The Electric Strawberry

So I finally can get on and do this.  I apologize about the delay, connectivity, like indoor plumbing, is almost non-existent in this part of Afghanistan.  I have been here almost 7 weeks now and this country has lots of dust, sand, heat and narcotics trafficking.  I only like one of those things, and it usually needs clear, blue water and a surfable break next to it for me to really enjoy it (and no, the answer is not narcotic trafficking, Dico) 

Since I have been here for over a month I now qualify to wear a patch on the right sleeve of my Army Combat Uniform.  Every Army unit has a designated patch that is worn on the left sleeve as part of the normal uniform.  After 30 days in a combat zone a soldier is authorized to wear the patch of the unit he or she is serving with on the right sleeve.  The soldier is then allowed to wear that patch on the right sleeve even after leaving the deployment or leaving to serve with another unit.  This used to be called the Shoulder Sleeve Insignia--Former Wartime Service, now called the 'combat patch'.  It's also called earning your 'bookend' signifying the same patch on both sleeves, or for some it's my 'been there, done that' symbol.

Mine looks like this, and it's the symbol of Tropic(Arctic in my case) Lightning for the 25th Infantry Division:


http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/images/25id.gif

Connectivity is pretty terrible, so uploading an actual photo was a non-option, sorry to have to link the pic.
The nickname for this patch is the electric strawberry, which I think is pretty self explanatory.  Tropic Lightning is where the title for the McConaughey flick Tropic Thunder comes from, and the unit earned this nickname since the division is headquartered in Hawaii. 

Thanks again for anyone who has stuck through this blog hiatus.  I track 18 followers as of the last time I actually posted anything.  If you are all still there, thanks.  I can't promise that connectivity will get any better, but I will continue to keep writing as often as I am able if anyone is willing to keep reading.