Maybe I should blog.

[sailorjohn]

First day down in Houston, it was a long day. Had almost a 5 hour layover in Atlanta, get off the plane pick up my baggage, have a whole shuttle full of people down here for the hiring/orientation. They put us up in the Hilton, have a room mate, funny, but figure they're probably thinking we need to get used to the idea of living in close quarters, may as well start now. Room mate is Roland, he's a truck driver from Honduras, already did a 16 month tour in Iraq several years back, we talked quite a bit tonight.

Going to be a long week, shuttle picks us up at 0530 for the start of first day processing, the day ends at 730pm.

[sailorjohn]

Turns out all of my misgivings about the weather have been turned upside down, got my package today and apparently will be deploying to Iraq, Baghdad area. Pretty long but interesting day today, got to meet a lot of people, more than a few were getting deployed to Afghanistan, they would like Iraq instead.

The weather is pretty cold in the winter in Afghanistan, otoh, the charts said today that summer temps in Baghdad can be expected to reach 115. They even had some pictures posted of the base I'm on, and more information from the reloads I spoke with today. Funny, at the orientation facility they have recycling bins for people that pack too much, the clothing/goods go to the Salvation Army. Might be shipping out as early as next Monday.

[sailorjohn]

Medical day, a little nerve racking, tell them about my medical history, and possibly could get disqualified if I have trouble with the EKG. EKG was perfect, and one of the guys, Jason, who was a little concerned about his bmi-body mass index-also flew right through the physical, unlike myself, he didn't even have to talk to the doctor.

Big cattle call scene, the staff there did a pretty good job of getting everyone through the process, blood draw, physical-drug test, chest x-ray, ekg, vision testing, ear, nose and throat exam, inoculations-4 of them, got to skip the 5th as I'd had the tetanus 2 years ago.

The last part of the day, work on the computers-anti-terrorist training and something called ISOPREP, they want you to come up with unique identifying information-proof of life-in case of a kidnapping/hostage situation.

I got lucky, finished up with everything around 4pm and my buddy Jason was just finishing up before dinner at 7! Pretty much over the hump now, just have to sign the contract tomorrow night and take a few more training classes tomorrow, Thursday and Friday.

[sailorjohn]

The KBR class of November 2009 graduated today, we all signed our contracts tonight after dinner-Mexican at the Hilton, they've been catering across the street the whole time, the meals were a little better here, wetter scrambled eggs, for example.

Got to hear the fun stuff today, a phrase I'd heard quite a few times-'inside the wire'-warnings and factoids about potential hazards like land mines-with pictures-and the potential lethality of failing to heed the warning signs at checkpoints with a nice visual graphic, and other fun stuff.

Easy to stay awake for, not so easy for the 'safety' classes, stuff I'd seen repeatedly at my previous employer over the last 20 odd years. After signing the contracts and starting to notice the difference in what the recruiter claimed we'd be making vs. the actual figure, bumped into another plumber from Beaumont, Texas who happens to be going to the same place I am, referenced in the title of this post, Camp Liberty, part of the group of bases around Baghdad International Airport. So I've already got a buddy, and I haven't left the country yet.

[sailorjohn]

Last classes today, diversity training, anti-harassment training, hostage training, logcap ethics/rules training. Four big rules, for Afghanistan and Iraq, no alcohol, no drugs, no pornography, and no fraternization. The no-fraternization policy extends to Dubai, a transshipment point for personnel going to Iraq and Afghanistan. If you get caught with a female in your room in Dubai, you could lose your job, ditto for the drugs/alcohol/porn in Iraq, and having a sleepover in your hootch in Iraq with a member of the opposite sex.

The presenter made mention of the fact that KBR has a million resumes in it's system, and they hired only 300+ workers this class through. I was on the list today for the cac card, a DoD security i.d. card that you are issued to enter bases, my paperwork-the loa-had an incorrect ss number, when I brought it to their attention was told that it wouldn't be corrected until Monday.

I was anticipating leaving as early as Saturday, won't be shipping out until Tuesday at the earliest. Not so bad, they switched rooms for us today, have a room by myself now, will give me a chance to get a few more things for Iraq-rubber boots for sure-and the weekend to decompress, all of the training is done and I don't have to get across the street for the holdover meetings until 4pm.

[sailorjohn]

Breakfast always starts at 6am. Across the street in the mall-the old department store that KBR leases for processing. Catered by the Hilton, noticing I was having trouble buttoning up my pants, been gaining weight eating three meals a day!

Was pretty sure I wasn't going to get up a 6am, didn't have to be across the street for the holdover meeting until 4pm, ended up sleeping in until noon. Making up for the very early days all week.

