Flew up to Balad Friday night after work and got picked up by the HQ staff then had dinner at the Oasis DFAC in JBB (Joint Base Balad). Roomed with Lt. Crein, 502nd XO, fell asleep by 11 pm. He has a "CHU" (containerized housing unit) all to himself. Very soft bed!
Got up at 0515 on Saturday morning, and geared up for the march which started at 0600. Blueberry Pop-Tarts for breakfast at HQ... toasted! Here we are: Col. Jamison, Major Djaya, Pvt. Villar, Me, Pvt. Melina (the VBC Crew)... ready to march 12 miles with a 35 pound ruck (backpack)!
We went out the first 6 miles at a 15 minute pace for a 1:30 split at the half point. (The EFMB has 3 hour limit so this is a good pace.) Next we ran the second 6 and finished in 2:27. That's a 10 minute mile pace and well under the EFMB standard, which was my goal! (And feet survived... no major blisters!) Had Gatorade and Peanut M&Ms for energy food along the route. Here some of us are with the Commander, COL Eikenberg after the march... Whew! Our return trip was cancelled! Engine trouble on the C-17 Globemaster III (darn Pratt Whitney engineering!) See how backed up things get when you're on STAND-BY!!
So we ferried to Catfish Air on West Balad for a Blackhawk ride to BIAP... very cool!
We flew along the Tigris, avoided flying over towns (less RPGs that way!) and stopped at Camp War Horse to pick up two passengers and fuel. Lots of farmland along the river... very fertile... Mesopotamia and the Land of Ur. Then hit the city...
This dentist is having WAY TOO much fun!
