That is what I am doing currently, hurry up and wait. My day started at 0300. I got dressed for my day and just for kicks decided to count how many pieces of clothing I put on. Not counting the belt, I have 10 items on. Layers are a good thing. We were supposed to be picked up at 0415 to go to the terminal. That turned into a 0630 ride. I have no idea why. At the terminal we were sold a box lunch. Kind of a monopoly really since I am not going to eat anything unless I brought it. Somehow we managed to get on our buses to go out to the C-130 on time. My backpack weighs 50 pounds at least. I'm trying not to tip over when I walk. The loadmaster gets on the bus to give us our safety briefing. He's from Alabama so I feel right at home with his twang. Next we start loading onto the plane. C-130 seating is fun. There is a long fusalage with seating along the walls. Then they put a center section and have seating there as well. In the end, you have "friends" on both sides of you and across from you. They have seat belts but I don't see the need since you couldn't move if you wanted to. I've shoved the food from the boxes into pockets and eat from time to time.
The flight from Anchorage to Kotzebue is 2 hours for those of you wanting to plan your next vacation. As we approach I start putting on my yaktrax (wire coils on the bottom of boots for traction), parka, gloves, and hat. We step off the plane and the wind is howling. My first thought is that I have landed on the planet Hoth from Star Wars. My next thought is holy crap. They directed us to a shelter area. The ARF continues to be as organized as previously. We are told various instructions that are then changed. I board a bus like I am told and taken to the National Guard Armory. Incredible that there is an ANG unit here. We put our stuff down and wait. The safety briefing starts an hour later. Midway through, they ask if there are any doctors there. Of course, where else would I be? Three of us step forward. You aren't supposed to be here they say. How did you get here? You drove me here. So I grab my backpack and gear and get trucked over to the local clinic. We are supposed to be getting our EMR briefing and password for the computer system.
We arrive in the clinic and introductions are made. They start splitting us up into groups and training. Folks going forward to smaller villages get to go first. I'm staying in Kotzebue so I am in the last group. It's now 1330. No food given since the lunch box was sold to us. No sign of where we will be staying so I am carrying all my gear. Thank goodness a captain discovered the wifi in the clinic so I can write to you and check email. I learned an important lesson in the Army - pogey bait. It's a great slang term for food you always carry with you on deployments. So I am enjoying beef jerky and sour gummy worms. A lack of planning on someone else's part does not constitute an emergency on my part.
The flight from Anchorage to Kotzebue is 2 hours for those of you wanting to plan your next vacation. As we approach I start putting on my yaktrax (wire coils on the bottom of boots for traction), parka, gloves, and hat. We step off the plane and the wind is howling. My first thought is that I have landed on the planet Hoth from Star Wars. My next thought is holy crap. They directed us to a shelter area. The ARF continues to be as organized as previously. We are told various instructions that are then changed. I board a bus like I am told and taken to the National Guard Armory. Incredible that there is an ANG unit here. We put our stuff down and wait. The safety briefing starts an hour later. Midway through, they ask if there are any doctors there. Of course, where else would I be? Three of us step forward. You aren't supposed to be here they say. How did you get here? You drove me here. So I grab my backpack and gear and get trucked over to the local clinic. We are supposed to be getting our EMR briefing and password for the computer system.
We arrive in the clinic and introductions are made. They start splitting us up into groups and training. Folks going forward to smaller villages get to go first. I'm staying in Kotzebue so I am in the last group. It's now 1330. No food given since the lunch box was sold to us. No sign of where we will be staying so I am carrying all my gear. Thank goodness a captain discovered the wifi in the clinic so I can write to you and check email. I learned an important lesson in the Army - pogey bait. It's a great slang term for food you always carry with you on deployments. So I am enjoying beef jerky and sour gummy worms. A lack of planning on someone else's part does not constitute an emergency on my part.
No comments:
Post a Comment