The "Layabout Day" and a visit to KAF

Took a ride over to KAF today.  It is our one day a week off, or as we call it, the "Layabout Day".  It is the one day a week when you can just hang out and not focus on anything.

Got to see a  little more of the base than usual as the exit we normally use ECP 5 (Entry Control Point) was closed for road work.  We wound up having to drive to the far end of the base to exit at ECP 4 instead.  We drove along the road which takes you in front of the civilian terminal which is pictured below.

 

 

KAF was dusty and busy as usual....Not much different going on but the place is noticeably less crowded.  That is one sign that the "rush to the exits" is proceeding here in Afghanistan. Picked up the mail and stopped off at the PX for a few things.

 

 

The rest of the day was dedicated to making the most of my Layabout Day and enjoying a day where we can recharge the batteries for the next week which begins tomorrow.

Been there, done that - Got the T-shirt.....Afghanistan

Well the news this week here in Afghanistan has not been a good one.

President Karzei shot his mouth off saying that the US and the Taliban have been working together to create security issues which will ensure Foreign Troops will have to stay here longer than Afghanis want.....yeah, riiiiiight.  Dude, when the Taliban gets you, you'll only have yourself to blame.

2 dead and 10 wounded in a "Green on Blue" attack in Wardak.  A helicopter crash in Daman Province killed 5 American troops near Kandahar in southern Afghanistan.

At the same time, things are winding down here pretty damn quick.  They are cleaning out KAF (Kandahar Air Field) one shipping container at a time.  There are vast areas of the base that were jammed full with gear/kit/vehicles etc. and now you could hold a football game in the open space.  Parts of KAF look more open and empty than I have ever seen it in the past three years.

I bought the t-shirt pictured in the photo above today at the PX.  It pretty much sums it all up.  The process as described in the press is pretty much BS.  There is a great rush for the door and we will likely see this wind down much faster than it should.

In the end, this will help the Taliban and hurt the people of Afghanistan.

I know this much - The work we have done here has helped but the early exit is sure to take away from that work especially when we watch things go sideways here after our exit.

I hope I am wrong and would love to see it go better with the Afghans gaining control of their country.  Being wrong about this would mean a self sustaining Afghanistan and more freedom for the Afghans. 

" Inshalla " as they say here, translated as " If it be God's will "

A visit to KAF today

Made a visit to KAF (Kandahar Air Field) today.

One of the things about being on a non-DOD contract is that you are usually not located on a FOB or base like KAF.

Today, I went over to KAF to take a mail handler's course so our people can get mail - you have to have the course to be able to pick the mail up now on KAF.

The funny part is going to KAF is different now as I don't live there. For about 4 months, I was downtown in a secure compound in Kandahar City which was interesting as we were living in the middle of town.

Yeah, dangerous and there is some serious risk but for the most part, we were not bothered by anyone while we were there. It was different and also allowed us to get to know many of the people in Kandahar City.

Now, we are staying at a private camp which is right across the way from KAF but not the same as KAF. 

So yesterday was different as it was the first time in over 2 years that I got to eat DFAC ( Dining Facility) food at Luxemburg.  Luxemburg serves European style food.  They have redone the place but it looks basically the same. The food was about what you would expect but as long as someone else is cooking it, I am glad to have warm food rather than MREs.

Made a PX stop and saw the usual stuff so not much has changed there - PX had a certain amount of Christmas stuff on display. Ho ho ho - Merry Kandahar Christmas. 

KAF is still as dusty as ever but the place will be downsizing over the next 2 years - the military announced that the troop levels in Afghanistan will be down to 10,000 total troops by the end of 2014. Seeing as there is 30,000 people on KAF, that means some serious downsizing moving forward. I can't imagine what KAF or Bagram will look like when there is so little troops - there will still be many civilians in support but the idea of only 10,000 troops providing security will be a challenge.

Only time will tell.  For now, I am glad that things are going along as they should.  Too many others are facing economic security back home and long term unemployment.  I would rather deal with work overseas in a warzone than the trouble many are facing back home.

2013 will be here shortly and hopefully, those in Washington DC will do the job we pay them for instead of acting like the high priced prima-donnas they really are.  Many people's livelihood and security depend on Pols doing what they should.  A New Year's resolution for all of them would be to stop overspending and start thinking like they care about the outcome of their actions, not just getting re-elected.