Deployment 1st month

Well I'm gonna try and do my best to explain this place without breaking military rules or putting someone in danger by giving other things away.
With that said as the first thing, let me know try to explain my first month of deployment, to me..

If the heat wasn't shock enough the culture will get you as well. The moment that you get to the deserst after stepping off the last comfy plane you just notice a totoally different atmosphere compared to a home station. You can really see it in people's eyes that there is a different tone, a different pace, a different feeling. That feeling is you pushing your wall every day, the idea of being tierd seems to be a lingering feeling in the back of your head that you fight every day. But you keep going because this is your job, this is your core task, and something even as simple as me fixing plumbing. To the way that people get there water and just flush there toilets makes an impact. To think of the Armed Forces to America would be looking at a well greased and oiled machine. I throw the greased in there because its that old and you have to tinker with it to work right. You have to be gentle with it to move in the direction or get the hours of operation out of that you need to finish the job. Just remind you because this machine really does have a face, actually many of faces from many of branches and walks of life.
This base in its self...
Just imagine a a small island in the middle of the desert though. Completely ran by generators. The black smoke bellowing out top of the field. All around you see nothing but a mix of T-walls and concrete buildings with blast roofs over them. The ARMY walking around at the ready of moments notice. The Air Force manning the buldings and taking care of the grounds. The sprinkle of a Navy or Marine here and there. Third Country Nationals and Local nationals all over, also doing there roles while being watch by Force Protection. Wether it be manning a post, or fixing a toliet right along with us. The presence of the Iraqi people and surrounding nations is huge on this base, and is only getting bigger. This base is going to close as Obama does say, I will not be here for that day. But I'm part of the process of making this happen. I am part of one of the last teams that is handing this base over to Iraqi military. Probably the last group of plumbers from the military that will be handling these systems, after this it should be gone to contract. With a small group of Civil Engineers to just maintain and make sure the contract is still seen threw. This is Joint Base Ballad.
I invisioned to see nothing but dirt when I got here. But where we are as I peer threw the chain link and C-wire to see nothing but farmland. I mean were surrounded by mostly farmland. Later in the day you see kids playing in the irrigation river, doing there best to stay cool in this extreme heat. The days feel like that one scene from the Chronicles of Riddick, when there on that one planet that catches fire and the guy walks outside to his death. How that when you have a window open in the day, you feel as if the air alone is going to burn your face off. But don't get me wrong this is the desert and there are dust storms.
Overall though this place is interesting to say the least.
So lets see what I can make in the next 5 months to come and what I can learn.

But enough of my idealism.
What have I done so far. As my mom would ask what shit holes have I been in.. Well sorry mother I haven't got in any wet one actually yet. And the one I got in I didn't get a picture of. I was in a communications box but it was on the flight line and there is no flash photography there unless permitted. But I'll get some before I leave.
I have done many of small jobs in indoor plumbing. Lets just say that this is what I see all the time. Well not this bad but this is indoor. A lot of European shit all over the place none of it is the same. So your always just fiddling with shit to make it work..

Outdoor is a little different story.
Replaced two tanks now, a pump, and built a whole system for the Iraqi Chow Hall..









Thats pretty much it for this first month of excitement. Haha.
5 more and I'll have the stories to tell when I get home.


Oh yeah and one small joke.
Army learning colors.
It was outside there finance office. Now that is a reassurance




and Random

Exercise, exercise, exercise.

So let's just begin this with the idea that no one 100 percent enjoyed this exercise and there were bits and pieces that were good and bad that created the experience. The teaching while there was a lot of power point slides thrown into two and a half days mixed with hands on was interesting to say the least. The idea that this was solidified in someone mind to stay and that they will use all that knowledge that was thrown at us is an overstatement to say the least.
I guess you could say that everyone was looking forward to Thursday in way or another. One because it marked the real end of the week since all we did on friday was clean up the mess. Two because it was the real hands on experience time. But let's get down to the exercise now

