Have another friend / co-worker that I have known for a few years that was picked for IA in Afghanistan
Kind of a little back ground for those that dont know (mainly non military)
I troop levels are stretched so thin that they have come up with this "IA" which is for Individual Augmentation.
What this basically means, (at least for the Navy, not sure about the other branches) is that regardless of what your were trained to do in the Navy, you can be selected for IA and sent anywhere for at least a year tour doing anything that is needed.
For example, my current friend is an Intel Specialist, he is now doing a tour in Afghanistan doing support and combat missions. having nothing to do with his training.
a few years ago one of our F-18 pilots was sent IA to Iraq pounding the ground with ground troops, nothing to do with aviation.
Anyway, I am pasting in a below email I just received from him. I do this on occasion so people can kind of get an idea what it is like over there. the stuff I post is the good things we are doing, the stuff you wont see in the news media.
Below is the email from my friend:
Hi,
I just got off this Volunteer Community Relief (VCR) mission that the churches put together
We got to go out and help some needy family's this time roughly about 230+ people
It was sad to see all these kids with no shoes clothing and sleeping in tents in the snow. and the mothers stripping there kids naked to try and get some. esp. because it really wasn't there fault.
I was part of security. and it was kind of sad that I had to keep some people out. I was kind of nervous because when everyone rushes you and there are woman, men and children and you don't know what they are saying and they are all dresses where you cant tell anything really ..
and you have to make sure all your people are safe and the other people are safe as well lets say it was a little rush. it wasnt like any mission i have done out here so far.
I don't know if they were just greedy or didn't want to wait in line, but I know they needed and it was sad when I had to make sure they stayed away but then I had to keep an eye out for OUR troops and be there for there safety as well.
The kids seam to really like us maybe because we give them things but it was really good to see them smiling.
Some of OUR troops got to play London bridges, duck duck goose and had snow ball fights with them and more it was a beautiful site but yet sad at the same time. And they all came up to me with some of there dogs with a big old smile on there face. and talking there little hearts out. They seamed so happy with so little.
They all wanted us to take pictures of them they loved to pose some of the people even tried to climb the walls just so we would take there picture. I didn't have my camera again because I was on watch all night. and we went first thing this morning. but there was people taking pictures all over that will be posted on a sight. they like to try and show the people that send the stuff what good it is doing.. and I think I am going to be on TV again. they keep putting me on the camera some news or broadcast thing they had with us.. I doubt I will see it though.
I just wish I could have known everything that they said. and it sucked that we had to play and talk to them wearing the equipment we had on and had to focus on other things as well so we (the most of us really couldn't put our guard down) but maybe one day... far far from now it will change. HOPEFULLY
And I am also glad when we THE USA/NATO drives down the street we get to see allot of smiling faces and waves. (considering the other stuff)
~YOU KNOW WE ARE BLESSED~
The more countries I go to, I fill blessed that I am in the USA.
And even if I think I have it ruff I know by going to all these Countries
there is allot of people that has it worse that our worst people have. And the
bad thing here, It really isn't most of there fault where they are at now...
If you know a church or some that wants to donate I will give you a address here to send ANYTHING.
Kind of a little back ground for those that dont know (mainly non military)
I troop levels are stretched so thin that they have come up with this "IA" which is for Individual Augmentation.
What this basically means, (at least for the Navy, not sure about the other branches) is that regardless of what your were trained to do in the Navy, you can be selected for IA and sent anywhere for at least a year tour doing anything that is needed.
For example, my current friend is an Intel Specialist, he is now doing a tour in Afghanistan doing support and combat missions. having nothing to do with his training.
a few years ago one of our F-18 pilots was sent IA to Iraq pounding the ground with ground troops, nothing to do with aviation.
Anyway, I am pasting in a below email I just received from him. I do this on occasion so people can kind of get an idea what it is like over there. the stuff I post is the good things we are doing, the stuff you wont see in the news media.
Below is the email from my friend:
Hi,
I just got off this Volunteer Community Relief (VCR) mission that the churches put together
We got to go out and help some needy family's this time roughly about 230+ people
It was sad to see all these kids with no shoes clothing and sleeping in tents in the snow. and the mothers stripping there kids naked to try and get some. esp. because it really wasn't there fault.
I was part of security. and it was kind of sad that I had to keep some people out. I was kind of nervous because when everyone rushes you and there are woman, men and children and you don't know what they are saying and they are all dresses where you cant tell anything really ..
and you have to make sure all your people are safe and the other people are safe as well lets say it was a little rush. it wasnt like any mission i have done out here so far.
I don't know if they were just greedy or didn't want to wait in line, but I know they needed and it was sad when I had to make sure they stayed away but then I had to keep an eye out for OUR troops and be there for there safety as well.
The kids seam to really like us maybe because we give them things but it was really good to see them smiling.
Some of OUR troops got to play London bridges, duck duck goose and had snow ball fights with them and more it was a beautiful site but yet sad at the same time. And they all came up to me with some of there dogs with a big old smile on there face. and talking there little hearts out. They seamed so happy with so little.
They all wanted us to take pictures of them they loved to pose some of the people even tried to climb the walls just so we would take there picture. I didn't have my camera again because I was on watch all night. and we went first thing this morning. but there was people taking pictures all over that will be posted on a sight. they like to try and show the people that send the stuff what good it is doing.. and I think I am going to be on TV again. they keep putting me on the camera some news or broadcast thing they had with us.. I doubt I will see it though.
I just wish I could have known everything that they said. and it sucked that we had to play and talk to them wearing the equipment we had on and had to focus on other things as well so we (the most of us really couldn't put our guard down) but maybe one day... far far from now it will change. HOPEFULLY
And I am also glad when we THE USA/NATO drives down the street we get to see allot of smiling faces and waves. (considering the other stuff)
~YOU KNOW WE ARE BLESSED~
The more countries I go to, I fill blessed that I am in the USA.
And even if I think I have it ruff I know by going to all these Countries
there is allot of people that has it worse that our worst people have. And the
bad thing here, It really isn't most of there fault where they are at now...
If you know a church or some that wants to donate I will give you a address here to send ANYTHING.
