L-I-V-I-N

So part of the pre-deployment process is sitting through briefing after briefing about where you are going, what you will be doing and how you will get there.  Today was different though because today we were supposed to bring our families so they could get some more information. 

Now the information presented was no different, and the one theme that has not changed is just how much is unknown about this deployment.  But they always show pictures of the map of Afghanistan and today the leaders of the brief spent a bunch of time going over information about what would happen if families need to get in touch with their soldier while he or she is in "the box" (another deployment euphemism that has nothing to do with corrugated cardboard,  temporary storage,  a colloquial term for female anatomy, and/or a terrible movie starring Cameron Diaz and James Marsden).

 What was different about this briefing (most civilians refer to these gatherings as meetings) was how open and not secret it was.  Normally when there are no spouses or family, you have to turn in your cell phone prior to taking your seat to ensure that no information leaves the room and you are reminded constantly about operations security or OPSEC.

The last briefing of that variety I attended outlined all the rules that the U.S. forces must follow since we are part of a NATO mission and we fall under the ISAF - the International Security Assistance Force. 

This briefing was two hours long and consisted of all the things we are not allowed to do.  Most of it had to do with the difference between U.S.  culture and the other NATO countries and the Pashto and Muslim culture of Afghanistan.  This list of don'ts was pretty extensive and included zero tolerance for alcohol, pornography, and interacting with Pashto women.  Many other things were covered to include what to do with human remains and how to dispose of sewage waste.  I was reminded of Matthew McConaughey's character David Woooderson: 

"The older you get, the more rules they are going to try and get you to follow. You just gotta keep on livin', man. L-I-V-I-N."
So after two hours of everything and anything that you can't do in Afghanistan, I have to agree, take it one day at a time and just keep on livin.

All for now.

Pete


speaking of just keep on livin', check this out.

http://jklivin.com/index.php