Ninety Degrees

Let the record show that Wednesday, March 23rd, was the first day of the year that the thermometer hit 90°F.  My interpreter tells me this is actually a little late.

CJTF-HOA

Since before I got here there was something that was really bugging me and I was shocked that no one was fixing it.  CJTF-HOA's Wiki page was all jacked up by someone who clearly was sabotaging the information there.  Well, I finally took it upon myself to fix the mistakes and reorganize the first few paragraphs.  Gone are the references to promoting tourism.  Gone is the joke about the J-9's huge sign being the most impressive and valuable structure aboard Camp Lemonnier.  (Although I have to say, the thing is godawful ostentatious.)

So, although I am not much of a Wikipedia maestro, the refurbished page can be found here.

Lorraine American Cemetary, Saint-Avold, France

If you ever find yourself over here with some time available, you should go.

West End CLU

Although they're beginning to look a bit dumpy on the outside, the West End CLUs are a much better deal than the double occupancy dry CLUs at the other end of camp.  Field grade officers rate their own room with personal latrine.  They're about 9 feet across and twenty long with bed, desk and wardrobe.  Mine also has a base phone and a small TV but only a couple of AFN channels come through.  Commercial internet is wired directly in.  The previous occupant left a couple of those white plastic storage systems but I'm not sure I'll ever accumulate enough stuff to fill them.  (I came with four bags and I'm leaving with four bags.)  The bathroom is small and functional with some space next to the shower to cram a seabag full of field gear.  The A/C seems a touch on the small side and I've yet to see how it handles 110 degree weather.  Added bonus: The laundry and chow hall are right across the road and the movie house, gym, and PX are about a hundred yards away.  I've heard tell of some officers staying on the waiting list for four months before moving in here. My wait time was about two and a half months.

(Oh, and the blanket is provided by the base, I didn't pick that dreadful thing out.)

As the Deployment Progresses

There's an interesting thing that happens over here at about the two to three month mark.  People start coming up to you and asking for help on certain projects or advice on a certain idea.  It's a puzzling phenomenon because I still feel like I'm trying to figure out my job and I'm being asked to assist on others.  The constant churn of personnel means that it doesn't take long for you to be The Guy Who Knows the Most About Something.  Odd, but that's life on the tip of the spear.

VISA Is Not Everywhere You Want To Go

I found this out in downtown Stuttgart when I was hungry and only had enough euros to pay the parking garage.  I had to go to four different restaurants before I found one that took VISA.  Most of them take something called an EC card and I really don't want another credit card, and a foreign one at that, just for a couple of days in Germany.  Anyhow, if you end up in Stuttgart, you definitely want to go to the old Wurtemburg palace and Schlossplatz.  It has culture oozing out of every orifice.  And great shopping too.

Stuttgart

If you wind up at CJTF-HOA and you're on the J-staff somewhere, it is likely that you will end up going to AFRICOM HQ for one reason or another.  Here are some observations.  First, you will definitely have to fly overnight and end up in Germany the next morning so remember to figure that into your scheduling.  Second, you should have no problem reserving a rental car in Stuttgart.  I chose Hertz; Avis is right next to it.  Driving in Germany is not really difficult and if you're here for just a short period you don't have to worry about anything other than having a valid U.S. license.  Do what you can to study up on how the right-of-way is handled because that's the only thing I had trouble with.  Third, you may be tempted to stay at the Kelley Hotel because it is a couple hundred yards from the AFRICOM buildings.  Don't.  I'm sure the hotel is great but the Panzer Hotel is aboard Panzer Kaserne and the base facilities here are so much better than Kelley Barracks.  Both are part of the Army Lodging system and are the first places you're required to stay when on orders.  Panzer is about a fifteen minute drive to Kelley and is worth the effort.  Fourth, make sure you plan enough time to get an access badge, which means making sure that your clearance info has been sent before you leave HOA.