1st Week Observations

I'm starting to get a feel for the base. I haven't been stationed anywhere like this before. It is difficult to forget that we are in a combat zone. For one thing, I strap on a pistol and live rounds everyday as part of my morning routine. I have been to dozens of feild exercises where you walked around with a weapon, but this is the first time that I have carried live rounds with me everywhere that I go. It's a weird feeling that I still have not gotten over. The other part of it is that every other servicemen also is walking around armed. It makes sense why there is absolutely no alcohol or sex allowed over here. The image of thousands of young, drunk, jealous, armed servicemen is unsettling to say the least.

Another thing that is unique is the protection measures. This base is riddled with concrete, barriers, earth walls, barbed wire, and checkpoints. The pictures I have included show my "neighborhood". All living spaces are surrounded by those enormous concrete walls.

I went to mass yesterday. It was strange praying with a 9mm and 15 rounds on my person. The Preist here conducted mass a lot different then in New Bern. There was a lot more singing by the congregation and the priest sang all the prayers instead of just saying them. I looked like a bad American Idol contestant throughout the Mass. I didn't know what was going on.

I have settled into my workspace and it is nothing new. A lot of the work is stuff that I did when I was a sergeant. The difference being that I have a lot more Marines in my charge. I don't frosee any proffesional difficulties at all. I am going to try and find the education center today and see if I can knock out a couple of college courses while I am here. I think that once I get into a routine time will fly by.