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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Jorsher on March 26, 2014, 01:11:20 AM

Title: Who's been to Afrighanistanica?
Post by: Jorsher on March 26, 2014, 01:11:20 AM
I got called today and will be heading to Atterbury within the next couple weeks, then Kuwait a week later, then Afghanistan.  I'll be working an IT position.  Not sure how long it'll last with the expectation of pulling troops out by the end of the year, but I'll bank what I can.

Anyone have any words of wisdom?
Title: Re: Who's been to Afrighanistanica?
Post by: highroller54 on March 26, 2014, 09:50:02 AM
Good luck
Title: Re: Who's been to Afrighanistanica?
Post by: jabberwock on March 26, 2014, 10:12:26 AM
Prepare to get henried
Title: Re: Who's been to Afrighanistanica?
Post by: Jorsher on March 27, 2014, 01:48:19 PM
Just found out I'm going to FOB Shank, aka "rocket city." From one rocket city to another :)
Title: Re: Who's been to Afrighanistanica?
Post by: colt45 on March 28, 2014, 01:20:46 AM
whatever happened to henry?  And yeah,  Good luck man.
Title: Re: Who's been to Afrighanistanica?
Post by: n/a mike on March 28, 2014, 01:31:47 AM
don't get shot
Title: Re: Who's been to Afrighanistanica?
Post by: jabberwock on March 28, 2014, 11:33:22 AM
Henry put up some pictures of where an unexploded rpg ricocheted around a bathroom at that base (I believe it's the same one).  Be careful man.
Title: Re: Who's been to Afrighanistanica?
Post by: ratcityrex on March 28, 2014, 01:38:45 PM
I wouldn't be worried about getting shot. It's the fucking crazy bombings that I would be worried about. I say fuck it. Let them fucking sand niggers fight there own fight with each other.
Title: Re: Who's been to Afrighanistanica?
Post by: Jorsher on March 28, 2014, 02:10:28 PM
YouTube "cram shank" or "cram Iraq."

Shank is one of the most frequently bombed places but it's also the best defended against rockets and mortar.
Title: Re: Who's been to Afrighanistanica?
Post by: Joseph Davis on March 28, 2014, 07:01:47 PM
whatever happened to henry?  And yeah,  Good luck man.

One Henry has a sweet VW bug, and teaches his boys to be awesome on a daily basis.

The other Henry flew around doing IT work for a while, recently nailed down a desk job in the more-or-less DC area, and squids around in his free time.
Title: Re: Who's been to Afrighanistanica?
Post by: TheMadScientist on March 30, 2014, 10:54:42 AM
I'm an EOD tech. I've been all over that country with Helmand province being my area of expertise. Getting shot ain't gonna happen, getting blown up is far more likely. You're fine, you'll be at a desk job. Maybe hopping FOBs to setup some network schenanigans. Even then it'll probably be by helicopter. Bring movies and games. You're going to be bored out of your mind at times. I'd load up a nook with books. You'll have lots of time to read. Discover the gym as well. You'll have lots of time to get your body into shape, a shape other than pear that is.
Title: Re: Who's been to Afrighanistanica?
Post by: ratcityrex on March 30, 2014, 01:47:38 PM
What does the wife and kid think about this move?
Title: Re: Who's been to Afrighanistanica?
Post by: Jorsher on March 30, 2014, 11:44:41 PM
What's up MadScientist? I forget your name but didn't you pay a visit to the EOD school here a year or two back?

Kid is too young to have an opinion or remember I was fine. Wife is scared but supportive. She understands it'd be best for the kid.
Title: Re: Who's been to Afrighanistanica?
Post by: rawr on April 13, 2014, 07:53:56 AM
Let me know if you guys need a PMEL tech for 100k+/yr. I do everything from RF to physical.
Title: Re: Who's been to Afrighanistanica?
Post by: Jorsher on April 22, 2014, 09:38:43 AM
Rawr, Exelis is hiring, check there.  I don't know if they do the RF type stuff, but they have the contract for a lot of the tech-related stuff...

