said, too many missions so i'm going to throw random photos at you from different missions. 

Idk why i think this is funny

Goats by Alexander's Castle

Running from a Gun.. Sometimes it's the only way to get them away lol

Foxy Brown. Foxtrot. Chris. or WORST RAPPER ALIVE

Yes thats the infamous ME!

Griswold AKA Grizzy on the ridgeline

SFC Russell scoping

 

Ok so we had a little accident. We went to FOB Lane and we had a rollover. It's no ones fault. When you're following a truck in a desert, the dust rises and you can't see squat. Well we went into a ditch. a big one that is. Thankfully, lovely ol' Camp Atterbury gave us some love. The gunner [Griswold] hit the deck quicker than light. Well this is what I hear. Everyone came out of it safely and we recovered it safely. But that was all. Training/learning whatever you wanna call it. 

Sgt. Bregel working the recovery

The Damage... But easily fixed.

 Alright and now some photos of randomness and something funny!

Afghans playing soccer on the Helo Pad

And you thought American's drove bad... PSH!

Just Chris

Some Afghans... Just a few

 Now when we go on patrols here, mostly foot patrols in Qalat City... There are hundreds of kids... im serious when I say hundreds. So we have to tactfully give out candy. I think Camp Atterbury should do a 3-day training on giving out candy to kids in Afghanistan. We'd probably learn more in those 3 days than the whole 3 months... So i created a little how-to-do guide. Here it is!

Well that is all for now... I finished creating a photostory so I'll post it tomorrow night along with today's photos. Thanks for reading all and please share. God Bless Ya'll!