Burning the Midnight Oil - (Germany) Day 428

Campbell Barracks from the air. The buildings behind the building on

the far side of the parade field is where the S1 & S3 shops

are located...where the stupidity that is staff duty is located. 

This morning we had PT at Patton Barracks gym, the normal folks did circuit training and the profiles headed into the gym. I did some cardio on the stationary bike next to SPC Mac. Instead of listening to music the whole time, we just chatted about anything and everything…we both hate this place. Well we both love Heidelberg and Germany, we just hate the unit we're in.

I headed into my office and after doing a quick email check, I grabbed the keys to the TMP and went outside to find it. It wasn't parked in it's normal spot, so I was walking around the entire post clicking the unlock button on the keychain and looking for lights to flash. I finally found it half-way across the post, then jumped in and prepped it for our upcoming trip (cleaned up, filled out the paperwork, setup my GPS, and filled up the gas tank). I then waited for the chaplain and we left at 1030 for Wiesbaden.

Once in Wiesbaden I ate lunch in the food court, then found a barber shop. After getting my hair cut there, I may just plan my haircuts around our trips to Wiesbaden. There were 3 people cutting hair and there was not that much of a wait. The lady cutting my hair shaved it bald, then rubbed some lotion onto my head. This haircut was second only to all my haircuts in Korea where each cut ends in a nice little shoulder and arm massage.

By the time I was finished, I waited in the TMP and played a couple games before the chaplain was finished and came out. We left at a little after 1400. When we got back I did some admin stuff for the chaplain (mostly emails). I then headed over to our S1 shop at 1600 for staff duty.

My staff duty shift was with an NCO I haven't yet done staff duty with. The night went fine with me either playing games on my phone, reading Mac Life on my iPad, or listening to Tales from the Spacepod. At 2200 the NCO says "I'm going to take a little nap", then proceeds to grab a big comforter from his truck. He comes back in and sets up a makeshift bed in the middle of S1. The guy slept from 2200 until 0400. I was more than a little pissed. I would have liked to sleep to, but this guy didn't care. One of the many reasons I hate this place. At 0500 I took all the trash out…the janitorial duties of staff duty, cleaning up after the S1 and S3 shops. I didn't vacuum and I didn't replace any of the liners in the trash cans…only because I couldn't find any. I really didn't give a crap at this point. I just couldn't wait to leave.

The only good thing about having staff duty today was that I didn't have to participate in the "Fit To Lead" event the next day. This started off with a battalion run, and then a bunch of events in the gym all day long including a weigh in. I'm not sure what all was involved, I don't really care because I have recovery the rest of the day…I'm going home and falling asleep.

No Haircut for You - (Germany) Day 427

A view of Patton Barracks from the air...mostly used for

single soldiers. The gym is on the left of the big field near the top.

This morning we formed up at Patton Barracks gym for PT. The normal folks did circuit training, while those of us on profile headed to the gym, I did my usual weight lifting routine and had a pretty good workout, I'm going to be sore later on.

I headed into my office and after settling in, I headed straight to the barber shop. My hair is getting a little long and I thought I'd have them shave it all off. Much to my surprise there was only one barber working and there were three people in line waiting. For a moment I thought about just waiting in there, but I quickly changed my mind and headed back to my office. I did some admin stuff, some surfing of the web, and some studying for my Apple recertification before heading home for lunch.

On my way back to work I stopped by the hospital. My MedPros status for hearing is red, I guess I need another hearing test. When I called to make an appointment, they told me it's a walk-in for MedPros. So I went there and the doors were shut for audiology. No sign…nothing. I waited around for a bit, but there was no sign of anyone. I headed back to my office, I figured I'd check out the barber shop again…no luck. The place still only had one barber and again…three people waiting. Must be the budget cutbacks! I headed to my office did some emails and played some games on my iPhone. Today seems like I didn't get anything done.

I did receive a call later on after work though from the WTB-Europe transfer coordinator. He verified all the information I had given them previously. He said I should find out for sure where I'll be heading as early as the beginning of next week.

Another Brief - (Germany) Day 426

This morning we formed up in civilian clothes at the gym on Campbell Barracks. Those not on profile headed off post for a run, while those of us on profile did cardio in the gym. I'm not sure why we are doing cardio two days in a row, but who cares…I got on a bike and rode.

