Hmm, I have been kept pretty busy these last weeks. Starting college classes again, studying to test for promotion, and of course all the inprocessing training, quite a schedule. Plus, you know, work.
I'm sure you've been following the news on the Korean torpedo attack. I don't have insider info there, we're all reading the same news sites as everybody stateside. There was some talk of suspending off-base travel for the Memorial Day weekend, but fortunately that wasn't put into place. I did get my chem gear issued last week (didn't want you to worry about that), so now I've got my two sets of vacuum-sealed overgarments. As near as I can tell (based on what I've been reading) the attack was most likely intended to create a crisis just big enough to install Kim Jong Il's third son into higher positions in the party. The same playbook ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axe_Murder_Incident ) was used to put him in power, so we'll see.
At any rate, on happier tidings, I am again taking a public speaking class. I need 3 classes after that for my CCAF- 1 humanities and 2 in management. I'll see if I can CLEP a management class or two, then take an introductory Korean class. Last week was the worst- I was just starting class (1830-2130 Mondays and Wednesdays), plus I had to test for promotion that Wednesday morning. So here I was studying all weekend and then having to stay up late, and then having to get up early besides. Yeah, I was a real zombie through Thursday and Friday.
I went out on Town Patrol over the Memorial Day weekend. A-town-- excuse me, the "International Cultural Village", (but nobody calls it that and no-one is going to pay to replace the sign anyways) is quite amusing. Mostly in the sense of how little desperate lonely airmen are willing to settle for. In terms of atmosphere, I think I'd describe it as "Six Flags with barmaids" (juicies). There's a few blocks of crowded buildings all in a grid-like layout, and they alternate mostly between bar, food, bar, bar, jerseys shop, bar, food, bar, etc. The bars are largely indistinguishable- pool tables, flashing lights, and lightly dressed Filipinos trying to get you to buy soju. It's really quite amusing. Oh, and the best part is, the whole place has a nice 15 degree slope to it, so the guy who's had 3 too many drinks is always lurching down at breakneck speed. Good times. Anyways, Town Patrol is out there to assist the Security Forces guys in making sure the airmen get back to base before curfew or before doing anything that would involve Korean police. But since it was a 4 day weekend, the place was almost deserted. Only about a hundred people out that night, when there is usually about 600 at least.
Oh yes, I almost forgot: I'm pretty sure I'll be heading back to Texas for field training in August. It's a two week course on the equipment we use in deployed zones (mostly the compressed oxygen system). I have the option of taking leave after that, but the total time I'm off the Korean peninsula can not exceed 30 days per tour. As the course is 2 weeks, I'd rather not burn my other 2 weeks so soon, but I thought I would throw it out there. Our group can only have 6 people off-peninsula at any time (whether training or leave), so that is another restriction. You can take as much leave in Korea as your commander will sign for, though, so that's kind of nice.
The other good news I found out is that if you have a follow-on overseas tour, you're authorized government transportation to your home of record between assignments. Assuming that I still get sent to Misawa, I'll be able to take leave stateside around May or so of next year. I think that will work out much more smoothly than TDY to Texas, commercial flight to California, hi guys, then 2 weeks later catching another commercial flight to Seattle. I've got another briefing next week for all the people trying to keep/weasel out of their follow-ons, so hopefully that will allow me to firm up things. Well, to the extent that I can do so without having the physical orders in my hands.
We play exercises about 4 times a year, so there'll probably be a point where I'll just drop off the face of the earth for a week and a half. I'll still be alive, just spending my time sleeping instead of checking email.
Looking forward to hearing from you,
G
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