Forum: Air Force Life

So your thinking is that Iraq and Qatar are the same in the terms of combat zones?

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C'mon....they DO have Burger King at Balad.

No they are different and I know that. Check out Van Lake Turkey sometime, right on the Iranian border, we didn't know if the PKK were with us or against us. AKRUSE21 I know some things have changed and if that's one I'll take it back and eat my words. Just telling you how it was during my time. Hey Gums, what was it like it Nam?

Purple

Fair enough. I probably shouldn't be saying anything as its not from first hand experience. Just from what coworkers and friends have told me when they get back. I'm stuck on a jet with no mission Smile

Go in and expect the un-expected. Half the crap you guys practice for ORI and ORE exercises, you will never use there. Keep your bearings about you, realize where you are at all times, and keep the buddy system. There is some neat things to see scattered across the base, but for OPSEC reasons, you will find out. The northern end of the AMU, or Guard side got hammered with mortars on the regular. It will scare the sh*t out of you when they hit close, so be prepared and establish a routine, so everyday is groundhog day. Volunteer at the hospital, as they need all the help they can get. It will be a life enriching experience for you. Food is decent and lots of it, just depends what shift you work as to what is served. Working conditions are what you make of it. QA there is tough and you need to know your regs before going. The Balad supplements will be your guide while you are there. The rooms are pretty decent, even bigger than some of the accommodation's we have had TDY. PM if you have more questions- Twisted Evil

Quote:

Volunteer at the hospital, as they need all the help they can get. It will be a life enriching experience for you

If you did that AND pulled normal AMU duty, my hat is WAY off to you. I spent a lot of time there, but 1) I had every other 24 hrs "off" 2) I was a VERY bored medic, and 3) there were Aussie nurses there, so it wasn't entirely an unselfish act Very Happy

For some of the latest changes to improve living conditions for USAF personnel at Balad AB, Iraq, please check-out the 332nd AEW news article <a href="http://www.balad.afnews.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123046809">"Tuskegee Airmen get new digs, improved quality of life at Balad"</a>.

Bump!

Great info in here. I'm heading there soon so this has been a great read.

I haven't seen a list of recommended items to pack at my base yet. Anyone have any tips? I did hear to bring 2 pair of boots. Since my ANG unit only issued me 1 pair I went out and bought a pair of Converse Tactical boots (very comfy)...of course a week after I ordered them my base decided to issue us another pair. Rolling Eyes

They also decided to issue us a set of Gortex finally...we were issued field jackets at first, they said Gortex was for extreme cold (hello, rain gear!).

I plan on bringing my laptop, so that will act as a DVD player, and maybe a couple games to pass time. Can you sign out DVDs anywhere (MWR)? I don't need my CDCs since I'm taking my 2nd 7 level test next week and all my other training is up to date..

A couple guys are mailing some of their stuff over there now to buddies who are already there. They don't want to carry much of anything in. Is this a good idea?

What about when it's time to come home? Postage is free right, so you could actually mail some of your stuff home when you leave?

I've seen the room assignments and I'm sharing a room with TSgt (I'm a SSgt). We'll be on opposite shifts, so it'll be like I have my own room. Smile

I guess the Airmen are in "dorms" (that's what it says on the list).

Should I take uniforms with less stripes just in case? Laughing

I'm kidding, but we did have a couple guys lose stripes last time. War is hell.

My shift will give me one day off per week. What did you guys do on your day(s) off?

I'm getting a little anxious since I've never been overseas. Not really nervous, I just want to get it started and over with. Smile

Good thing being in the ANG I'm only scheduled for 45 days. About the same amount of time as BMT, and BMT was probably harder. Wink

TIA!

Purplehaze - Akruse21 When I was in Nam, we Saluted on the flight-line, now in the field (on the the ground, in the jungle) I know the Army folks did not want their Officers (nor did the Officers) want to be a target of opportunity so many times salutes were not rendered, as a matter of fact, I heard some folks tell others to put their hands down.

My first hand experience, I never saluted while flying as door gunner, on the ground or in the air (jungle), none of us did and we never heard or got flak about it - different times I guess, crazier for sure.

It depended where you were and who you were with at the time but I never saw anything in writing directing us to not Salute.

