Greetings All,
Well, it was ground hog week here in Djibouti.
You see, my schedule is largely the same every day of the week. It starts off with staff update briefs or intel update briefs, followed by sorting through my unclassified and classified email accts, another meeting, lunch, various working groups, etc....
Saturday is a half day so I hit the gym in the morning, get cleaned up, go to lunch, then work. In the evening, I meet a bunch up at the cantina and play texas hold'em.
Sunday is a day off. I clean my room, change sheets, do a load of laundry, go to the gym and catch up on some reading or watch a movie or two.
I do most things solo which is the way I like it. The last time I was here, Marines had to wear their uniform unless they were doing some sort of physical training. I think the regulations allow for limited wear of civilian clothes but I still wear my uniform most places. I find that people I know will talk to me either way but people I don't know (or want to talk to) will leave me alone based on my branch of service and rank. Most non-uniform types (civilian contractors) congregate together, enlisted members of the service don't want to or are told not to engage in chit chat with officers, and junior officers will maybe offer a pleasantry and move along.
Even the menu in the chow hall follows a weekly pattern. Not sure what Monday is but Tues is Tacos, Wed is pizza and pork night, Thurs is prime rib and turkey carving station, Fri night (mostly fried) with every other Friday featuring 4 oz (overcooked) lobster tails, and Sat is steak night (very well done ribeyes, yum!).
This week, the Director of Strat Comm is taking his 2 weeks of R&R (only for the people here for 12 mos) so I will take my rightful spot as leader of the shop, lol. A month ago, I didn't even know what strat comm was and now I am the lead man for the CJTF-HOA area of operations which is probably almost as big as the continental U.S. This means I get to go to his meetings as well as my meetings. This will include being the "talking head" at all the meetings the Admiral chairs as well as routine meetings with the Chief of Staff. Well, I guess it will look good on my resume'. Luckily, I have a great bunch working in the shop and I will count on them to make sure I know all the pertinent issues.
I also started my SCUBA PADI certification leasons this past week and will finish up this week. The PADI cerification means I can go SCUBA diving with local dive shops. Turns out the divers actually travel to Djibouti as a destination for diving because there is lots to see and the water is really warm (92 degrees today). I'll keep you posted as I plan on taking my first diving day trip on Sun, 28 Sept.
Not much else to report. Attached are some pics I thought you all would find interesting. One pic is an example of the Containerized Living Unit (CLU) that I live in. It is a 40' shipping container with a dividing wall in the middle. Each half houses 2 people. Cozy, huh?
The picture of the baboon was taken as I was returning from an hour and a half ride out to a training area to see some of our guys conducting desert survival training with the French and Djiboutian Armed Forces. I wouldn't have went if it weren't for me having to act as the Director of the Strat Comm shop this week.
It was really something to see the baboons. They were just sitting on the side of the road, climbing rocks, chasing each other etc. (As always, you can double click on any pic to expand it.)
Well, that is about it for this week. Next Tues, I am off to the Japanese base again for an official function. Hope the sake is cold!
Cheers,
Michael
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