what I told my replacement...

It is a good place to be if you have to deploy.

Today, The humidity of a couple weeks ago left with the wind, which right now is a steady 22knots gusting to 36.  At least it is only 106 degrees out, which believe it or not is nice comparatively.  Unfortunately the trade off for having no humidity is this consistent wind which burns your face and kicks up the sand.  Today is the worst sand I’ve seen – I had to walk with my hand covering my nose and mouth and pressing my sunglasses which have a rubber seal around them to my face so it didn’t get in my eyes. The temperature outside gets down to 100 at night... 115 during the day.  You don’t go outside except to go to lunch and the caddy unless you really need to.  It is 168 steps from my desk to the men’s caddy...  yours is a little farther.  You learn to walk from shade to shade.  While you are here, it will get cool and pleasant... I’m told.  In April when I arrived, it was actually chilly at night.

When you’re off work, you’re in PT gear-either the new AF PT gear that doesn’t really fit anybody appropriately or you’re own.  But it’s gotta be PT gear--basically elastic waist, mid-thigh or lower, no pockets (just to give you the visual).  Everybody looks bad.  You don’t even try.

You get to go off base as much as you want or can... we try to go off every Sunday night for dinner as Sundays are slow.  There’s a large mall and good deals on gold, pearls and other things in the souqs (shops).  You must wear pants or jeans (women can wear a skirt at/below knees) with closed-toed shoes and a collared shirt with short or long sleeves (no sleeveless).  The idea is to look neat and dressed.  I suggest Linen as you can dress it up for when you go to the Embassy - suggest at least 2 civilian outfits... and don’t forget the shoes to go with it.

We live in long, 30-room trailers.  You will likely have a roommate.  Two (bunk) beds, two wall lockers for hanging stuff and shelves, a small refrigerator and two folding chairs.  Some people unbunk the beds, but honestly the rooms are too small for that.  Just bring a clip on light so you don’t tick off your roommate with the overhead light... seems like everybody’s roommate works the opposite shift as them.

The A/C gets cold, so bring some warm PJs.  The bathroom facilities are in large “Cadillacs.”  Women share 6 showers, 8 sinks and 15 toilets.  I’m told there is a 5 minute window in our ladies caddy that actually has a line for the showers, so not so bad.  The caddies are conveniently located around the camp.  They are not just trailers, actually better constructed than that - tile floors...bring shower shoes... the only thing you’re at risk of here is athlete’s foot.  It’s not too bad and there’s plenty of privacy for shower stalls from main toilet/sink area.  Buy yourself a shower caddy or cosmetic bag or whatever it takes to truck your shampoo, creams, hair products, etc.  to the shower each time.  I do part of my prep in the bathroom, part in my room.  And yes, it’s a little inconvenient in the middle of the night when you have to go to the bathroom, but we’re all in the same boat so you deal.  The electricity in the Cadillac is 110 so your blow dryer and/or curling iron, etc., will work fine in there.  The rooms in the trailer are all 220 so it requires converters and adapters, which are available here.

You won’t need to bring sheets or a blanket, that’s supplied, but they’re nasty... I brought 300 count twin sheets and it made a huge difference.  You’ll also want to buy here or bring an egg crate unless you like sleeping on concrete mattresses.  Bring your own pillow if you have a preference for one, but they are supplied here as well.  You’ll need a laundry bag for carting your dirty laundry back and forth to the laundry service-which is FREE.  It’s 3-day turnaround, and they wash and press uniforms, so don’t bother with an iron.  Everything else is “neatly” folded and packaged in plastic for pick-up.  There is also another laundry/dry cleaning service available, but you pay for that.  I’ve never used it.  Basically, I brought clothes that didn’t matter; i.e., I’m going to toss them out and not bring home.  Don’t bring your good stuff, ‘cause the laundry service will boil it all together in scalding hot water.  Everything will take on the hue of black socks and T-shirts (unless you go white and brown). 

The base is split into three parts, but Coalition Compound is where you sleep.

In CC you have: Large BX - but bring your own items - they run out fast of things and may not have your desired brand, giant swimming pool, Pizza Hut (its not the same), Burger King, Subway, Dairy Queen/Orange Julius, 31 flavors, Spa with masseuse, Great gym, Large outdoor pavilion called the Bra for obvious reasons when you see it, Large movie theater with up to date movies, Library, A couple of cafes, A starbucks style coffee house, Gift stores, And lots more…

The office usually all eat lunch and dinner together too unless we’re annoyed at each other - which is often (you really get tired of the same people every groundhog day)... Our side has a work out facility too.

We share a ford explorer... we usually all ride in to work together, eat breakfast at work (our chow hall is better) and ride home together... hours are 0700 - 1900 ish... very flex.  We are 24/7 though, so you will have to work weird hours on occasion... it is incredibly annoying on weekends when you’re at work at 9pm trying to get something done and America is picnicking.

Your workspace is a 3 foot stretch of desk crammed with 2 monitors, 2 computers and a phone... you sit on top of the other 2 Colonels and it is hotter than hell .

I have about 4 weeks left here… I can’t wait.

d