My wife and I headed into a briefing at 0900 at the WTU here in Heidelberg. The lady basically explained the overall process that happens when a soldier overseas starts the medboard process. Unless they get an exception to policy letter, they will PCS back to the states and complete the entire medboard process back in the states. We were shown a list of available places we can choose from. There were a lot that were unavailable, I guess because they are currently full. I chose Ft. Lewis, but there were no other available posts to choose that are anywhere near Washington State…so I only picked one place. I also had to give a reason why I wanted that particular base…of course I put that my kids are there, my family is there and my wife's family is there. We'll find out for sure where we will be going and when we'll be going in two weeks. The briefer said it could be sooner, but she always tells people two weeks. Once I get my orders, I can turn in all my gear. I will also be able to get our plane tickets and then start the countdown until we leave.

I took my wife to work after the brief and then headed into my office. Unfortunately there is only one key to my office and it's locked in the OIC's office. Everyone that had a key to his office was gone…so I was stuck without an office for a while. The chaplain let me leave early and make sure the TMP was gassed up, then I just went home for lunch. When I came back the chaplain had to go home to take care of a sick daughter, I used his office while he was out. I did some admin stuff for him. We were going to head out to Landstuhl today, but because of his sick daughter it got cancelled. So I just continued admin tasks and then started studying for my Apple recertification. I just got notice that it is time to recertify once again. The learning never stops when you're in IT.

White Monday - (Germany) Day 425

This morning PT was at the middle school track here on PHV, but during the night it snowed and ruined the leaders plans of running around this morning. After everyone arrived, the platoon sergeant told everyone to head to the gym and do their own workout. I headed over, hopped on a stationary bike, and proceeded to do my cardio while watching some college hoop on the TV.

Work this morning was garbage as usual for my Mondays. A slight twist came when the supervisor called me and said he was sick. I had to drive to his house to get the key to his office in order to get the keys to the TMPs. I think he caught the same thing my wife has had. A guy from the dental office was there to help and we did our usual thing…play garbage man for the day. I had lunch with my wife and then later on right when I was about to finish for the day, I got a call from the WTU (Warrior Transition Unit) briefer here in Heidelberg. She wants me and my wife to come by tomorrow for a briefing. I heard this is the one where we request an actual WTU location. I'm sure we'll get a lot more information as well. I would just like to know a date that we'll be leaving so I can plan accordingly.

Weekend Wrap-Up - (Germany) Day 423 - 424

Some graffiti I thought was worthy of a picture on the way to the Heidelberg flea market

This weekend we headed out early Saturday to a post in Mannheim to check out the NAF Sale. This is kind of like a garage sale done by the NAF government offices. NAF includes MWR, so there is a potential to be some pretty cool stuff. We arrived at 0845 and the doors opened at 0900, there was already a pretty long line and it was freezing outside. My wife had an idea of what she was looking for…some wine glasses, but unfortunately they didn't have the ones she wanted. It's too bad because all their glassware was going for 5 cents each. There was everything from snowboards to golf clubs there and people were going nuts. If I were into selling on eBay or something, this would be a prime spot to build up my inventory! We left without buying anything and headed to a flea market in Heidelberg. The problem was that it was so cold, we didn't really hang around too long to look at anything. My wife didn't feel too good the rest of the day or even on Sunday, so we took it easy the rest of the weekend. Not a whole lot to report…we're really planning on getting out and about starting in March.

Prayer & Paintball - (Germany) Day 422

The chaplain starting off the prayer breakfast

This morning I didn't go to PT, instead I headed into my office to get ready for the prayer breakfast. The chaplain and I gathered the paperwork and headed over to the German Cantina on post. There was a side room reserved for us and I setup each of the bulletins in front of each chair, then waited. The chaplain offered to purchase me breakfast, but I had already had some at home…I didn't know exactly how much time I would  have to eat, but I did grab some coffee and orange juice. When the prayer breakfast actually started only 3 people actually showed up, not counting the two chaplains, the singer and myself. I guess I didn't need to have so many bulletins printed off! The event still was nice, the singer played his guitar and sang a few songs. The guest chaplain gave a little speech about personal courage, then our chaplain said a prayer. I used my camera to take a few snapshots during the event for the chaplain, then we packed up and headed out.

