2006, a year in review:

January and February of 2006 were fairly uneventful. In January, I knew that I was going to be deployed and suspected that it may be to Afghanistan. Way back in 2005, I graduated from my military intelligence officer basic course and knew that it would just be a matter of time before I was mobilized. The Army assured me that I would go to its premier language school and learn Arabic before I deployed. Yeah, that never happened. I tried to enjoy my last month or so at Eastern and was reminded by the people there how great they really are. My coworkers, as well as the students, were very supportive. By the second week of February, my focus was narrowed to three things. I was going to enjoy myself, visit all of the friends and family that I could before leaving, and prep my affairs for an absence of up to two years. I had a good time.

Come March, I was at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. I was there "training for war" and was fortunate enough to make it down to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to see my mother and my aunt. Thanks to my inoculations at Fort Bragg I am immune to many of the world's most spectacular diseases. If any of you are unfortunate enough to need to be inoculated against smallpox in the near future, run and hide under the nearest bed. Holy crap, that one taught me the true meaning of "sick and tired." I got a few pair of the new Army Combat Uniform and some very nice equipment that was part of the rapid fielding initiative. That stuff included Rocky boots and Oakley sunglasses and other items regularly being purchased by soldiers with their own money to better equip themselves.

By the end of April I was in Baghdad. I had been the military intelligence staff officer for the 414 Civil Affairs Battalion while at Fort Bragg. After a few days in Baghdad, Camp liberty to be more specific, I was transferred to the Multinational Division Baghdad staff. There I was assigned to the civil affairs staff officer to the commanding general of the Fourth Infantry Division. I helped write orders directing brigade combat teams in civil affairs operations for a few months. When a particular one of those operations kicked off, I was sent down to the Fourth Brigade Combat Team of the Fourth Infantry Division to support them. I lived at Forward Operating Base Falcon and worked at an Iraqi town hall in the neighborhood of Doura. The Fourth Infantry Division was replaced by the First Cavalry Division and I was recalled from my liaison position. Back at Camp Liberty, I returned to work on the general staff. My new title was Civil Affairs Battle Captain, and I tracked civil military operations in and around Baghdad. I also wrote reports, scripts, and briefs for the division and corps commanders.

It was an eventful year, albeit not an enjoyable one. I learned many things in 2006 and suspected I will learn many more in 2007. I send my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported me thus far and my praise and respect to all those who served before me.

May God grant the nations of Man the ability to someday prevent such horrors from ever coming to be.