waiting for the Air Force

Any of you remember “Waiting for Godot?” That is the LSA (life support area) at Ali As Salem to a T.

Well, here we are, sitting on benches. Large room, steel connected chairs with what was once probably padding on the backs and seats. The blocks of four are doubled into three long long sections. In spite of large signs saying – don’t lay down, hog space or put your feet on the bench, most are doing more than one of the above.

We have our gear, we have dropped bags on pallets. (and some of us spent a lot of time digging combat shirts out of the bottom of the duffle, moving patches around and otherwise getting tired of lugging weapons and carryone.

And we wait. The early flight time has come and gone. Flight cancelled or combined with a later flight, resulting in more waiting. There is plenty of temp billeting and linen packs; I am not worried if we have to check back in and spend another night.

But it is the waiting. No cameras, no pictures. Large screen TV tuned to some football game or another. Free Wifi almost as slow as that in Shannon. Free water and chips, I suppose I should walk over to the DFAC but it is back up to 110 F in the sun and I am not yet completely acclimatized.

Hopefully in Bagram tonight.

-Holly

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6 Responses to waiting for the Air Force

  1. George says:

    I am glad you arrived in one piece.

  2. Kris says:

    The perfect exemplar of “hurry up and wait”.

    What comes to mind: Christmas Eve day, 20 years ago this dec, at ft Lewis, freezing cold 0500 formation and march over to the gym to wait for flight to Germany. No coffee for hrs because no extra mess folks anywhere because of holiday. MREs all day. Flights cancelled several times…finally left gym about 1745. Arrived evening of christmas day…”what are you doing here now?”

    Gotta love the stories our Army experiences provide.

    Hang in there…you’ll be there soon and then will be able to get on with what you do so very well. You are right, though, the waiting is the worst.

  3. Steve says:

    Believe it or not, it was 105 F in the sun here yesterday and that is continuing today!

    But we have the comforts of home.

  4. Carmen says:

    They actually called it LSA? Thought you were going to be talking about tubes and ventilators!

    Read, knit, doze. Repeat. Knowing you, you will be working 24-7 once you get to Bagram. 110! In September?

    You will have quite a mountain view, it seems.

  5. Pat says:

    Painful. I *do* remember it. Hopefully you won’t need to endure it for long.

  6. Emily says:

    Would you have traded all this for a cilivian career? Can’t help wondering.

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