Camp Taji, Iraq

Hi all!

Well, it has been an interesting time here at Camp Taji. We are on a small American compound on the Iraqi side of the base, called Phoenix Academy. It's dirty and we are still living in open (80 man) bays. I'm tired of climbing onto the top bunk. We are getting lots of classes on everything we will be doing as advisors. We only have a few days left here to learn, then it's out to the wild country to transition with the team already in place. On a positive note, I've already lost about 10 pounds and we aren't even working that hard yet!

I hope everyone is following the Status of Forces Agreement(SOFA) stuff in the news, as much as they're NOT covering it. Basically, the UN charter allowing the US to aid Iraq in security runs out at the end of the year. In every country we operate (Germany and Korea being the prime examples), there is a SOFA outlining what we can and cannot do. If the charter runs out, then we have no legal basis to operate here. Advisor teams will still be working, probably for a long time, since we are not classified as Combat Forces (even though we do fight alongside the Iraqis). Regardless, if the mandate runs out, it doesn't mean that all the troops come home. It's a sure bet that it will be signed, just no details yet about what it will have in it.

The address that went out is valid, but there is talk about moving the team to another location, so wait a few weeks if you have something to send. Otherwise, mail will be moving all over the country to find me.

The team is doing well, although we are very tired of the repetitive training. MAJ Damon Yourchisin, the team Executive Officer, announced today that his wife is pregnant with their second child, due in May. That makes three so far that are expecting kids while we are over here. That is going to cause some shift in the Leave dates that we can take, so when we figure it out, I'll let you know when you can expect me back. The end of tour time is still end of September.

The paradigm of security has really changed since the last time I was here. Before I was a policeman, politician, city planner, PR rep, contracting agent and liaison. This time, I'm a teacher, coach and mentor. Many of the Iraqis I'm working with are former Army officers who fought in the Iran-Iraq war in the 80's, the Desert Storm in the '90s and the last war in 03. There are no real grudges against the US for the two wars we fought (and won). If anything, they appreciate that we are now supporting and training them to be better. I'll be working with the Iraqi National Police, do an internet search on them for the latest news. I think that the Iraqi Assistance Group (my higher headquarters) keeps a website with news stories on it as well. They have no real equivilent in our country, but they would be kind of like if the govenor called up the National Guard for riot control or natural disaster.

I have some small things to send for the kids, I'll mail them out when I get settled and we start with the mail runs. Time is dragging by...not even the first 30 days done yet. We just want to get to where we are going and start working!!!

I love you all and miss you terribly. I can't wait for leave (whenever that is!).

Love,

Ross