Naturally they announced my name for a flight out tomorrow, and I had to yell out 'no card', was told by someone else that I probably wouldn't be flying out until Wednesday. So I took the opportunity after the meeting and before dinner to hit the mall, they have a Dillard's there, turns out it's the clearance center, bought some long sleeve tops, another sweater and a pair of swim trunks-5 items 43 bucks!-since I have at least 3 more days here minimum, going to take advantage of the pool, and enjoy the time off.

[sailorjohn]

Maybe not what you're thinking, wasn't planning on posting, a pretty slow weekend here, no classes, forms to fill out, just hanging in the hotel and watching the tube.

One of the presenters across the street talked extensively about drinking on the company's dime...'and he lost his mind'...referring to folks who drink heavily while living at the Hilton or other places we get housed at while in transit or processing-and then get reported and subsequently terminated or dismissed from employment consideration.

After dinner at the DPC, step outside to chat with some of the guys, there are a couple of younger fellas there, early-mid twenties, one of whom is pretty hammered, it's just past 6pm. If I couldn't smell it from around 3 feet away, he made sure I did by getting pretty close to me-about a foot away-the way some people that are drunk tend to.

I think I said it twice, 'don't lose your mind', pretty sure it went over his head, when he left someone mentioned that he had passed out at a local strip bar last week-on the company's dime-the bouncers were kind enough to simply escort him to the door and not call the police.

We're having a gentleman's bet as to wether he can make it through Dubai without either ending up in jail or simply being sent home.

[CarolD]

John....you are there for employment opportunities.
Thats important to you....maybe not so much for others.

Good to know you won't have to worry about
company policy and drinking....

[sailorjohn]

Flying out tomorrow, have absolutely no idea what the route is, just that we're ending up in Dubai, which is the hub for everyone, even though some folks have Afghanistan listed as their destination.

Head is reeling with all these acronyms, logcap, cac, loa, but apparently all of the paperwork is done, just have to arrive at the DCP tomorrow morning at 8, should be on the bus for the airport by noon.

Hard to describe how I'm feeling now, mixed emotions I suppose, still have a little work to do tonight, rearranging all of my stuff so that I don't exceed the weight limit for checked luggage, 50lbs + 25lbs + a carry on not to exceed 15 lbs, trying to decide what I need to put in the carry on, maybe just my camera and small electronics.

Might not be online for a bit, one of the jobs I have tonight is swapping the hard drive in this laptop, if I'm not on later this evening you'll know it didn't go well. Have a good Thanksgiving everyone, thank you for all of your kind thoughts!

[CarolD]

All my best as you begin this new adventure

[teke]

i wishing you the best and a safe trip. i'll keep you in my prayers. thsnk you and happy thanksgiving to you too.

[thirtybubba]

Wish you the best and a safe homecoming.

Take care, enjoy Dubai.

TB

[TheSunAlsoRises]

Best of luck... Stay safe...

[sailorjohn]

Got the choice flight, Imo, the prospect of having to change planes in Atlanta was not something I was looking forward to, and we got the last flight out, don't have to leave here until 3pm local time.

They gave us our CaC cards, $500 traveling money-an advance-and more warnings about 'sticking out' as Americans overseas. Obsessing a bit about the luggage weight, bought some big rubber boots yesterday-Iraq can be real muddy this time of year-weighed them at the store counter and they were 6lbs., may end up wearing a couple more shirts and throwing a pair of jeans into the Salvation Army bins, already tossed out my laptop case-old and frayed-to save 2.5lbs. on my carry on weight.

And feeling a little nervous, probably more lonely than anything else, and out of the blue last night, realizing I was missing my ex, but I didn't have to act on that feeling. Just the holidays, I suppose.

You guys eat a lot of turkey for me, I don't think I'm going to bump into any on the way over there, but who know? Happy Holidays!

[sailorjohn]

Get into London around 945am local time, around a 3 hour layover then off to Dubai, got to fly on the new Airbus a380-400, massive double decker jumbo, has all the latest electronic goodies in the seatbacks for the passengers, the carrier is Emirates Air, they actually treat you like a paying customer, great food.

Get into Dubai at almost 1am Friday local time, finally get to the hotel at almost 3am, they give us a room, good for taking a shower as we're being processed out today, sitting in the airport waiting for the flight to Baghdad, leaves at 8am. Free internet at the airport. Was hoping to see a little of Dubai, but I'm going to have to save that for R&R. Will be nice to be able to leave my luggage in one spot for more than 24hrs!

[Ago]

No Porn???!!?!?!?!?!?

Just kidding John, keep your head down, keep us posted at the "other place" too, photos etc

[Charmie]

be safe on your journey john.prayers coming your way.

