Blog: MRE-Military Bits
The end of the beginning
Published Saturday, July 26, 2008
Training has wrapped up at NTC, I've written my last story from from the high desert, and now I'm here at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas waiting for the first of two flights that will eventually take me back to Fairbanks.
It's been a unique assignment. The funny thing is that I thought I'd be able to do a lot more multimedia stuff with photos and videos, but because of the Army's slow network, a lot of those plans fell through, so I actually ended up relying on my writing ability a lot more. Hopefully you were pleased with the final product.
I asked a lot of questions this past week. It's kind of a big part of the job. But there was only one question that the soldiers of the 1-25th kept asking me:
"Are you going down range (to Iraq) with us?"
In fact, someone asked that same question on this blog in the past couple days.
I can definitively say... maybe.
The commanders of the 1-25th have said repeatedly that they would like to have me there for a few weeks, and while i got some good stories over the past few days, I think the real important stories, about how a brigade made up of soldiers from the 172nd and new recruits is coming together in the field, and how the Army is now making real progress in rebuilding Iraq need to be told from the ground and by a reporter familiar with both Fairbanks and the brigade.
It's something that I would like to do, and there's even some precedent.
But maybe I'm getting a little bit ahead of myself. Heck, most of the soldiers I talked to said they were most looking forward to a few weeks of leave, and a good chunk of them were planning on going to Vegas.
I still have another hour or so in the airport before my flight leaves. Thank God it's filled with slot machines, because I'm still more than 30 bucks ahead, and that's just no way to leave this city...
Chris, Thank you for all your hard work!.............
1-25th Mom
Thank you for your work. As the father of one of these brave kids, and not a military person myself, your articles make me feel closer.
I would certainly vote for these articles to continue in Iraq, but I know that may be much.
Thanks!
Thanks Chris. Get some rest. Hope you do get to spend some time with the 1/25th in Iraq. Want to keep up with 3-21. You know boys...they don't tell their Mom anything. haha
Thanks Chris for keeping us wives here at home informed, vegas is on our list of leave stops as well!!!
Thank you Chris for your storys they were very interesting and I hope that some how it works out that you are able to go to Iraq with them - Being a mom of a married son this time I know that I will not be his 1st phone call and ok with that. Hope that you still leave Vegas with some money :)
Thanks Chris for keeping us updated. My son is part of the 1/25th.
Does anyone know for sure know when they will be arriving back at Ft. Wainright.Our last conversation before he left he was not sure.
Thanks
cincyric
My sons wife tells me in an email they're coming back the 1st through the 5th, with my son expected back very late on the 3rd. He's in A CO 3-21. Hope this info helps.
Thanks for the info StrykerMom
StrykerMom06 I just want to let you know that you just violated OPSEC. You gave dates,company and battalion out over a publicly view site. Try not to do it so much while your son is in Iraq. You never know who maybe reading what you thought to be a harmless reply. If you read Chris's work closely enough you notice he doesn't give any dates about the 1-25, only about himself.
Yes, as a wife, please everyone remember it is very important to not give out any specifics as well as to not say anything that has yet to be written in stone. Army life has a way of changing everything on you at the last minute. But we do appreciate the thought.....
Thank you for your articles, Chris. It was nice to feel in touch with my husband...now if only the Army will bring him home when they say they will!
I talked to my son yesterday and they have been sitting a week waiting for arrangements to be made to get them back to Alaska.
I heard from my Son this Morning as well, he was a bit P O about no flight plans to return to Alaska! He also said some of them are sick!! Colds??
It is at the end of the Army's Fiscal Year, and they are watching the spending. That is why it has been difficult to get flights out of NTC. They put the contract out there for the lowest bid on flights back to Fairbanks, and unfortunately, it's not working well. Soldiers (and their gear) have been bumped from flights. I don't know which airline took the contract, but from what I have heard, they are using small airplanes. Everybody, all the way to the top, is disgusted (and frustrated) with this situation. These soldiers, and their families want them home. They only have about six weeks before they deploy for a year, and time is being lost by them sitting there at NTC. Several soldiers have asked to go on leave now, and have offered to pay their own way back, or to use their airmiles. That idea was shot down !!!
So instead, they are wasting precious time at NTC. They have effectively been Extended at NTC. It is, what it is !!!
Yes it is what it is!,but these Soldiers don't need anymore STRESS!
Preparing for Deployment is already STRESSFUL!
^^Agreed. Hey newsminer how about covering this aspect of NTC? Maybe some bad publicity will put their butts in gear!
I've had a few other assignments these past few days (had to go see the president today), but I'll be looking into this for tomorrow. If you'd like to share your story on the record about the difficulties of bringing soldiers back to Alaska from NTC, you can e-mail me at cfreiberg@newsminer.com or call me at 459-7545.
GOD SPEED TO ALL OF THE 1/23 UNIT WILL BE PRAYING FOR ALL YOU.BE SAFE STAY STRONG AND WE ARE VERY PROUD OF ALL OF YOU
VIRGINIA MON
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