A little tidbit from the last deployment

It's not often these days that I really think about my time in Iraq, but once in a while, usually while I am sitting in a class learning about something that would have made my job easier, I think about it all.

For instance, who would have thought that it is illegal for a Contracting Officer Represetitive to threated a contractor with a cure notice, termination, or bodily harm.

All kidding aside, here is a link to a recent developement on one of our largest most expensive projects. Check it out.

http://www4.army.mil/ocpa/read.php?story_id_key=8678

~Josh

More good times at the Seabee Prom!

Here is a picture of almost everyone in the wardroom. Mike Guzzi is the one having relations with the .50 caliber machine gun.

~Josh 

Inspection Day

Twice a year we Seabees have dress uniform inspections. This was one of those days. I don't know if Ronan knows what to think.

~Josh 

Chemical, Biological, and Radiological Training

Seabees hard at work learning the critical skills of surveying a chemical attack site.

~Josh 

Seabee Prom 2006 ;-)

Here is a picture of Kristin and me as we were enjoying our time at the Seabee Ball in Port Hueneme. Fun stuff.

~Josh 

The Furry Tractor

Here is a picture from this last Christmas when Rebecca, Peter, and their dog Rosie came to visit. Ronan was entralled and Rosie was very toleratnt.

~Josh 

Great Blog

I was sent a site from a very helpful guy who is living in Yokosuka, Japan. He is a fellow CEC Officer who moved over to Japan late last year. (I’ll be working with him in all actuality.)
He has a blog site as well documenting his experiences over there.
http://spaces.msn.com/rippleaj/

It’s a MSN blog, but I don’t hold that against him.

~Josh

Long over due update

Long over due update

To everyone who has checked this blog out hoping against hope that there will be something new posted I apologize.  It’s been a crazy couple of months.  

I have been extremely busy at work.  For a couple of months I was the Alfa Company Commander.  Talk about a busy job, but very rewarding nonetheless.  We developed a good Company training plan and began to implement it.  
Then the new LT came aboard and I was asked to take the back seat again and let the grownup drive.  LOL….  That’s how it feels being an Ensign sometimes.  The time honored tradition of not letting the Ensign do anything important unless there is a shortage of people.
But the management found a new job for me.  I became the Officer Seabee Combat Warfare Coordinator.  That has turned out to be a fairly rigorous job as there were four LTs who needed to go through the final qualification portion in the first month.  (It’s hard to believe that this job has only been going on for about three months.  (It feels more like six.)
Of course this is only a co-lateral function; I am still the Assistant Alfa Company Commander.  In the Army or Marine Corps, this would equate to the Company XO.  But it’s not and the job really isn’t the same.  I pretty much work the admin side, helping out with evals and such.  It’s been okay.  I have certainly learned a lot about writing evals, which is good.

A couple of weeks ago the Chief’s Mess and the Wardroom had our annual Chief’s and Officers Combat Skills class, which includes a week of classroom and a week out in the field.  (Chief’s and Officer’s style of course.)  It rained cats and dogs up at Fort Hunter-Ligget.  Digging run off water diversion ditches was about the high-lite of the week.  We had some good times though.

Through this all Kristin, Ronan, and I have been getting ready to move to Japan.  Our overseas suitability screening is finished, and the passports have been applied for.  I still have to sell my car though.  Rebecca is going to be buying Kristin’s car so we have that covered.

We’re looking forward to going up to Portland and seeing everyone for Rebecca’s Graduation Ceremony.  And we’re looking forward to Michael Marrero’s return from SWA here in the next month.

Well I think this is enough for now.  Have a great week.

~Josh