The Battlelab where I work is being closed by the Air Force (along with the other six Battlelabs). It's among the many cutbacks in personnel, programs, and overhead functions the Air Force needs to discontinue in order to pay for the new fighters, bombers, and other high tech weaponry we need to remain Super Powers in the years to come.
Anyway, I am headed back to the Mother Ship. We are being posted to the Intelligence Directorate at US Space Command in Colorado Springs, CO. Our report no later than date is 30 Sep. Theoretically, I should return to Mountain Home mid to late August. Thus, there should be ample time to out-process Mountain Home AFB. The Battlelab will have closed their doors and turned out the lights on 1 Aug...so I am not so sure who is going to in-process me from deployment. I am sure that will be figured out on 31 July!
It rained yesterday and the dust became 4in thick squishy mud that sticks to your boots and feels as if you were wearing ankle weights. The picture below is the sand storm that preceded the rains. The background color is sand. The cloud deck yesterday was 3,000 feet...meaning everything underneath was blowing sand and dust.
Today was very bright and clear as the rain cleared the sky for a couple days. Pretty much washed us clean!
My cousin, Darcy, is a school teacher in IL at Heartland Private School. I was pleased to receive an envelope filled with letters from the children in her class. These were the same kids who wrote to me the last time I was deployed here to Camp Victory. Thank you Darcy and to all the wonderful children you teach. I'll have a reply to their letters this week and see what kind cool things I can send them Iraq this time. In 2003, I was able to get my hands on Iraqi money with Saddam's face on the bills and sent them to Darcy's class as a gesture of thanks for thinking of me and writing.
This coming Wednesday is Operation PwGP day. That stands for Picture with General Petraeus day. Providing his security detail doesn't throw me down and handcuff me, I will attempt to get my picture taken with the Commanding General of Multi-National Forces in Iraq. He really seems like a soldiers soldier...soooooooo, I am hoping he doesn't mind a 30 second delay in his schedule for a picture.
Church service tonite focused on Ezekiel 33 10-16. Many Christians are plagued with phantom guilt of sins committed in their past. They need to realize the Lord has forgiven those sins and press on. Same goes for the folks who have rested on the laurels of the past. The Lord requires us to be full time servants. No matter which side of the coin, we may be rejected on earth, but will be forever accepted in heaven.
Blessing to you and have a great start of the week!
8 comments:
Mark,
Thanks for the update and pictures. I wanted to let you know that I check your blog regulary and enjoy hearing about your times in Iraq. Hope the time goes by fast and you stay safe. We miss you.
Love, JJ's
My eighth graders have asked about you and the family. They are the only one of my classes that know of your deployment - I told them when I went to visit Andra. I thought of sending a box to you from them, but we had state testing last week. (and intense preperations the previous weeks) I have been very hard core about the academics this week, otherwise they think they can slack off the rest of the year. Once I can re-establish the routine, we can begin to incorporate more extra stuff. Maybe then we can send a box. Anything inparticular you are looking for? It seems like you do not need DVD's!
Stay safe and know we are thinking about you.
Hi Mark,
My name is Megan.
I am one of Miss Altons students.
We are reading your blogs&comments.
From her comment
--
(and intense preperations the previous weeks) I have been very hard core about the academics this week, otherwise they think they can slack off the rest of the year.
hahaha . shes deffiantly making that up .aha. we just spoke to her about that hahaha. she laughed. anyways she is so awesome !!!!!!!
well i hope your trip is well and safe.
Megan
hi,Mark
My name is Naja, i am one of Miss. Alton's students. She is fibbing about we have been slacking off.we are working on a school store. We worked very hard on the GEPA testing.we are also working hard now. Miss. Alton is a awesome teacher. I hope you are well,and i wish you the very best of luck.I have one question why did you try to cacth a mouse with a girl scout cookie. Hope you come home safe!!
Hi Mark,
MY STUDENTS ARE GREAT . THEY NEVER SLACK OFF.
Suz
Hi Mark, This Natasha from Miss Alton 8th grade math class right now we are complaining about the comment she left about us "otherwise they think they can slack off the rest of the year" we are hard workers we do our work. but sometimes we do slack and we havee this thing called low road friday that is were we just be bad and don't listen but we try to not be hard on her.
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