Fighting started yesterday.  I think the CRAM got it.  The one less than an hour ago went boom though.  Doubt they hit anything.
Title: Re: Who's been to Afrighanistanica?
Post by: qikenuf on April 22, 2014, 04:28:40 PM
Never been to Shank.  The ricochet round was during my first 3 days at Kandahar then it was off to FOB Baylough (Since closed and overrun in 2012).  That was one of the most attacked bases in the country for the 3 years I was there.  Gunfire, anti aircraft cannons, rockets, mortars, Buk trying to sneak through the wire with RPGs every goddamn night for 4 months, etc.  You'll have a desk job and be fine.  Don't fuck about trying to get a gun if it isn't in your LOC that you get one, they will put your ass in jail and no one wants an untrained nugget with a firearm on base (unless ANA/ANP, then you are fine).  Let me know when you get over there and I'll see who I know out there at the time to link up with you and show you around.  Not sure what units are out of Shank anymore.

Remember, Haji can't aim and the fucking cement bunkers they tell you to run in to will get you fucking killed.  You are better off where you are when you hear the round coming in.  There's a reason they don't put that shit at forward bases. 

Now I'm working at Walter Reed in Bethesda MD after flying around doing some VSAT/Network training stuff all over the goddamn place for a year (217 flights last year).  Been debating going back to work for Praemittias, but the pay isn't there anymore :(
Title: Re: Who's been to Afrighanistanica?
Post by: Jorsher on April 23, 2014, 12:58:00 PM
Never been to Shank.  The ricochet round was during my first 3 days at Kandahar then it was off to FOB Baylough (Since closed and overrun in 2012).  That was one of the most attacked bases in the country for the 3 years I was there.  Gunfire, anti aircraft cannons, rockets, mortars, Buk trying to sneak through the wire with RPGs every goddamn night for 4 months, etc.  You'll have a desk job and be fine.  Don't fuck about trying to get a gun if it isn't in your LOC that you get one, they will put your ass in jail and no one wants an untrained nugget with a firearm on base (unless ANA/ANP, then you are fine).  Let me know when you get over there and I'll see who I know out there at the time to link up with you and show you around.  Not sure what units are out of Shank anymore.

Remember, Haji can't aim and the fucking cement bunkers they tell you to run in to will get you fucking killed.  You are better off where you are when you hear the round coming in.  There's a reason they don't put that shit at forward bases. 

Shank is a FOB and we do have cement bunkers ;)  Hope you're not suggesting sitting in a tent as opposed to a cement bunker.  They're certainly not invincible, but closer to it than a tent or these tin can buildings.  Protocol is to drop to the ground when there's incoming, and after 2 minutes or after you hear the boom, get to a bunker.

Shank is either the most hit, or close to.  700+ IDF in 2012, close to 400 in 2013, and three in the last three days this year.  Guess we'll see what happens.  I hear they actually came up towards the base today to fire, which would explain the artillery going out not long before the all-clear.

Title: Re: Who's been to Afrighanistanica?
Post by: qikenuf on April 23, 2014, 01:22:50 PM
FOB was the wrong word, COP is more correct I guess.

Think we took 46X rounds in May 2010 alone.  Thankfully Haj can't aim and our base was tiny. 

How's the chow there? 
Title: Re: Who's been to Afrighanistanica?
Post by: Jorsher on April 24, 2014, 07:55:06 AM
FOB was the wrong word, COP is more correct I guess.

Think we took 46X rounds in May 2010 alone.  Thankfully Haj can't aim and our base was tiny. 

How's the chow there?

4th today. Not sure what was ours and what was theirs, but a few booms.  Hit an old area that I don't think is in use.  If they don't pick up the pace, they won't beat last years record and will be far from their 2012 high score :P

Chow?  It isn't the huge selection, steak, and lobster tail that BAF has, but it's not bad at all.  I can say with a straight face that it's better than what they were charging $6-10 for at the Arsenal stateside...  I stay well-fed.  Still skinny, like a boss.
Title: Re: Who's been to Afrighanistanica?
Post by: qikenuf on April 25, 2014, 10:12:38 AM
Rather be in AFG than Atterbury ever again lol.  Stay safe
Title: Re: Who's been to Afrighanistanica?
Post by: TheMadScientist on May 13, 2014, 09:45:17 PM
Stay safe enjoy yourself. Take up the gym you'll love yourself for it.
How are you enjoying it so far?
Also, only the bitches stay on COPs, it's all about the VSPs :P   Or just camping in the middle of nowhere for funsies.
Title: Re: Who's been to Afrighanistanica?
Post by: Jorsher on May 14, 2014, 04:20:53 AM
Hasn't been bad at all.  Been getting a ton of rain, had some hail the other day, and I believe it's been keeping them at bay.  Did get three incoming a day or two ago.  Worst part is the shitty, overpriced internet.

