16 April 2010

Well it has finally arrived, after serving greater than 5 months (147 days) in theatre , seven days a week and often double shifts, it was my turn to go on vacation.

My wife and I planned a nice trip through the lower state of Florida with a greater portion of the holiday just relaxing and drink some wine.

To depart Kandahar is no easy event. After several briefings on what to do and what not to do, you arrive at the TLS (Taliban's Last Stand). The TLS is very large building on the Kandahar Airfield where the Taliban fought it out for the defence of the Kandahar Airfield against the Americans. Unfortunately, it all came to an end when the US Airforce decided they had had enough and promptly placed 2000 pound GBU-10 bomb on target. The building has since been rebuilt and is now the terminal for departure and arrivals... go figure.

We then proceeded out to the end of the airfield and were loaded onto a C-130-H Hercules. At that exact moment, an old friend Capt. Wayne Freeland walks off the aircraft to do his walk-around and I find out he also the captain of the aircraft. He and I flew Harvard Two's in Moose Jaw not too long ago. After the initial hellos he says to wait at the end of the line so that I can have easy access to the cockpit after the doors close. Needless to say, I was invited into the right seat for two hours of "pole time" and a great view of Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Mountains along the coast of  UAE.

We finally arrived in Dubai for a one night stay after some more in-out processing before jumping on our scheduled civvy flights but not before having an opportunity to meet the old guard of the NHL. With them was the Stanley Cup, so for all you hockey fans out there, here is a picture for you.

The holidays were just so relaxing. Usually I get my wife mad at me for not being able to stay in one place for than a day or two and for not trying to de-compress as we now say. This time was different, the first week was an enjoyable slow tour through the state and the second week we just vegged. Drank a glass (ok I lied, a bottle of wine on many occasions) and just watched the waves during the day and the stars at night (not to mention the odd submarine race...hehe i jest).

It is amazing how fast two weeks go by. No sooner did I arrive it felt as if I was jumping back on the same plane to go back. Everything happened in reverse order  of course including the 14+ hour flight across to the other side of the world. My sore butt.

When we arrived in Kandahar, the temperatures had risen at least an average 5-10 degrees F and the stench from the local poo pond was terrible. Tomorrow I start back in the saddle after I receive all of my in-clearance briefings as well. The good news is its only another 90 days to the next holiday vice 147. Thank god.

So until next time..

01 Mar 10

Most of us who have served in the Canadian Forces understand that at one point in your life you will be deployed, its not a matter of if but when and where.

As a pilot by trade, I am currently wearing desert cam working with the Air Wing in Kandahar along side the Canadian Battle Group in theatre. When I was first informed that I was coming here, I thought it would be a great experience prior to my retirement.  When I arrived after a long five hour flight on a Hercules from Cyprus I thought, "what did I get myself into".

The door opened up while the propellers were still spinning down. The first thing that came to my attention was the thick air and the overwhelming smell of "the poo pond". We exited the aircraft and began to walk across the ramp through a crowd of people there to greet us. They were all happy and I couldn't figure out why. The reason, you are their relief and that means they are going home soon. I am sure I will feel that way too at the end of  10 months.

To be deployed means that you have volunteered to serve the Canadian Forces in a theatre of operation for a cause that will help people who cannot help themselves. It means that you will sacrifice your time away from your country and loved ones to contribute to a higher cause. It means that you will often put yourself in harms way to help your fellow soldier. The Canadian Forces has always been a country who has contributed around the world in such places as Cryprus, Germany, Vietnam, Bosnia, Haiti, Rwanda, Iraq and now Afghanistan. These are but a few of the places around the world that we have raised the flag and assisted others.

In the case of Afghanistan, Canada has been involved for almost nine  years now. Several thousands of our young men and women have come to serve. Unfortunately we have also lost many of  those fine people in conflict and will no doubt loss a few more before we finally all go home in 2011.

In my position, I am constantly exposed to the reality of what this type of war brings. Each time we have a loss of life or have a serious injury on any one of us their is an immediate mood change. The worst moment of a deployment is when you have to stand and salute a fallen soldier as he is loaded onto a homeward bound Hercules aircraft. You quickly come to understand what sacrifice now means and what the ultimate cost is.

The team is a tight group of professional individuals who you can count on always. They are bright, intelligent, generous and gracious on all accounts. They know that it is the team and the mission that counts. They put others before themselves and are always there to help out when needed.

My time here in Kandahar will be over in 6 months but I am sure that I will go home knowing that it was a great experience and that I couldn't have served with better group of people anywhere.

28 Feb 10

Rockets Attacks are almost a way of life in Kandahar. Although many of us fulfill many important jobs inside the wire while others are outside, the bad guys still find a way to get at you.

The rocket they fire is a chinese made 107 mm explosive shell that is propelled by six (6) internal rockets. The insurgents often find a secluded part of the desert and a sand dune with which they can prop up the rocket. They light the fuse and run as fast as they can, so they don't get hurt or get caught for that matter. The rockets fire and goes in the general direction of the base. Once in flight and with lots of speed, the six rockets stop and it starts to fall  towards earth hoping (for them) that it hits something or someone.

When it is on its way, the sirens sound and we all hit the prone position and stay like that until the "all clear" is giving. Unfortunately, the rocket does hit something and makes quite a mess. Last month I was walking outside my tent area and one went right over our position and continued until it hit an accommodation compound causing injuries to eight soldiers.

Usually the rockets are fired in the early evening, one at a time. Other times they will fire two, three or four of them at once.

In the following picture, this rocket came over the wire, over top three ladies having a coffee and a smoke, hit this seacan and punched a hole in it causing further damage to the doors. It did not explode but bounced through a tree and across the compound where I work and ended up in the mess hall parking lot.

It raised quite a stir and was the talk at the dinner table later that night.

Needless to say, we continue to keep our eyes and ears open and our "powder dry"