Hey Weasel,

On your days off when you get them is a great time for laundry and a haircut, and most of all some time to just chill. Be safe...!

Thanks Purplehaze, I did just that on my day off.

My routine on my day off was stay up a little late...until about 1600 since I worked midnight to noon. Sleep in until around 0200 if I could, grab my laundry and head to the laundry tent. Hang out until the wash was done, throw it in the dryer and head to the media center to call the wife. Catch a movie at the rec center after my call home. When the dryer was done fold my uniforms and PT gear and sneak into my trailer so as not to wake my roomie and put my clothes away.

Back to the rec center to catch another movie or play a video game until 0630 then head to DFAC2 for breakfast where I could order anything I wanted and take my time to eat.

Head back to the rec center for another movie or even better a nap in the big fat soft couches and watch AFN (Squeekers was not harmed in the making of this commercial). Around 0845 go ahead and walk into the barber shop. The sign says they open at 0900 but just go in anyway...the line will be long at 0900. Kind of funny, while at home I can go a month without a haircut. At Balad I needed one every week. Heck, at $3.00 a pop might as well. Skin on the sides, a #2 on top. Man I feel hardcore...lol.

Come 1000 it was getting warm enough (in October) to go to the pool. Grab the C bus for a straight shot (that took longer it seemed) or the D bus to get off at the PX and walk. Laying out at the pool for just some "me time" was great. Most of the time there's good music, and most of the time there was good eye candy if you know what I mean. Hang around until around 1330 and catch the bus back to DFAC2 for lunch and then to bed.

As far as restaurants, I wouldn't go so far as to recommend the Burger King. While I was there and thinking about grabbing a Whopper, a sign was posted near the BK menu that said they were out of tomatoes, onions, lettuce, and pickles. That was then so maybe they're better now. The Pizza Hut actually wasn't too bad. It wasn't home, but it wasn't that bad. I split a meat lover's pizza with a buddy and it tasted just a little different and had less meat than at home but was actually pretty good. I didn't even try the Taco Bell...a buddy said stay the hell away from it. One thing I should have done was go on the West side...I heard they had a Popeye's. There is a Green Beans foo foo coffee shop. The smoothies are great!

You know, war is hell.

Anybody here who can offer some more input on what to expect conditions and weather wise in Balad from January on?

From Jan on...? Well I was there with the 510th last Jan to June, and I'll tell you this...it will be VERY muddy and rainy. Learn to take your shoes off outside your room and use a bx towel under your bed to lay them on. The base (H-6 living area) gets flooded really bad. Next to the Chapel and the indoor miniputt putt there is a big hole that when it fills up, is fun to swim in Smile

If you have extra boots take them, OR you can use your chem gear rubber boots to walk around in, it looks funny but it saves your boots. It will be cold as sh*t at night, but around 9am or 10 it will get warm. Around April it starts to get warmer at night, enough to where you can risk not wearing cold weather stuff, I personally like the brown fleece underpants. Spend the extra cash and get the $8 thick brown socks at the bx, they keep your feet warm, and are very comfortable. The rain there is very unpredictable. It can show up with in an hour from a perfectly clear day, rain for about 10 minuets (flooding the base) and then go away. Even though your going during the "winter" months, its better in other ways, and you'll find out more later. Also, the rooms (I was in X-pod) get cold really fast, so leave the heat on low during the night, if your last tennents didnt buy any, grab a couple of rugs from the bx and put them down in the room, helps when walking on the cold floor. Oh and get the bed furthest from the door Smile

Fall/Winter there beats the SHI'ITE out of Spring/Summer....muddy, cold, rainy, don't care.......120-130 12 hours a day just SUCKS, I don't care who ya are. I loved the winter.

We weren't in it yet when I left in Nov but they were already gearing up for MUDCON. You'll pretty much have to wash your vehicle and tires every time you drive onto the flight line.

It's amazing what the hard packed sand can do when wet. We had a power washer at one of the HAS's and all the water ran off into the desert. I thought it was still hard packed sand but one step into the moist area and my boot sank almost to the top. The sand turned into peanut butter and stuck to my boot like it too! Wink

Sept-Nov was perfect weather. 95-110 daytime and 70-80 at night. It seemed chilly a few nights when it dropped to about 70. Smile

Forum: Air Force Life

Life at Balad