Well, these are the first photos of me at my new base doing my job. My responsibilities are to search the trucks for contraband, which includes (among the obvious things as bombs, drugs and weapons) knives, lighters/matches, propane tanks, aerosol cans, pressure cookers, cell phones, loose wires and electronics, batteries. The last five (starting with cookers) are all material that can be used to construct an IED and as such are confiscated. Only the cookers are given back to the drivers when they leave. The trucks smell like cigarettes, B.O and ass, but overall, it's not that bad of a job. I like the people I work with, the hours I work are ok, and there's a high probability that I'll get to go home with all limbs where they should be. The only thing that really sucks is that we don't get days off at all, so there's little time to relax. I doubt I'll get any more pictures of interest, but if I do, I'll be sure to post them.
The second one is of me wearing a Brit boonie cover holding their rifle. If you look closely, you can see my clean raccoon eyes. The rest of my face was uncovered by my goggles and as such is covered in dirt from riding in the turret of the humvee.

The last four are of me searching a truck, with the first of them being the truck I'm in.
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Well, I have time enough to post a short blog, and a few pictures to go with it. My camera does not work, so I've only a few to put up. I'm at my new base and I got a pretty good assignment here. I'm doing the same thing that I was doing at FOB Dwyre - pulling Afghani cargo vehicles in and searching them - and it's a pretty good deal. We work from 7 am until about 11:30 and them from 2:00 until about 5:00. in that generous lunch break we can take the Humvee to the British base and go to their PX, use their internet center which is much faster and has almost zero line. From there I have plenty of time to go to the gym and shower and eat when I get off and not worry about getting on the internet at night and having to wait on a huge line. Plus, I'm working with British Royal Air Force - they're the ones that actually search the drivers - I just do the vehicles. It's really cool to hang out with and talk to them. Their lingo is a hoot. Plus they have some delicious tea there at the guard shack, and that's nice because it's really cold in the morning - probably 45 or so - maybe less degrees out. It may not seem all that cold but it was over 100 when I got here. So until my camera works, all I have for you are these. The one of me holding the shirt is what's left of my favorite t-shirt. I opened my sea bag to find three mice staring me in the face. So I dug through all of my gear to get the little bastards out (five total) and found my t shirt in ruins. A week later I went back in there to find four more. I put a plastic bag over the top, and even though they can chew right through it, I didn't have a problem after.







I'll post more if/when I get anything of interest.

Here I am. Somewhere in southern Afghanistan, loving life. I'm moving to a new base tomorrow, where hopefully I'll have a more stable, faster connection so I can post a few picture for you. I keep seeing emails saying my posts have been promoted, so thanks to all who did that. I'll catch up with you when I can!