Saturday Night Deployed

So we have recently made what deployed Soldiers call a successful “jump” where we moved from one Forward Operating Base to another. As mentioned previously, from Baghdad to Baquba. The sun is blistering, the sand saturates our nostrils, the monotony is agonizing some how we press forward to be better daily.

When you pass a Soldier in the morning you may hear a myriad of quotes after exchanging a salute; Me: “How’s it going today Soldier”, a typical response is Soldier:” living the dream Sir!” A dream it is, dream is what we do, having been away from families and missing, Christmas, Thanksgiving, birthday’s, anniversaries, family members funerals, the world is changing that our counterparts live in but ours seems to remain the same. You almost forget what life is like on the outside of our secure base. We often talk about what we have planned for the future and where we want to go next. Being deployed to Iraq is an experience; it’s a lifestyle, a place where you taste the emotions of a human experience that is uncommon to most. It’s the roller coaster ride of the living.

Tonight my First Sergeant and I decided to take a load off and try to break up the routine. We partook in some unhealthy libations, pounding down “Rip-Its (energy drinks)” and smoke away on some tasty cigars. The responsibility of our Troop rest solely on the shoulders of the First Sergeant and I. We enjoy what we do. He is passionate and I am the same, that’s probably the biggest characteristic we have in common is care for Soldiers and there well being. First Sergeant Girard is on his way to retirement and has served his country for nearly 20 years having been in our Regiment for close to 8 of them. This life has taken a toll on him but I admire his ability to still to give his best to the Soldiers of Lightning Troop. Some Soldiers do it for passion, when you loose the passion there is still obligation, and that is what separates us from the rest of the world…Green suitor obligation; no matter what the conditions we are still Soldiers trying to enjoy a Saturday night in Iraq.