Thirteen Things I WON’T Miss About Balad
As a supplement to last week’s Thursday Thirteen, here are the thirteen things I will NOT miss about being deployed to Balad:
1. No beer!
2. Humming “Wasting Away in Mortaritaville” after I hear about the latest mortar attack.
3. Considering 35 MPH “High speed” driving.
4. Dust.
5. 12-hour days, six days a week, with the “day off” meaning I get to wear PT gear to work.
6. Military Airlift.
7. Wearing 50 pounds of “battle rattle” every time I fly.
8. Dealing with people who just don’t understand boundaries for people’s bodies.
9. $60 per month Internet access that barely works.
10. Living in one room with paper-thin walls.
11. Dealing with people who are getting bored and looking for something to do…and usually finding the wrong thing.
12. AFN commercials
13. Uniforms, everywhere, all the time.
- Thursday Thirteen
Thirteen things I’ll miss about Balad
- Being able to drive pretty much wherever I want.
- Being able to scan my ID, sit down and eat.
- Free food, three squares, every day.
- Geocaching in a war zone!
- Believe it or not, I miss having the protection of a weapon available 24/7.
- The sound of F-16s taking off in pairs – watching the Wingman.
- Focusing on the things that are really important – right now.
- The great people I worked with every day.
- Mongolian night at the DFAC!
- Working with good people focused on one mission.
- Being in the middle of the cradle of civilization, and the location where so much history has happened.
- Hearing the thanks of someone I’ve genuinely helped heal and deal with crisis in their lives.
- Being a part of a mission that has such a direct and profound impact on the world around me.
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