Me?  In a gym?  I'm too skinny for that, sir.
Title: Re: Who's been to Afrighanistanica?
Post by: qikenuf on May 14, 2014, 11:39:45 AM
Did get three incoming a day or two ago.

(https://realhomemadeturbo.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.notyourparentslife.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2013%2F11%2FScreen-Shot-2013-11-12-at-2.44.59-PM.png&hash=e4f08e27f8c1bd19b21b30fd83a2559383d0a327)
Title: Re: Who's been to Afrighanistanica?
Post by: Jorsher on May 15, 2014, 11:22:48 PM
I died a little today.  Tragedy has struck the FOB.

Among other things, there will be no more bacon.  After the current supply runs out, it's gone for good.
Title: Re: Who's been to Afrighanistanica?
Post by: Joseph Davis on May 16, 2014, 03:48:49 AM
The fuck??
Title: Re: Who's been to Afrighanistanica?
Post by: Ntrain2k on May 16, 2014, 06:52:59 AM
You need this:

http://www.mredepot.com/servlet/the-364/Yoder%E2%80%99s-Celebrity-Canned-Bacon/Detail (http://www.mredepot.com/servlet/the-364/Yoder%E2%80%99s-Celebrity-Canned-Bacon/Detail)

10 year shelf life.
Title: Re: Who's been to Afrighanistanica?
Post by: Joseph Davis on May 18, 2014, 06:07:26 AM
Just no.


Hell no.   >:(
Title: Re: Who's been to Afrighanistanica?
Post by: j.h.christ on May 19, 2014, 08:34:58 PM
I don't miss it.
Title: Re: Who's been to Afrighanistanica?
Post by: qikenuf on May 20, 2014, 06:46:02 PM
How the fuck?  Shank is a big fucking base.  We cried when we were down to the last tray of RipIts, then some strings got pulled and about 1/3rd of the next CDS air drop was ripits. 

I miss it, a lot.  If I could go back to Zabul province at Lane or Baylough with the same Army/Navy guys, I'd do it in a fucking heartbeat for free
Title: Re: Who's been to Afrighanistanica?
Post by: Jorsher on May 25, 2014, 02:41:36 AM
How the fuck?  Shank is a big fucking base.  We cried when we were down to the last tray of RipIts, then some strings got pulled and about 1/3rd of the next CDS air drop was ripits. 

I miss it, a lot.  If I could go back to Zabul province at Lane or Baylough with the same Army/Navy guys, I'd do it in a fucking heartbeat for free

I dunno.  A few people mentioned it.  We'll see if it actually happens.  For now, there's still been bacon every morning.  Beverage options have been getting more and more limited every day, so hopefully they're just a shipment away.  Sprite, water, strawberry Fanta.  The base is scheduled to close in a few months.  We'll see...

A round of mortar landed on the hesco that's a few feet from our relatively small building.  Threw a few pieces of shrapnel through the building and a laptop, but nobody was hurt.  Had they aimed just a tiny bit higher and went over the hesco, or shot it a few minutes earlier or later, don't think it would have been an injury-free thing.

The base is huge, size-wise, but I doubt it's what you remember.  Everything is being consolidated, and there's not nearly as much people here as there used to be.
Title: Re: Who's been to Afrighanistanica?
Post by: ratcityrex on May 25, 2014, 11:26:25 AM
What's the weather like there?
Title: Re: Who's been to Afrighanistanica?
Post by: Jorsher on May 25, 2014, 02:05:33 PM
What's the weather like there?

Have had a lot of thunderstorms, wind, hail, a few small sandstorms.  I've heard it's rained more this year than usual.  Been pretty cool.  I still wear a jacket at night.  During the day it's been comfortable, cool in the shade and warm in the sun.

Nicer than Alabama weather so far...
Title: Re: Who's been to Afrighanistanica?
Post by: ratcityrex on May 25, 2014, 05:44:56 PM
So Low 70s in the day 50s at night? Because that's my kinda comfortable.....
Title: Re: Who's been to Afrighanistanica?
Post by: Jorsher on May 26, 2014, 12:05:48 AM
So Low 70s in the day 50s at night? Because that's my kinda comfortable.....

High of 81, low of 54 in Kabul which isn't far from here.  I work nights so don't have to deal with that 81F, but it's still a little bit cooler than where I came from.
Title: Re: Who's been to Afrighanistanica?
Post by: ratcityrex on May 26, 2014, 02:47:24 AM
Not bad. How is the wind? Nothing like getting fucking sandblasted with some fucking wind.