Topic: Who's been to Afrighanistanica? (Read 5876 times)

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?

highroller54 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 26, 2014, 09:50:02 AM »

Good luck

jabberwock · « **Reply #2 on:** March 26, 2014, 10:12:26 AM »

Prepare to get henried

Jorsher · « **Reply #3 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

colt45 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 28, 2014, 01:20:46 AM »

whatever happened to henry? And yeah, Good luck man.

n/a mike · « **Reply #5 on:** March 28, 2014, 01:31:47 AM »

don't get shot

jabberwock · « **Reply #6 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.

ratcityrex · « **Reply #7 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.

Jorsher · « **Reply #8 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.

Joseph Davis · « **Reply #9 on:** March 28, 2014, 07:01:47 PM »

Quote from: colt45 on March 28, 2014, 01:20:46 AM

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.

TheMadScientist · « **Reply #10 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.

ratcityrex · « **Reply #11 on:** March 30, 2014, 01:47:38 PM »

What does the wife and kid think about this move?

Jorsher · « **Reply #12 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.

rawr · « **Reply #13 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.

Jorsher · « **Reply #14 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.

qikenuf · « **Reply #15 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

Jorsher · « **Reply #16 on:** April 23, 2014, 12:58:00 PM »

Quote from: poopmouth 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.

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.

qikenuf · « **Reply #17 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?

Jorsher · « **Reply #18 on:** April 24, 2014, 07:55:06 AM »

Quote from: poopmouth 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?

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

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.

qikenuf · « **Reply #19 on:** April 25, 2014, 10:12:38 AM »

Rather be in AFG than Atterbury ever again lol. Stay safe

TheMadScientist · « **Reply #20 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

Or just camping in the middle of nowhere for funsies.

Jorsher · « **Reply #21 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.

qikenuf · « **Reply #22 on:** May 14, 2014, 11:39:45 AM »

Quote from: Jorsher on May 14, 2014, 04:20:53 AM

Did get three incoming a day or two ago.

Jorsher · « **Reply #23 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.

Joseph Davis · « **Reply #24 on:** May 16, 2014, 03:48:49 AM »

The fuck??

Ntrain2k · « **Reply #25 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

10 year shelf life.

Joseph Davis · « **Reply #26 on:** May 18, 2014, 06:07:26 AM »

Just no.

Hell no.

j.h.christ · « **Reply #27 on:** May 19, 2014, 08:34:58 PM »

I don't miss it.

qikenuf · « **Reply #28 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

Jorsher · « **Reply #29 on:** May 25, 2014, 02:41:36 AM »

Quote from: poopmouth 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

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.

News:

Author Topic: Who's been to Afrighanistanica? (Read 5876 times)