[Believe808]

be safe John

[sailorjohn]

Little bit of a culture shock here, a bewildering mixture of people, a large percentage of whom are men and women carrying guns, vehicles, helicopters, equipment, concertina wire, huge concrete blast barriers-surrounding everything-and dust-everywhere, I'm getting the runny nose dust thing going, started as soon as I got off the plane-no jetway, just stairs, and stepped outside the shabby little facility that is Baghdad International Airport.

Lots of jokes on the bus from the airport about the 'ballistic shield' covering the windows from the inside-blankets, and I didn't actually have any trouble with the weight of my carry on, they never weighed it. The air charter from Dubai is apparently owned by the Russians, the attendants were all young Russian women who spoke good though heavily accented English.

Trying to get used to the time shift, it's almost 830pm here and 1230pm at home and I haven't quite made the transition yet. Spent the day awake yesterday getting processed in, first classes here-same as the classes in Houston-finally collapsed at 7pm, getting up just before midnight to wander around the facility with a young guy from the Phillipines, not a newcomer here.

Late stop at the DFAC-the mess hall, open 24/7 with full menus at regular meal times, then over to the MWR, the rec center, played some pool and used the computers there. Back up at 0700, making sure I didn't have to be anywhere, then wandered around here with my roommate for a bit, hit the px again, slept most of the afternoon.

I bumped into Daniel yesterday-a fellow plumber I met in Houston-he didn't have either a job or a permanent hootch at that time, saw him today just after I got up, he had a hootch and a job, though he wasn't real happy about the job. Apparently, they want him to go outside the wire, job is de-commissioning facilities at various locations, they have security and ppe but are traveling around in non-armored vehicles, his word were "I didn't sign up for this". Have to try to get more pictures posted.

[sailorjohn]

Drivers training today, required to have a KBR operators license and a license from the DoD. Finished the class early, went to the defac for lunch, then back to the hootch and tried to nap without success.

So I dragged my butt up and went down to the px, need another badge holder as we're required to carry our licenses, three including my state license, whenever we operate a vehicle and apparently I'm going to get a vehicle.

I just step off the bus, they're paging, come down to the office. My boss is there, a Macedonian fellow, I have a job! Camp Slayer. You have to love the name.

Grab all my stuff, drive over there, the boss is talking a lot, filling my already full skull with more information. We get there, and this place is very cool, it's built on and around Saddam's old palace grounds, lakes, palm trees, the whole nine yards.

Go on a whirlwind tour of visits to various bosses to get checked out, another brief with the KBR security chief of this particular base, get my hootch, and finally a ride to the temporary defac, seems the hard building burnt to the ground recently, a grease fire. And stop back at the office, the Indian contract workers are getting off their shift, they all call me 'boss' and half of them say 'good night sir' a really strange feeling, like I've stepped out of a Kipling novel.

While I was in the security chief's office, I asked him about photography, and mentioned my big Canon with the big lenses, and he advised, as I expected he would, that it probably wouldn't be a good idea to walk around with the thing, a compact camera would be much better. Glad I didn't give this pink Samsung compact to the ex!

[Astro]

Can't say I'd want to be in Iraq, but it sounds like an amazing experience John, one of many in your life. What an adventure! I'm happy for you, please stay as safe as possible.

[teke]

i'm praying for you, be safe

[sailorjohn]

My radio call sign, P for "plumber", Marjan the boss being "Poppa 1" Had a pretty busy day, and I'm willing to bet that anyone that's been in the service recently could relate, my day is filled with.....paperwork. Everything in triplicate, seems like you can't use the bathroom without filling out a form! Seriously. And brought another odd thought to mind, using a portajohn outside the warehouse, the thing didn't have a seat, just to place where you put your feet and squat over the hole. Something you might see in say, India, for example. Weird. Fortunately I didn't have to squat.

Spent some time in the warehouse talking to Robert the foreman, and said it to him, was missing listening to someone talk to me in my native tongue, not someone that spoke English as a second language. Listening to the fellas, the other plumbers, and all of the fn plumbers talking in their native tongues all day is difficult. Even with the best of their non-native English, kind of hard to describe how it feels.

Have a day off tomorrow, we didn't get to take the Thanksgiving holiday off due to our travel here, looking forward to sleeping in and doing some exploring in my truck, they gave me an extended cab 4wd diesel Ranger, ironic, I have a Ranger at home. And try to take some more pictures of this place, the buildings at this site are amazing.

[hydrogirl]

Hey John,

Thanks for sharing your adventures! You'll be in my prayers....stay as safe as can be!!!

Hugs, HG

[teke]

hey john, i'm really glad you are blogging about your experience there. you made a decisoin to go serve and i want you to know that i'm proud of you and i want to thank you so much for doing what you are doing. i look forward to your post daily and i'm keeping you in my prayers. be safe.