Afghanistan

Stepping out of the 747 into Kuwait was much less awe-inspiring than my last visit.  For starters, the temperature was much milder - somewhere in the 70’s.  The rest of my time there was very familiar, however.  We were again loaded onto the familiar white bus with the shades drawn and driven to our next destination.  This time, it was Camp Arifjan - not Ali Al Salem - and this is where I stayed for the next few days awaiting my flight to Afghanistan.  All 1000 nearly-identical bags were offloaded in a waiting area for us to claim and transport to our temporary billeting.  Arifjan seemed a bit larger than Ali, and it had much more of a “permanent presence” feel to it, but all-in-all Kuwait is Kuwait (at least the parts we get herded through).  There was no additional training and no trip to the range.  Just some waiting.

Finally, we were manifested on a flight departing on 17Feb.  Our showtime to the “Inbound” terminal was 1030 local.   After a good deal of waiting, were again herded onto busses, and we were carted off to Ali around 1300.  After surviving several harrowing experiences on the highways of Kuwait and being vetted through several checkpoints, we finally arrived at the passenger terminal in Ali.  We were officially checked into the flight, palletized our luggage and commenced with the Army’s favorite activity - waiting.  Finally, our patience and good behavior was rewarded with yet another bus trip.  This one ended on the flight line next to  an Air Force C-17.  We boarded the aircraft, strapped in, and were wheels up around 2008.  We landed in Bagram about three and a half hours later.  The local time was 0116.  After yet another baggage rodeo, we were finally met by a contingent of 3MMB (the 3rd Multi-functional Med Bn), our parent organization, and personnel from the 911th FST.  We were ushered to housing and allowed to settle in.

Flying on a C-17 was a unique experience.  My previous trips on military aircraft were in C-141s which were so uncomfortable that I jumped out - all five times!  The seats on this aircraft resembled airline seating, only a little smaller and more tightly spaced.  Yes - smaller and tighter than airline seats.  Things were a bit disorienting in the belly of this beast.  There are no windows for reference.  It’s actually difficult to even determine when you've begun taxiing, and spatial disorientation was pretty common during maneuvering once airborne.  Due to the time of the flight and the lack of any visual stimuli, and despite the narrow seating, I slept for the majority of he trip.  

From what I can tell, Afghanistan is probably a very beautiful and rugged place.  Bagram Airfield, however, is not; it is situated in a bowl, surrounded on all sides by the jagged peaks of the Hindu Kush.  The higher elevations are currently covered in snow.  Unfortunately, due to our low-lying positing, there is a permanent haze around Bagram which is likely a combination of vehicle emissions and the ever-present dust which even the frequent rains have not been able to subdue.  When the haze lifts enough to allow for a glimpse of the surrounding mountains, their majesty is somewhat humbling.  In many other parts of the world, views like these are enjoyed from the warm comforts of a ski lodge following a thrilling day on the mountain.  No lodges, no lifts, no skis here [or snowboards, Kim, Michelle, and David (that list just gets longer and longer)].

I’m still settling in to this place somewhat.  Trying to make sense of the layout and daily responsibilities.  Setting up some kind of routine will be essential to passing the weeks here.  I just hope that routine doesn't involve hours upon hours of sitting on my duff.  There must be something to do here; I just have to figure out what that might be….

Facing west, the near ridge line of our "bowl" is visible.  Note the inviting dirtscape in the foreground.