Camp Al Taqaddum, Iraq

So, contrary to what I thought before I left, I didn't end up in Afghanistan.  I've been in Iraq since August 13th, 2009.  It's been a little interesting, but mostly boring.  I guess this isn't necessarily bad - because it also means I'm safe.

The air traffic here is extremely slow compared to Whidbey Island.  Frequently, there are days that I work 12 hours and only talk to two or three aircraft.  Even on the "busy" days, we don't average more than one aircraft per hour.  The only complicated part about my job is the tactical airspace that is constantly changing.  If you're a controller, the best way to describe this would be like variable reverse MVA's (minimum vectoring altitudes).  Tactical aircraft reserve blocks of our airspace that we have to vector under, above, or around.  We only have a 20NM radius and 5,000 feet of airspace to work with.  So, if the tactical aircaft need some of our arrival/departure corridor, it makes for interesting work.

My work hours are a little ridiculous here.  Most days are 12 hours long with the occasional 6-hour day and even more rarely a day off.  Needless to say, I don't have much free time.  I spend most of my day sitting in the CCS (communication and control subsystem - aka radar) freezing.  The room I work in is only about 12 feet square and we have six giant air conditioners to keep all of the equipment cool and functional.  However, this isn't always the case - equipment failures are a daily occurence and I frequently have trouble establishing 2-way communication with aircraft.

The environment outside of my work and living quarters is pretty brutal.  It's mid-October and the temperature is still in the 90's each day.  Not too much lives out here.  I've seen a wild fox, tons of tiny lizards, the infamous camel spider, mice, a few large beatles, and a handful of small birds.  When I run at night I can hear wild dogs in the distance, but have yet to see one.  In two months, it's only rained twice.  The first time was pretty cool because it was accompanied by an impressive thunderstorm.  Last night was the second rain, and it only lasted for about a half hour.  The ground was already dry when I woke this morning.  Contrary to popular belief, there is no sand here.  Just dust.  Lots and lots of dust.  It looks like sand - until you step into it with your boot.  Then it just kicks up into a cloud and is whisked off by the wind.  It's impossible to keep anything clean here.  Everything in my room is covered in a film of tannish grit.  Even after a shower, I never really feel clean.

They feed us pretty well here.  Some days the food is better than others - but I've never gone hungry.  I've spent many meals trying to figure out exactly what kind of meat I'm eating, but overall it's not bad.  They've actually served steak and lobster at least four times since I've been here.  The highlight of the chow-hall is the ice cream.

So, when I left Whidbey Island on my deployment, I didn't expect to be back until February or March.  As it turns out, we will be leaving ahead of schedule and I should be home before Christmas.  At first I was a little dissappointed.  I planned on saving up a good amount of money here.  Now, I'm okay with it.  I look forward to getting back home.  It's just so extrememly boring here.  I feel like I'm wasting time sitting out here.  The money is alright, but it's not worth it for me.  Needless to say, I won't be signing up for a contract job in the Middle East any time soon.

All in all, I'm safe and content.  It has been a good experience and I'm glad I came.  I'm even more happy that it will all be over soon.

MACS-2

MACS-2: These are the Marines that I will be working with while deployed.

ATC Symposium

Over the first week in May, I had the great opportunity to attend the Navy/Marine Air Traffic Control Symposium in San Diego, CA. It's a tool we use to educate each other about changes in the air traffic control world, as well as changes in our rate.

The best part about the symposium is the direct communication lines between all of the air traffic controllers. I was able to chat freely with controllers of all types. Retired officers and enlisted, active LDO's (limited duty officers), 8 or 9 Master Chiefs, and countless others. I reconnected with friends from A-School and others that I have worked with over the past few years. I feel priviliged to have attended my second symposium in my short navy career. Not everyone has this opportunity, so if you ever get the chance, jump on it. It will change the way you feel about our rate. You really get to see how small of a rate we work in. We look out for each other and it really shows at the symposium.

In Support of "Operation Enduring Freedom"

I received orders the other day. It's not time for my regular rotation to a new duty station. Normally I would be picking orders and transferring to a ship or naval air station sometime in January 2010. However, the Navy has a program called "Individual Augmentee" (IA). This program is used to supplement military forces around the world - usually in areas of conflict such as Afghanistan, Iraq, parts of Africa, Guantanamo Bay, and the like. Some sailors, like me, will be assigned orders that are related to their job (air traffic control). Others will be standing guard at traffic check-points or keeping an eye on detainees.

First, my orders will take me to Camp Lejuene and the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing at Cherry Point in North Carolina. I will train there with the Marines for a while - not sure how long yet. After that I will be shipped to Afghanistan in support of "Operation Enduring Freedom." I don't know what part of the country I will be in yet. I will be working primarily with Marine forces. I don't really know a whole lot except that my estimated return date is in February 2010.

I will be working as a Radar Approach Controller - just like I do here at NAS Whidbey Island. There are obvious risks involved when being stationed "in theater." However, there is a certain amount of pride that I have in taking these orders. There are a number of opportunities that go along with this. I'll have a chance to travel places I would never think about going. There are numerous military awards that I may be eligible for. My pay will increase substantially - and tax free. Going to Afghanistan as an Indiviual Augmentee is great for my military career, should I choose to stay in.

I'll be sad to leave some good friends behind. I look forward to meeting new friends. I look forward to more life experience to help shape me as a person.

Approach Training

Since I've started to find that people are actually reading this blog, I figured I should probably update every once in a while.

I've been training on approach control for about six months now. It's been an interesting rollercoaster of ups and downs, but I feel I've been progressing well. I'm nearing the end of my training now. It's at the point where I will be qualified soon, or they will stop my training to give someone else a shot. I don't think that will happen, but it's a possibility.

I just want to make a quick comment about my training yesterday: Wow. It was probably the busiest I've seen it here in a long time. Lots of military aircraft in a limited amount of airspace. I was doing well for a while, but eventually I was saturated and unable to keep up. My instructor took over and straighted everything out. The good news: with a little more practice, this is something I will be able to handle with confidence. Looking forward to plugging in by myself in the near future.