Forum: Air Force Life

To answer your question viperloader, yes the sand color t-shirts over there are allowed, I found them alot "cooler" to wear over there then the normal brown or black. Not nearly as hot, and I was there from Jan to may this year, and I know its hotter now and it would be a better bet for ya.

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Hey thanks! I know it's hard to explain a color but i'd like to be sure what exactly kind of color that is. Is there anywhere I can find a picture of them?

The sand color almost looks white. Some of our AMMO guys where them and they stick out like a sore thumb on the flightline at Hulman Field.

Hey another question for you guys that have been to Balad, can you plug American stuff into the outlets or is it different voltage, shape, etc? I was thinking of taking a portable DVD player. I don't know if i'll even have time or if it just i'snt a good idea. Did ya'll do anything else for entertainment?

Hey another question for you guys that have been to Balad, can you plug American stuff into the outlets or is it different voltage, shape, etc? I was thinking of taking a portable DVD player. I don't know if i'll even have time or if it just i'snt a good idea. Did ya'll do anything else for entertainment?

I'm not sure that I agree that talking about how many dudes to a room is a violation of OPSEC. I guess I could see a problem with it IF we were talking about EXACT locations of living facilities on the base, but we aren't. For what it's worth, I was at balad last summer. We all lived in 10 men tents because we were "short timers" as soon as we arrived. The nicer living facilities were given to the people who were there for longer periods of time than us.

One tip about the T-shirts. Black attracts and hold heat more than the brown t-shirts. The info about the PT gear is balls on accurate. We had one of our pilots walking around in his PT gear and he was wearing black socks. He was "dressed down" by a Sra for wearing the wrong colored socks in PT gear. By the way, the pilot was a LtCol, but you couldn't tell that from his PT gear.

QA and Air field Management is the real deal over there. If the speed limit on the flight line is 10 MPH, you best not be doing 12. You best have a job guide out and open to the exact page if you are doing any kind of work on an aircraft. Don't be "that guy" who gets made an example of. A few of our troops found out the painful way that they play for real and by the book over there.

The IBA ( flake vest) and the helmet is a pain in the butt, but may very well save your life. Wear it correctly or don't bother wearing it at all. You'll see lots of people "bending" the rules on how and where to wear it, if something happens though, you'll be the guy they send home in parts.

Other than that, it's all good. Just remember that this is just a TDY. Do your best, support the mission, and keep your head on a swivel. Before you know it, you'll be heading home to the big BX stateside.

Viper, no the plugs there are British 220. However, MOST rooms have transformers in them so you can plug in 110 stuff. Best bet would be just to take it with you, see what your room has, then go to the BX and or shoppette there in H-6 (you'll know what I mean when you get there) and buy some adapters. They are like $.25 each, oh also get like a pwr strip too, if your room doesnt have any. Most rooms come well stocked already. If your an airmen, you'll be in a dorm of such, about 10 guys to a room, but the dorms there werent too bad. If your an NCO you'll probably have 2 to a room, with double bunks in there. Just hope you dont get any of the new pods, I was in X pod, and it was the furthest away from everything...but the rooms were brand new.

Entertainment wise, the base is pretty well off as well. There is an Iraqi Bazzaar that sells all kinds of movies (again you'll see what I mean when you get there) There is a base movie theater, and one in the Rec Center in H-6, Gym is pretty good, but alot of the rec stuff is for nonners and the like. Chances are you'll be working 14 some odd hour shifts and when you have a day off, you'll either sleep in, do laundry and probably use that time to eat or go to the morale tent to call home.

The line over there is pretty spread out but as Block25 said, the rules are pretty tight over there....but they need to be....think of where your at and what your doing!.

I would HIGHLY recommend taking PT gear with you, cuz when you get there its hard to come buy. I had to have my wife send out more because I couldnt find any there. Also I would suggest you leave your dept/credit card at home, and just take some checks, ID Theift is a big thing over there. Most of the time they use the carbon paper for the card transactions and they have been known and caught trying to take the carbon strips with them. Knew of a guy who used his card to buy a cd and a movie, then later he ended up paying for a $1000 tv and some other sh*t cuz the guy behind the counter stole his sh*t. Just becareful.

Hey ya'll I really appreciate your time helping me out. I wouldnt say i'm nervous as such I just don't want to be the a** hole that doesnt have stuff that I need. I'm going with the Guard, and info doesn't flow very well. I'm sure i'll have more stuff to bug you guys with later. Thanks

Yes don't use the credit or debt cards we heard the same thing as 510ghost said he's right on the mark with that one take your checks and go to finance for cash. Hopefully they get the PT gear problem fixed we had the same issue very hard to get.

Almost forgot don't overpack too many guys do that and have so much to take back with them. We packed up alot of stuff just before we left and send it by mail home to ease the burden on the way home just an idea when it's time to return. The post office customs will go through everything so don't try to sneak anything back home if you know what I mean. You can't send any of your field gear etc they will tell you it has to be in your bags with you when leaving and they will seal up your box when they are done in front of you. Overall it's not a bad experience even though it might feel like it when your there. Just remember why your there and keep those Marines, Airman, Sailors and Army brothers in mind that go outside that wire everyday we owe it them. So when you think your Pod is small or the power went out for an hour or the lunch wasn't so good think of them and what they put up everyday for a year plus. Go Guard!

One last thing about Balad. If you ever wonder why you are there, or get to feeling that what we are doing just doesn't make a difference, I suggest you take the shuttle bus over to the Army aviation side and check out the "bone yard". When I was there last summer, it was full of all the army vehicles that have been hit by IED's, VBIED's and road side bombs. One look at that and you'll quickly gain a healthy respect for the Army guys who go "outside" the wire every day.....

Roger that. I'm very thankful for all those "ground pounders" out there. They've got my respect as I sure as hell don't want to do their job.

Forum: Air Force Life

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