Bob Villa in Afghanistan...not really....

So, we have begun some remodeling projects on one of my ANP stations. It is quite fun, as it gives us some new things to do besides just training them. We do love to train these guys, and they like the training, but it is fun to manual labor, and build some stuff. One of my guys is really involved in building a new wall for the compound. He has the concrete mixing down pretty good. I am working on a new room to put the weapons in. I am pretty sure that none of the people at the station have ever seen any cordless power tools. They were pretty amazed by them. One officer even filmed me while I was cutting some plexi glass. The chief was in awe of the set and asked where he could get one. I tried to explain to him about Home Depot, and he wanted to go. I told him that if he comes to the U.S. that I would take him there. It is still cold here, lows in the 20's at night and highs around 50 during the day. It has been sunny, which helps, but the wind comes off the mountains and chills us pretty good. Thankfully we have some good cold weather gear to help insulate us. Oh, the little girl is the stations cooks daughter. She is always running around and getting candy from everyone. Here name is Shanaz. Well, duty calls, so I need to keep it short. More updates to come soon. Russ.

Are you ready for some flag football!!!!

So, we played our 4th game today, and won of course. I think the score was like 10-3. It was a easy game, which is good because I was sore from playing the day before. Our team is very diverse. We hav a good mix of people who can run, catch, throw, and play defense. If you have not seen the link on the right, then check out the creator of the TFL (Torkham Football League), on his own site. We all have fun, win or loose and it is a great way to kinda relax and blow off some steam in a productive way. Of course there is some trash talk, except from the "nice guys", but it is kept to a limit. I play center, (that's me in the tan shirt snapping the ball) as I can snap the ball, create open pockets, and can block the blitz pretty well. If I play defense, I am either safety or just guard a reciever. So, it is not all work over here, we do play as well. Maybe one day we will have sponsers, better refs, the NFL will call.....Oh, sorry just day dreaming. Well, you all keep reading and I will keep posting as much as I can. Russ.

Giving out some free stuff...

So, we had the pleasure of doing another Humanitarian Aid Drop today. I picked a local school in one of my districts. They have around 2,000 kids or so at this one school. We took all kinds of school supplies, food, shoes, blankets, and other like items to them. I will let the pictures tell the words, but it was great. We had the ANP out helping us distribute all the goods. It is better to have the ANP pass it out, as it helps their image on the community. There were so many kids here it was crazy. We all had a lot of fun today helping out this school and the people around it.

What a bad-ass day!!!

"Ok, here is how you put the round together to before you load it, this is how you aim. Any questions?" Said one of my ANP chiefs during a very wonderful class on the RPG (rocket propelled grenade) that he gave me and my squad. Some of us have been on the receiving end of these, so it was nice to finally be able to see it shot from the right side. The chief gave us a good class, and after ensuring the down range was cleared, I was allowed to shoot an anti-personnel round. It was better then I expected. I have had the opportunity to shoot many different weapons in the Army, but it is always fun to shoot something new, especially when it is a foreign weapon. It is good to have all of my soldiers knowing how to use one, just in case. It did not have much kick to it, but boy did that round travel fast. The chief shot a high explosive anti-tank round at the hill. I shot mine closer. The weapon is fairly easy to prep and aim, you just have to keep the front tilted upwards until you shoot. It was great fun, and if any of you ever get the chance to shoot one, take it. You will not be disappointed. SSG Russell Miller.