I'm at the Baghdad Airport. We're flying out on the 17th to Kuwait and the 19th to CONUS. Should land in NJ some time on the 20th (Insha'laah). Not sure when we'll get to Riley yet, but we should know on the 16th. YAY!
Love
Ross
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Live, From Baghdad Iraq!!!
I've missed the family terribly this week. COL Abati is getting ready to go home, and all his conversations are getting focused on seeing his family again.
So, I'm doing well. Still working long hours, still spending every day with the Iraqis and still living in the same place. I haven't weighed myself lately, but I'm still losing weight. My pants look like I should be in a Subway commercial, I can pull them out about 3 inches from my waist. Damon thinks that I should take a picture and send it back home. I've really noticed in my face, it's looking leaner.
Damon and I were sitting with the Iraqi gate guards last night, enjoying some chai (arabic for tea) and conversation. They asked what rank we were, and were shocked when we told them Ra'aid (Major). They couldn't comprehend the fact that American officers respect and value the enlisted man. I think that they are all envious of the fact that we can feel comfortable sitting and talking with them, when their own leaders treat them no better than tools.
A word on the chai. For those who don't know, the Iraqis drink chai with a TON of sugar. The cups we drink from are SMALL (espresso sized), and they fill the cup halfway with sugar before adding the extremely hot tea. Literally three scoops for a three ounce cup. Diabetes is a rampant disease here...
So, we move on, doing what we can to affect positive change. I love and miss you. Our phones have been down for a while, so I can't call, and FOB Shield doesn't have a phone center that we can get to. But, they should be up soon, hopefully.
Love,
Ross
So, I'm doing well. Still working long hours, still spending every day with the Iraqis and still living in the same place. I haven't weighed myself lately, but I'm still losing weight. My pants look like I should be in a Subway commercial, I can pull them out about 3 inches from my waist. Damon thinks that I should take a picture and send it back home. I've really noticed in my face, it's looking leaner.
Damon and I were sitting with the Iraqi gate guards last night, enjoying some chai (arabic for tea) and conversation. They asked what rank we were, and were shocked when we told them Ra'aid (Major). They couldn't comprehend the fact that American officers respect and value the enlisted man. I think that they are all envious of the fact that we can feel comfortable sitting and talking with them, when their own leaders treat them no better than tools.
A word on the chai. For those who don't know, the Iraqis drink chai with a TON of sugar. The cups we drink from are SMALL (espresso sized), and they fill the cup halfway with sugar before adding the extremely hot tea. Literally three scoops for a three ounce cup. Diabetes is a rampant disease here...
So, we move on, doing what we can to affect positive change. I love and miss you. Our phones have been down for a while, so I can't call, and FOB Shield doesn't have a phone center that we can get to. But, they should be up soon, hopefully.
Love,
Ross
Friday, February 6, 2009
Greetings from Baghdad!
Greetings from Baghdad!
Well, the election surges are over, and the votes are in. All in all, the hard work that the Iraqis and Americans put in was well worth it.
What exactly happened and why was it so great? FIrst, there was no violence(or very very little). The insurgents just couldn't do anything. Second, the Iraqis planned and executed the whole thing by themselves. They took care of 90% of the security, all of the voting, and did so in an organized manner. This is truly a viable democracy, the first in the middle east. The Brits have met all conditions for withdrawal, and will do so by the summer. Sooner, rather than later, I think that the US will follow suit, maybe in a year or so. We still have a long way to go, but the future looks bright.
I'm working much harder than I did in 2004. Building a nation is much harder than running patrols and raids. In fact, I'm working so hard that I find myself in danger of burning out. Our team is having problems with personality issues and folks not getting along. It's disenhartening, but I'm still optimistic that we can get through all this. I just keep looking forward to leave in about four and a half months. I really don't care what we do, just that I get to spend every waking moment with the wife and kids.
After that, its a short hop of time and I will be home!
Love,
Ross
Well, the election surges are over, and the votes are in. All in all, the hard work that the Iraqis and Americans put in was well worth it.
