It would be a brief six and half hour flight to Shannon Ireland for our only stop on the trip. Most slept, but I stayed awake all but about an hour. Trying to ensure that I could adjust to my new time zone was a priority consideration. Back to back movies played while flight attendants attempted to gorge us with food service. I don’t think I have ever seen that much food served on an airplane. We ate two hot meals and several snack services just on the first leg. A couple of hot towel treatments and we were in Shannon.
A very short layover of about 45 minutes had everyone scurrying through the airport to pick up souvenirs and to take pictures of each other in Ireland. I was one of the last ones back on the plane, walking through the airport with a couple of the Chiefs and Officers to round up stragglers. We left quickly and unceremoniously. The whole thing was rather abrupt.
The final leg was just over six hours—shorter by a third—than I had expected. Again I didn’t sleep much at all, but chose to read, listen to music, and watch a movie. Oh, and eat. And eat. And eat another time. Before I knew it, we were landing in Kuwait City Airport (KCIA). Debarking was organized and coordinated by the folks we are relieving. Many of them were there to greet us—thankful that their reliefs were there and anxious to prepare for their own departure.
My first impression of Kuwait: something very similar to the barren areas surrounding El Paso, but without the mountains. The air was somewhat thick with dust, and believe-it-or-not, fog. It was slightly humid and cool (high 60’s)! Having gathered us together in a staging area we mingled with some of the Juliet group (we are Kilo) and were addressed by their Commanding Officer (CO). Departing for Arifjan gave me my first opportunity to see just how crazy driving in Kuwait can be. More on that another time.
Upon arrival at the base, we gathered in a very large tent (think warehouse sized) and issued some last minute gear (i.e. sleeping bags), and given a quick indoctrination. By that time the trucks with our gear had unloaded our belongings to be carried to our 14-person tents. Army style. While resembling something from an episode of M.A.S.H. they are actually pretty accommodating. They have air conditioning units, and bunk beds, and plywood floors. We nicknamed our tent, “The Sand Trap.” I live with five other officers, for now anyway. Once we have relieved Juliet and sent them home, then we will inhabit their former home: the PCB’s. They are pre-fabricated concrete buildings, providing open-bay (or close to it) berthing to the masses. I haven’t actually seen the inside of one of them yet, but they are supposed to be decent.
More on life in the desert to follow, but I’ll finish by saying that we have it very, very good here compared to some of our Bubba’s in Afghanistan. NO COMPLAINTS! It’s disrespectful to them for what they have to endure.