Reflecting.......

As I get ready to leave the country that I love this song came to mind.  Hopefully, my team's efforts will help to lead to a more stable country.  One in which their own countryman can provide the safety that as humans we all deserve.  I Pray however, that ONE DAY, we can live in a more peaceful world.

I also want to take this time to say THANK YOU.  Many times in the past 10 years, strangers and friends alike have expressed their appreciation for what I do and I am grateful for that.  But the true thanks go to each of you.  If I didn't have a family that loved, friends that cared, and a nation that was appreciative then I couldn't do this.  I do what I do because of each of you, I do it because I believe in our country and the freedoms we have, I sacrifice myself so that my children and the children of our future don't have to grow up with violence in their lives like so many other children of this would have to.  So thank you for being you, for supporting your troops, and for understanding what we do.

As an FYI, this will be my last post until I arrive in country.

Testing photo capabilities

Here are the bags I am taking.

All my bags are pack......

I'm ready to go.  I do know when I am leaving and I can say it is VERY soon.  Also, because of A program called Google Voice, you can call me at 858-859-1302 and leave me a voice mail and I can hear it when I have internet access.  Also I can use my IPod Touch to text your phone when I have internet access.  So save this number.

For those who are following using e-mail....

Please also click the follow button under followers so that I can see who is watching.  This will also be a good way for me you contact any you directly if I need to during my stay in paradise.

For those who want to send me something...

The post office has FPO/APO Flat rate boxes that you can get for free if you go to USPS.com  They are by far the cheapest way to send things oversees.  As long as it fits in the box, it ships for $12.

When am I leaving.....

Well, as most of you know, I cannot say the exact date on the internet, but what I can tell you is it is soon.  My big 0 will be on foriegn land.  When I can, I will post on here when I left, and when I arrived, but that info will be late in reciept due to security issues.

Please Follow By Email

If you look to your right, you will see a box that says Follow by Email.  If you type in your e-mail address into the box and click submit and follow the directions, you will receive an e-mail anytime that I update this blog.  Because these post will probably be quite random, this will save you from having to check the site daily only to see no new post.

So what is ETT

In a nutshell, an ETT (Embedded Training Team) trains, mentors and advises Afghan forces so that they can be more efficient at protecting their country.  Because of our country approach to leaving Afghanistan by 2014, these teams have and will become crucial.  For my upcoming deployment, my team will be working with the ANA (Afghan National Army).  Because I come from and Engineer Battalion, we will be focusing on the combat support roles within their unit.  I am the Operations Officer for our team, and as such will not only be responsible for planning my teams missions, but will also advise my Afghan counterpart on how to plan missions for his unit.  Obviously, this consist of multiple smaller task that I will not bore you with, but at the end of the day, it is my job to ensure that they can train and plan for missions so that they can start doing so without coalition forces.