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posted by LARSEN FAMILY BLOGGER'S @ 8:49 PM
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Hillary in Afghanistan Aug 2009
Letter from Hillary Stationed at Bagram Air Force Base Afghanistan
Aug 8 2009
Hello again!
The past week has been very busy with learning about all the construction projects going on around base, all those waiting to be constructed, and all those that need to be constructed after that..... The most difficult part however has been learning how to "speak Army" as they do everything A LOT different than the Air Force. Today was spent doing a lot of catch-up paperwork, meaning pretty much sitting at the computer all day (ugh!) but ya gotta do what ya gotta do I guess :)
The photos are from the top of a guard tower (also pictured - note once again that it was built out of shipping containers) on the eastern side of the flightline. The photo I'm in shows the eastern perimeter fence and some abandoned mud brick villages off base. We're completely surrounded by very very VERY big mountains (the Hindu Kush range which are kinda the north-western most part of the Himalayas) on the order of 14,000 - 19,000 ft tall while the base has an elevation of roughly 6,000ft. The only disappointing thing right now is that it's so dusty and hazy and smoggy that you cannot get a clear view of them whatsoever. Folks say that it clears up a lot in the winter and the mountains are much prettier covered in snow, and come November/December I'm sure I'll get to see it!
As for the rest of the photos looking around base, there's not a whole lot to see other than a hodge podge collection of some brown tents, some brown plywood B-Huts, some brown-ish white K-spans, some brown Pre-engineered steel buildings, and some brown RLB's (the buildings made from shipping containers). The airplane is one of what seems like billions of C-130s that are in and out of here every day, along with the trillions of C-17s and helicopters (or at least is seems like that many when they take off really loudly at 2 am....). Bagram is the primary mobility hub for all of Afghanistan, and that means tons of people and cargo in and out, 24/7, and with not enough real estate to spread things out, we all end up living right next to the flightline. BUT, I really can't complain because at least I'm not in a tent!!!! ANY sound insulation is better than none :)
Time to wrap this up and head to bed, so I hope this finds you well and enjoying summer!!
~Hill
Aug 8 2009
Hello again!
The past week has been very busy with learning about all the construction projects going on around base, all those waiting to be constructed, and all those that need to be constructed after that..... The most difficult part however has been learning how to "speak Army" as they do everything A LOT different than the Air Force. Today was spent doing a lot of catch-up paperwork, meaning pretty much sitting at the computer all day (ugh!) but ya gotta do what ya gotta do I guess :)
The photos are from the top of a guard tower (also pictured - note once again that it was built out of shipping containers) on the eastern side of the flightline. The photo I'm in shows the eastern perimeter fence and some abandoned mud brick villages off base. We're completely surrounded by very very VERY big mountains (the Hindu Kush range which are kinda the north-western most part of the Himalayas) on the order of 14,000 - 19,000 ft tall while the base has an elevation of roughly 6,000ft. The only disappointing thing right now is that it's so dusty and hazy and smoggy that you cannot get a clear view of them whatsoever. Folks say that it clears up a lot in the winter and the mountains are much prettier covered in snow, and come November/December I'm sure I'll get to see it!
As for the rest of the photos looking around base, there's not a whole lot to see other than a hodge podge collection of some brown tents, some brown plywood B-Huts, some brown-ish white K-spans, some brown Pre-engineered steel buildings, and some brown RLB's (the buildings made from shipping containers). The airplane is one of what seems like billions of C-130s that are in and out of here every day, along with the trillions of C-17s and helicopters (or at least is seems like that many when they take off really loudly at 2 am....). Bagram is the primary mobility hub for all of Afghanistan, and that means tons of people and cargo in and out, 24/7, and with not enough real estate to spread things out, we all end up living right next to the flightline. BUT, I really can't complain because at least I'm not in a tent!!!! ANY sound insulation is better than none :)
Time to wrap this up and head to bed, so I hope this finds you well and enjoying summer!!
~Hill
Labels: Thanks HILL
posted by LARSEN FAMILY BLOGGER'S @ 3:25 PM
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