What exactly happened and why was it so great? FIrst, there was no violence(or very very little). The insurgents just couldn't do anything. Second, the Iraqis planned and executed the whole thing by themselves. They took care of 90% of the security, all of the voting, and did so in an organized manner. This is truly a viable democracy, the first in the middle east. The Brits have met all conditions for withdrawal, and will do so by the summer. Sooner, rather than later, I think that the US will follow suit, maybe in a year or so. We still have a long way to go, but the future looks bright.
I'm working much harder than I did in 2004. Building a nation is much harder than running patrols and raids. In fact, I'm working so hard that I find myself in danger of burning out. Our team is having problems with personality issues and folks not getting along. It's disenhartening, but I'm still optimistic that we can get through all this. I just keep looking forward to leave in about four and a half months. I really don't care what we do, just that I get to spend every waking moment with the wife and kids.
After that, its a short hop of time and I will be home!
Love,
Ross
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Seasons Greetings From Iraq!!!
Hi!
Happy New Year to everyone! I was out on mission yesterday (the 1st) from about 0600 to 2200, so I was of course tired last night. Things were(relatively) peaceful yesterday. The Security Agreement kicked in as well, so there were lots of ceremonies and things going on. The Iraqis have full responsibility for thier internal security now, with Coalition forces in support and advising roles. Our Soldiers are still out working and patrolling, but they don't do anything without the Iraqi Security Forces along, leading instead of following.
I was actually able to get 8 hours of sleep last night! I feel better, refreshed and ready to move out! The rest of the day will be spent turning in laundry, wandering over to the Iraqi HQ and general relaxation.
I'm including some pictures with our Iraqi counterparts that we took during the Christmas lunch. There's me and Sergeant Major Achmed, and me with LTC Torrence, Colonel Khalid (the guy in the uniform) and LTC Adel (wearing the business suit). COL Khalid is what I refer to as my "primary counterpart". He is the division operations officer. LTC Adel is the deputy intellegence officer and SGM Achmed is the operations sergeant major. Great guys.
Well, I have to get to work, so have a great 2009. Hey...this is the year that I get to come home! Already more than 3 months down! WOO HOO!
Love,
Ross
Happy New Year to everyone! I was out on mission yesterday (the 1st) from about 0600 to 2200, so I was of course tired last night. Things were(relatively) peaceful yesterday. The Security Agreement kicked in as well, so there were lots of ceremonies and things going on. The Iraqis have full responsibility for thier internal security now, with Coalition forces in support and advising roles. Our Soldiers are still out working and patrolling, but they don't do anything without the Iraqi Security Forces along, leading instead of following.
I was actually able to get 8 hours of sleep last night! I feel better, refreshed and ready to move out! The rest of the day will be spent turning in laundry, wandering over to the Iraqi HQ and general relaxation.
I'm including some pictures with our Iraqi counterparts that we took during the Christmas lunch. There's me and Sergeant Major Achmed, and me with LTC Torrence, Colonel Khalid (the guy in the uniform) and LTC Adel (wearing the business suit). COL Khalid is what I refer to as my "primary counterpart". He is the division operations officer. LTC Adel is the deputy intellegence officer and SGM Achmed is the operations sergeant major. Great guys.
Well, I have to get to work, so have a great 2009. Hey...this is the year that I get to come home! Already more than 3 months down! WOO HOO!
Love,
Ross
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving
Hi all.
Well, as of today it's officially 2 months of deployment. Yeesh, longest 2 months of my life so far. The first one went so much faster. But, I'm not doing as many patrols now, so it was bound to be more boring.
Even though I'm not doing more patrols, I was still out almost all day yesterday. Instead of securing the city, we go to Iraqi Security Forces meetings and planning sessions. We were at the Old Ministry of Defense complex yesterday (yeah, even though it was Thanksgiving) for a LOONG session of planning. Mostly, we feel like we're the security detail for the boss, since he has to chase his counterpart all over the eastern side of the city. Anyway, we got back in time for a KBR special Thanksgiving feast (not as good as I remember it, but still filling), we played some games that were traditional for some of the guys, mostly involving dice and a lot of yelling. Then I passed out for about 10 hours in a turkey-induced coma.