My first issue has or had was the initial security protocol and how to clear the building surrounding the area. Until the time I stole the senior radio command seat that gave me my radio name I was oblivious of who is was. I done really how we did but the gagle fuck of only 3 that cleared each side had to be wrong when they originally said 9 on each
2. Communication and there was a lot of that besides the big voice system not working properly to not everyone who needed a radio getting a radio. Okay so you know your under radioed why was not there a way described out how to relay messages. You know you don't have the right amount of radios.
3. MOPP 4 for those that don't really know that is when any service is in there full chemical gear. Hot but makes you safe. My big issue was how long it took for the command post to one figure out were the chemical attack took place by sending out there teams. To 2 the teams themselves not being haste in there actions. Which left me in that stuff for almost 2 hours. But that was also because I didn't have a radio and we didn't get a message until someone ran into my area after an incident and he looked at me like why. Ugh.
4. Finally was just the lack of organisational skills from the top to the bottom. But yes if the top is not organised how do you expect the bottom of the chain to be. This is probably why I have so much to say. I found out that they were going to cancel the exercise but yet proceeded on. So management was not ready for this to happen. The Lieutenant was notified till friday afternoon. Shop leads Monday. And they had to come up with and idea for a base in 2 days. Yeah smooth.

All in all I learned thing and solidified more in my mind. Would I do things the same. Hell yeah I would stay quiet imagine if I said some of this shit to people. I mean I know its the net but who reads this stuff any ways. Haha

Best part shooting off blanks in the air. And rocking the M16 on burst.

What I DO?

Everyone seems to ask me the same question of WTF do I even do with the Air Force. Every time I tell them I deal with fuel you all think I'm out at the gas station just pumpin gas.
Well really I'm more behind the sence then that. I mean I do work on the gas station didn't take a pic of that but was out there the other day one pump motor died. So hopfully I get a chance to fix that in the comin weeks. But today was on the flight line. Were the jets refuel we were lookin at the hose's and the valves. Well I was just reviewin and learning again. But here is just a small idea. More pics will come.
And to think this was takin with a cell phone.. Oh damn.

A New Home and an End to Tech School

Well a lot has happened and very quick in that fact.
This is the last entry having to do with Tech School.. Silence.. And Scene.
I really didn't have Internet back at Sheppard and was walking around grabbing it at two spots so I really didn't update in my final dates because I didn't really care to walk so far just to update.. your lose, my lose. Anyway I got my orders last week and jail broke that bitch forever. Well I will have to go back for upgrade training some day but that's not for a bit. And I finally made it to my new duty station which is Nellis AFB in Vegas.
Could you as for a better end result in all of this mess and shit. Get in trouble for alcohol and then they send you to Sin City. I say I came out on top. haha. Well I have almost been here for a week and still trying to get used to everything and in process this base. Most of which will happen next week as I attend briefings all next week. So much fun.. Sure!
I'm really happy to be out of the training envoirment I finally feel like I have a life again. I'll explain why

My first weekend in Vegas
Friday. Alicia picked me up and took me shopping. I can't believe that I now live in the same city as this girl. Jues. We went to a local import shop were she dropped some cash. And I just stood, sat, and laughed it was like I was watching myself or something with all the wants and shit. Then she took me to Walmart to get shit I needed for my room. Thank god she went because instead of my ass making like a bunch of trips she managed to pretty get me out of there with that one. All I need now is a TV and Internet, and my Xbox. But got back on base and she helped me to my room. Stayed and left but yeah.
No checking in and shit. So much better
Sat and Sunday the Morales were in town. Saw Ms. Morales and Christy for the first time this year. Of corse Mr. Morales and Chris to haha. But yeah they took me out to Primm for the those two days for Christy's birthday. Happy Birthday by the way. Great to see your face when you dad got you with song and cake. Thank you Morales's for the fun time, alcohol, and gambling experience. Probably won't be gambling all that much here. To pricey for nothing back.. haha.
But yeah what a way to enter into Vegas and life.
No questions asked just showed up on Monday and handled my business as it should be.

There should be some good updates now that I'm in a city that doesn't sleep and shit. Once I get my car and some other shit here I'll be sure to be takin pictures and updating alot more.
Should be fun as hell living here.

Restart, Rebirth, Moving On

So it's been over a year and alot has changed in my life.

In what I have done and what I'm doing now.

What I am as a person and were I'm goin.

I'm going to start this up "finally"

I'm in a place were I actually feel more comfortable putting out there for everyone to read and listen then to just hold it in..

Update.

I'm apart of U.S. Air Force now.

A1C Mueller

I'm gonna be in Yokota Japan starting mid June.

Alot to do till then and alot to talk about.