3 Continents in 3 Weeks...NOT!

Hello All,

3 continents in 3 weeks was the plan, last week.  As most of you know, I had travel planned to Germany (Europe), Jordan (Asia), and the US (North America).

We have a saying in the military...no plan survives first contact.  That certainly was the case here.

The first leg of my trip went ok as I was off to Garmish, Germany, which is in southern Germany on the Austrian boarder just north of Innsbruck.  As always, traveling sucks.  I hate dealing with customs agents, airport personnel, and long flights.  Thankfully, I had a couple of good books and the in flight entertainment system is free so I watched a few new releases.  Also (thankfully), airlines anywhere outside the US treat you like a human being and not like cattle being loading onto a transport.

Leg two of my trip was to Amman, Jordan.  I was looking forward to spending a day of down time in Munich awaiting my flight to Jordan but was contacted mid-week telling me that all non-essential travel to Jordan was to be cancelled by direction of the Ambassador.

Makes sense I guess...people climbing over the walls of an American embassy and burning the American flag does not instill a lot of confidence (embassies are sovereign US territory by the way so this was an act of war).  I would hate to end up like US Marine LtCol William Higgins who was video taped swinging from the end of a rope in Lebanon, Aug of '89.  History repeats itself with the death of Ambassador Stevens and his security team which included at least 2 former Navy SEALs in Libya.

Marine Fleet Anti-terroism Support Teams (FAST) are being rapidly deployed through out the region and I am keeping a low profile here at my current location.

A storm is coming...you will need more than an umbrella.

The third leg of my trip was to hometown USA so I could be by my wife's side as she undergoes a high   risk surgical procedure.  My "family" didn't see this as much of an emergency, so I will be riding it out here.  Trip cancelled.

I love you, Wife!

Hope all is well in your part of the world,
Michael

BETRAYED!

Hello everyone,

I just found out the the top level decision maker here did not accept the recommendation of our Personnel Officer (who studied the Marine Corps Order on emergency leave) or my boss , as well as the attending surgeon, and decided to not approve my emergency leave.

I can't even begin to tell you how angry I am.  My wife is having surgery to remove a tumor from her neck which may or may not be cancerous and this does not constitute an emergency?  I'll bet things would be different if it were his wife.

Did he speak with me personally?  No.  Did he speak with the command's surgeon?  I don't know but I am confident that he did not.

This is now a family problem and there will be a family solution.  This family does not include the Marine Corps.  We don't need their help nor do we want it.

Turns out that "leave no man behind" and "we take care of our own" are nothing more than catchy phrases that we put on posters.

Additionally, all this talk about "how important" families are and "we couldn't do what we do if it were not the family members back home" are nothing more then talking points for Generals briefing congress.

If anyone at work has the gall to ask me how my wife is doing I think I will probably explode.  They have not earned the right to know anything about my wife and they are asking because they think that have to...not because they really care.

I have spent a fair amount of time around men and women from other branches of the service and I think the Army and Air Force do a better job of taking care of their people.

I am very lucky that we have family and friends who are willing to support us during this difficult time.  Thank you to you all.

Michael

For a second week in a row...

I'm drawing a blank.

Hello Everyone,

You know, I sat down last week to blog and after about 5-8 minutes, I determined that I just didn't have anything to say.

And...for a second week in a row, still don't.

I actually had more materiel to work with in Djibouti and lots more in Germany.

Life is very predictable and boring here.  Every day is pretty much like the last.

We did get some Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical (NBC) sustainment training last week which was the only thing even remotely noteworthy.  Training was pretty basic stuff but not a bad idea to get a refresher every now and again.

The continued civil way in Syria along with the vast stockpiles of chemical weapons there has the entire region on edge.  Refugees are spilling over the boarder into Jordan and Israelites are being issued chemical protective masks (gas masks).  This is all unclassified, open source information in case you think I am divulging some secret information, by the way.

I have decided to carry my mask with me to and from work so I always have it available.  I will also keep protective outer garments here and at the office.  If I see any explosions and then some odd colored smoke, I don't want to have to drive to work to get my gear.  I don't think I could hold my breath that long anyways, lol.  I think we are suppose to be doing some drills are work.  Should be interesting trying to use a computer key board wearing gloves designed to clean up chemical spills.

After the first week of September, I will be on the road the entire month.  The change of scenery will be welcome.  I think I will even have an extra day in Germany and plan on spending it in Munich.

That's about it from this tiny island off the coast of the Saudi Arabian peninsula.

Cheers,
Michael