Afghanistan - Day 14 - Walking Around
I'm still sticking to my plan of walking at least 4 miles a day. That and smart choices at the DFAC have helped to evaporate some of my "gravity belt". As I've been walking around I've noticed three things that fascinate me:
1. It is the exception for a servicemember to be walking alone. It seems as if they always move in pairs or threes. Whether it is for their PT (Physical Training) runs, going to eat or heading to the job they are never alone. It is the "Battle Buddy" mentality that is so a part of the fabric of the military. There are messages everywhere about teamwork and supporting your teammates. This extends even to the most mundane of tasks such as walking around.
2. The "Multinational Coalition" is truly multinational. Since being here I have seen military personnel from Australia, New Zealand, England, France, Czech Republic, Poland, Canada, Jordan, Egypt, UAE and Pakistan in addition to soldiers in the Afghan National Army. There is also a Korean hospital here, and I have seen a German flag flying. There may be more; these are the ones I've seen so far.
3. The US servicemembers salute as they walk past each other. There are rules to the process. First, enlisted soldiers are not saluted - only officers. Second, if you are a lower ranking officer or an enlisted soldier you must salute the higher ranking officer and your salute will be returned. Using these rules I like to play a little game where I try to guess the rank of the person walking in front of me. I can identify their branch by the style of their uniform. Next, I watch who salutes first as someone walks by in the other direction. After a couple of salutes I look at the back of the neck to guess an approximate age and then guess their rank. Finally I speed up and pass them, looking back to see if I was right. Usually I can guess within one rank. Hey, it's something else to think about while walking those 4 miles.
Thank you for all who have asked about my toes. The tape is doing the trick, and my toes are just about as happy as when I first got here. Alas, three more days and I'll be on my way home!
1. It is the exception for a servicemember to be walking alone. It seems as if they always move in pairs or threes. Whether it is for their PT (Physical Training) runs, going to eat or heading to the job they are never alone. It is the "Battle Buddy" mentality that is so a part of the fabric of the military. There are messages everywhere about teamwork and supporting your teammates. This extends even to the most mundane of tasks such as walking around.
2. The "Multinational Coalition" is truly multinational. Since being here I have seen military personnel from Australia, New Zealand, England, France, Czech Republic, Poland, Canada, Jordan, Egypt, UAE and Pakistan in addition to soldiers in the Afghan National Army. There is also a Korean hospital here, and I have seen a German flag flying. There may be more; these are the ones I've seen so far.
3. The US servicemembers salute as they walk past each other. There are rules to the process. First, enlisted soldiers are not saluted - only officers. Second, if you are a lower ranking officer or an enlisted soldier you must salute the higher ranking officer and your salute will be returned. Using these rules I like to play a little game where I try to guess the rank of the person walking in front of me. I can identify their branch by the style of their uniform. Next, I watch who salutes first as someone walks by in the other direction. After a couple of salutes I look at the back of the neck to guess an approximate age and then guess their rank. Finally I speed up and pass them, looking back to see if I was right. Usually I can guess within one rank. Hey, it's something else to think about while walking those 4 miles.
Thank you for all who have asked about my toes. The tape is doing the trick, and my toes are just about as happy as when I first got here. Alas, three more days and I'll be on my way home!
