Day 118

After a six day shift at the JSS our mortar team is back at camp Taji for six days off. There was an air assault mission in which two of our team members helped raid a number of houses to confiscate weapons and capture suspected terrorists. I didn't go because they didn't need more people. I had mixed feelings about this; it sounded kind of exciting and boring at the same time. At first were told that our mortar team would set up outside of the village to fire white illumination rounds to light up the sky. We would have to wait a few hours to fire only a few rounds and not witness any of the action. Of course it's much safer to be removed from the actual raid. I don't get worked up over these missions because the details change as the event gets closer. There is continuous planning and changes to the structure of the mission. So I sit and wait until it's actually time to go and my team leaders give me direct orders. Other teams say they've been working very hard in comparison to us. a mortar team for a different company said they did two missions in addition to the air assault mission I described and they were exhausted. So maybe we're just cooling our jets. I don't mind, that gives me time to read books and stay in shape. Boredom has become my main concern. We did provide fire support for Bravo company one day last week. they called for fire some time in the afternoon. I'm not sure what the target was but it was for real this time.

Specialist Bowles, a member of the other mortar team on our squad will receive an article 15 for an accidental discharge into a clearing barrel. He didn't clear his weapon properly upon returning to the gate and fired off a round still in the chamber. It was unlucky that the company executive officer was standing behind him when it happened. So he'll be demoted and lose some money. This is another case where I don't pay attention to the details until it actually happens.

Guys have started going on leave. Initially leave was for 14 days, but they have extended it to 18. This is in addition to the week or so you must spend in Kuwait before shipping back, so you're really out of the action for a month or so. There are also guys that are going home for this or that reason, like settling a divorce or a family member's funeral. I go on leave in October. My destination is the Dominican Republic.