Today is Friday, and usually we take some time to rest and do maintenance on our HUGE trucks. Today we will be cleaning up some rooms in the Iraqi compound that we are using for a sort of command post/resting place. Our FOB will be closing sometime next year, so we have to find a new place to live anyway. Our new Colonel is coming in a few days, and bringing with him great change. He's a Special Forces officer, and this type of mission is his bread and butter.
So, things are settled, only to get shaken up again, to settle, only to get shaken up again (the Colonel will only be with us for three months or so). The team's spirits are okay, we are all just missing family. We'll see how the SOFA transition works out, and if the violence spikes (it usually does in February, anyway...people get bored I guess).
Ross
Well, as of today it's officially 2 months of deployment. Yeesh, longest 2 months of my life so far. The first one went so much faster. But, I'm not doing as many patrols now, so it was bound to be more boring.
Even though I'm not doing more patrols, I was still out almost all day yesterday. Instead of securing the city, we go to Iraqi Security Forces meetings and planning sessions. We were at the Old Ministry of Defense complex yesterday (yeah, even though it was Thanksgiving) for a LOONG session of planning. Mostly, we feel like we're the security detail for the boss, since he has to chase his counterpart all over the eastern side of the city. Anyway, we got back in time for a KBR special Thanksgiving feast (not as good as I remember it, but still filling), we played some games that were traditional for some of the guys, mostly involving dice and a lot of yelling. Then I passed out for about 10 hours in a turkey-induced coma.
Today is Friday, and usually we take some time to rest and do maintenance on our HUGE trucks. Today we will be cleaning up some rooms in the Iraqi compound that we are using for a sort of command post/resting place. Our FOB will be closing sometime next year, so we have to find a new place to live anyway. Our new Colonel is coming in a few days, and bringing with him great change. He's a Special Forces officer, and this type of mission is his bread and butter.
So, things are settled, only to get shaken up again, to settle, only to get shaken up again (the Colonel will only be with us for three months or so). The team's spirits are okay, we are all just missing family. We'll see how the SOFA transition works out, and if the violence spikes (it usually does in February, anyway...people get bored I guess).
Ross
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Here for a While
Well, we've moved to our new location, FOB Shield. It's about one mile from the international zone (the downtown embassy area). We can get mail, but we don't get it here, we will make mail runs every so often (couple of times a week). The mailing address is:
MAJ Ross Kilburn
Class 52; URF 47666
FOB Union III
APO AE 09348
The house we are in is nice, not great but nice. We're getting internet(probably) in our rooms, so I'm looking into a service called Skype. It does calls from your computer to telephones for 2.1 Cents a minute. If you call a computer with Skype, you can do VTC for free. You would have to get a webcam and a microphone if you wanted to set the home computer up. They cost about $10 or so now. Let me know if this is something you want to do and I'll look some more. Most cameras are plug-and-play now with some simple software to load.
I'm doing well. The dust and pollution are causing me to wake up with cotton mouth and headaches. That's normal for the first month or so. You may notice in the address that we have moved up to the division level. I'm "mentoring" a general now! We get to meet them tomorrow, sometime. Iraqi's have a loose notion of time, often will be late by a few hours for a simple meeting. We stay flexible and try not to let it get under the skin too much. Anyway, the immediate impact, apart from the move, is that LTC Torrence will no longer be the Team Chief. We are getting a full COL in a week or so to be the Team Chief, not sure who he is...all we know is that he's a Special Forces COL. The guys are doing good, just tired of moving around. We all want a little space to call our own.
Love,
Ross
MAJ Ross Kilburn
Class 52; URF 47666
FOB Union III
APO AE 09348
The house we are in is nice, not great but nice. We're getting internet(probably) in our rooms, so I'm looking into a service called Skype. It does calls from your computer to telephones for 2.1 Cents a minute. If you call a computer with Skype, you can do VTC for free. You would have to get a webcam and a microphone if you wanted to set the home computer up. They cost about $10 or so now. Let me know if this is something you want to do and I'll look some more. Most cameras are plug-and-play now with some simple software to load.
