I am fortunate to have an extremely supportive family. My wife drove out to Kansas with me, so she is here to see me off, and my parents drove down from their home to say goodbye as well, so I've been able to spend yesterday and today with them in addition to my last-minute preparations for my flight. My brother even flew in all the way from the East Coast, a much-appreciated gesture. So at least my last few hours in the U.S. will be pleasant ones.

A lot of my guys are less fortunate, as their families are unable to make the trip to Fort Riley to see them off, and so their last few days are spent in the barracks largely alone. They did get to spend almost two weeks at home, for the most part, which is good, but it's tough to have to wait for the flight when your family isn't around to spend the time with you, especially since the clock doesn't start until the day our plane touches down in Kuwait.

We will spend about two weeks training in Kuwait before we go to Iraq. The Army has built a large base in Kuwait where soldiers can get some addition work before actually heading into the fight, and we will take full advantage of that opportunity. We'll then spend another two weeks near Baghdad at the COIN (counterinsurgency) academy getting some more advanced COIN training before we actually link up with the team we'll be replacing.

Once we're on the ground, we'll spend about two weeks conducting what is known as RIP/TOA: relief in place/transfer of authority. Since we want to minimize the disruption to our Iraqi unit, it's important that we learn as much as we can about how the team we're replacing operates so we can continue in that vein. That way, the Iraqis may be dealing with different faces, but they're not having to learn a whole new means of operating.

Unfortunately, I do not know how much internet access I will have in Kuwait, so I may not be able to update the site for a little while. So if I disappear for a week to ten days, it's just because I don't have good internet access. I hope to be able to get online there, however, so I can keep everyone posted on the training we get in Kuwait and Baghdad, as I think it's important for people to understand just how much work the Army puts into training soldiers before sending them in harm's way.

As an aside, thanks to everyone who has taken the time to comment; it is greatly appreciated. My next dispatch will be from the far side of the world.

READER COMMENTS

I wish you and your men a safe journey and a safe return home. You are all in my thoughts and prayers. Do good - Stay safe - Be strong.

Thank you and the many other brave men for your courageous service to this country. Be safe and God Bless our Armed Services.

I am enjoying your posts so much. It helps me to read everything that you are going through as my son is deploying to Iraq for the first time in August and I'm so hungry for detailed information.