VIP to Mustang Ranch

Yes, we are going to be moving, we'll let you know when it happens. Part of the move to Mustang involves the ramp-up and planning. The final decision was made in part by the Rakasan's commander, a full Colonel, who visited the ranch to get a first hand look at the vast amenities. Team Jedi secured the landing zone for the Rakasaan commanders VIP visit to Mustang Ranch, for the Colonel to meet with the IA BDE commander, Col Maraud (aka Jaba).

During the VIP meeting at Mustang Ranch, one of our senior NCO's was waiting outside the office in the area where the IA gather and eat meals with some of the Colonel's PSD (personal security detachment). While one of the PSD soldiers was spitting chewing tobacco on the ground where the IA soldiers eat, our NCO asked him to spit in a Gatorade bottle instead. An American SGM, a member of the VIP party, also waiting outside the meeting, informed our NCO that it is just a "dirty place," and "who cares, it's just a $*!#-hole." Our NCO informed the SGM that our job requires us to maintain a positive relationship with the IA. The SGM decided he wanted to assert his authority over our NCO, putting him at parade rest.

Yes, it seems trivial. But we work hard at maintaining our relationship with the IA. Months of hard work can be hurt by a few inconsiderate people. I can understand that many of the US soldiers deployed here would rather be somewhere else, but blatant disrespect by our own soldiers could make all the gains and losses that we have both achieved and suffered into nothing.

Much the same with the civilians here. We have the traffic trained to pull to the side of the road when we drive by, we "swim" in traffic, on the other side of the road to avoid traffic build up. We are reluctant to use the right on and off ramps, jumping across the highway. I'm sure we aren't making any friends from the population when we are pushing them out of the way. Our goal here afterall is to "win the hearts and minds of the population."

Don't get me wrong, there are reasons why we do these things, and I don't think we should change our TTP's. Our missions come first, but our safety is just as important. If we sit in traffic, we can become a target. I just hope I don't bring any of my bad traffic habits back with me to the states, much as I did returning from Germany (autobahn).
Well not much else going on here. We are all adjusting well, I'm working on getting our light kits and sirens installed on our trucks with the aid of our Max Pro representative. Look for us on cops. I thought I liked the Max Pro rep until he told me he is from Chicago... Cubs fan. Anyway the Rhinovirus is whooping my butt, so I'll post more later.