I'm doing well. The dust and pollution are causing me to wake up with cotton mouth and headaches. That's normal for the first month or so. You may notice in the address that we have moved up to the division level. I'm "mentoring" a general now! We get to meet them tomorrow, sometime. Iraqi's have a loose notion of time, often will be late by a few hours for a simple meeting. We stay flexible and try not to let it get under the skin too much. Anyway, the immediate impact, apart from the move, is that LTC Torrence will no longer be the Team Chief. We are getting a full COL in a week or so to be the Team Chief, not sure who he is...all we know is that he's a Special Forces COL. The guys are doing good, just tired of moving around. We all want a little space to call our own.
Love,
Ross
Saturday, October 18, 2008
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
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
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Safe in Kuwait
I'm here at Camp Buhreing and I'm doing well. We got in the country late last night and had to sit around the airfield for about four hours until we got permission to leave. We stopped over in Reykjavik, Iceland and Budapest, Hungary (over three hour delay here!) on our way over. The total trip time was about 26 hours. I'm still jet lagged, since it's about 8 hours ahead of Kansas here.
I'll be here for just over a week, then it's on to the Phoenix Academy up north. A week there and we will start working. I'll be checking email probably every other day, it's pay for time here. Kuwait is very different from what I saw a few years ago. There's a huge PX, several fast food restaurants, a Starbucks...and people still complain that this place is the pits!!! It looks pretty good to me. I'll have some photos to send soon, and I'm trying to find something for the kids, the local vendor marts are not as great as I remember.
I miss you and the kids so much already. September 28th is the magic day...I promised myself that I wouldn't track that stuff, just concentrate on what I'm supposed to be doing. Stay safe and take care. I love you all.
Ross
I'll be here for just over a week, then it's on to the Phoenix Academy up north. A week there and we will start working. I'll be checking email probably every other day, it's pay for time here. Kuwait is very different from what I saw a few years ago. There's a huge PX, several fast food restaurants, a Starbucks...and people still complain that this place is the pits!!! It looks pretty good to me. I'll have some photos to send soon, and I'm trying to find something for the kids, the local vendor marts are not as great as I remember.
I miss you and the kids so much already. September 28th is the magic day...I promised myself that I wouldn't track that stuff, just concentrate on what I'm supposed to be doing. Stay safe and take care. I love you all.
Ross
Friday, September 26, 2008
Deployment Timeline
Hello all,
I wanted to make sure everyone has Ross' timeline for deployment. Last night we drove him to Ft. Riley which is where he will be leaving from. Today and tomorrow he is going through the last minute things before his unit leaves. They should get on a plane Saturday or Sunday. When they arrive in Kuwait they will have about one month of training before going into Iraq. He will have plenty of access to the internet when he gets to Iraq, but not much in Kuwait. You can send him a note at ross.kilburn@us.army.mil I don't yet have an address for him. I'm not sure when I will, but I'll pass it on to you when I get it.
The kids and I are fine. Gabriella has been more emotional than the boys about missing her Daddy, but they all miss him in their own way. We try to stay busy, but not too busy. We have a great support system here.
Love,
Christy
I wanted to make sure everyone has Ross' timeline for deployment. Last night we drove him to Ft. Riley which is where he will be leaving from. Today and tomorrow he is going through the last minute things before his unit leaves. They should get on a plane Saturday or Sunday. When they arrive in Kuwait they will have about one month of training before going into Iraq. He will have plenty of access to the internet when he gets to Iraq, but not much in Kuwait. You can send him a note at ross.kilburn@us.army.mil I don't yet have an address for him. I'm not sure when I will, but I'll pass it on to you when I get it.
The kids and I are fine. Gabriella has been more emotional than the boys about missing her Daddy, but they all miss him in their own way. We try to stay busy, but not too busy. We have a great support system here.
Love,
Christy
Monday, June 2, 2008
We've Arrived in Kansas!
Well, we clicked our heels three times and magically arrived in Kansas. We drove into town yesterday and today we looked at a few houses and decided on this one. It has 5 bedrooms, a big eat-in kitchen with an island, a nice yard and it is on a cul-de-sac. We have had an evening thunderstorm every night, but no tornadoes.
We miss you,
Ross, Christy and kids
We miss you,
Ross, Christy and kids
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