I headed home, hung out with my wife for a bit then took her to work. I went back to my office and did the usual administrative type stuff until about 1100. Now it was time for the Adventures with the UMT Paintball event. We had reserved the paintball field for the soldiers to use and play paintball on from noon until 1600. We arrived along with a TMP full of soldiers from Landstuhl. Unfortunately the place said it was too cold to use their compressor to fill the guns, so we had to cancel the event. It was snowing and well below freezing, so I guess it was probably for the best. Our platoon sergeant said everyone could go to Patton gym and play basketball as a consolation. We headed over and I shot around with everyone. It felt awesome to play around again, I was in the groove nailing 3's from all over. Everyone decided to play a game called "bump", which is basically a shooting game. Two people start at the three point line and shoot, the object is to make your shot in before the person in front of you to knock them out of the game. If you miss, you can chase down your ball and still try and get it in before the other person. As soon as you make it, you throw the ball to the next person in line. This process keeps going and going until one person wins. We played a number of games and I was able to win a good majority of them, it was a ton of fun. It really made me miss playing basketball all the time.

I then went back to my office and ended up doing my schoolwork. At about 1600 I heard the HHD company was having their safety brief and then getting released for the day. The chaplain never came in, so I decided to just leave as well. My wife was at work, but still feeling pretty sick and wanted to be picked up…no problem. Not too long after I got home, I started feeling the affects of playing basketball today. I thought just shooting around wouldn't be a big deal, but I was wrong. I guess the "jumping" part of the "jump shot" really got me. My back hurt, my knee was throbbing and my head was killing me. It was one of those times I wish they prescribed me some heavy pain killers. Instead all I could take was some Excedrin, some muscle relaxer, and some scotch. I learned my lesson and I will not being doing anything like that again!

The singer offering up a little entertainment during the prayer breakfast

Smoke Break - (Germany) Day 421

On the way back...is it coincidence that there are dark clouds 

looming on the way back to work?

PT this morning was a little odd. It was combatives, which meant that I just came in my normal uniform, sat in the bleachers and watched. It was scheduled for 2 hours which meant 0630 to 0830 in the morning. The funny part is that the platoon sergeant was sick as a dog and left after we had accountability. The normal combatives instructor (SGT Steroids) was on staff duty, so they had another sergeant teach it. Let's just say that this sergeant is the last person you would expect to teach anyone combatives. They started and after about a half hour everyone stopped and took a smoke break. When they came back in they shot some baskets on the basketball court…I joined in on that venture, something I can do. Then they went back to combatives. Basically all their combatives training was just picking two people to square off and see if they could submit the other within 2 minutes. Once everyone had done it again after the smoke break, we cleaned up and went home. We left earlier than planned, so I was home a little before 0800 and didn't have to be back to work until 1000.

They had planned on doing the same classes for sergeant's time training, so I just headed into my office. I had to prepare for our events tomorrow, check my email, and make sure the TMP was gassed and ready to go for today. After that I headed to Subway and picked up a sandwich. I ate it, then headed to a mandatory lunch with the brigade CSM (Command Sergeant Major). He was down to visit Heidelberg and instead of having a mandatory meeting, he decides to force everyone to take their lunch break and spend it with him. Lunch is not provided, we have to bring our own. To me that just seems like a guy with an ego trip. He talked about "go army" stuff, the coming budget crisis and how it will affect everyone. It was hard to hear everything because the noise in that room echoes a lot and the CSM kept walking around sometimes talking with his back to people. I sat through it patiently, then when it was over I split. I had to be at the TMP at 1300 to take the chaplain to Landstuhl. On my way out a first sergeant told me to stop and help put away all the chairs. At first I didn't realize he was talking to me and I just kept going. He sent someone running after me to stop me and have me come back. I let them know I'm currently "on a mission for the chaplain"… in retrospect I should have said "I"m on a mission for God"…that would have been funny. They guy turned around and went back and I kept going. Something about that whole event just pissed me off. It's not like I was trying to get out of putting a couple chairs away, I needed to get a move on.

I had the TMP ready to go when the chaplain came out and we headed off to Landstuhl. When we arrived, he went in and did his thing with the soldiers and I delivered some boxes I brought up for the supply sergeant. I then sat in the van and did my schoolwork. I must have been tired because at one point I fell asleep reading my textbook, but I was able to finish my chapter before the chaplain came out at 1600. We headed back to our office and I readied some paperwork for the Prayer Breakfast tomorrow morning. I headed home about 1730 to take care of my still sick wife.