As of May 13, 2010: I’m staying at the Transit Center at Manas, a transit area for troops (both US and international) coming and going to Afghanistan in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
I’ve served in the Air Force now for about 8 years (4 years active duty, 4 years Reserve). However, this is my first deployment. I didn’t quite volunteer for this deployment since I’m trying to finish graduate school back in the states, but since I’m in the reserves I’ve always known that it was a possibility. Leading up to deployment I’ve had a mixture of thoughts and feelings from frustration, anxiety, fear, and excitement to thoughts of “why did I sign up for the Reserves”, and “what if I don’t make it back alive?” Even though I’ve been gone for less than a week and I’ve yet to arrive at my destination spot, I’ve already learned a lot. I’d like to share a little about what I’ve learned so far.
The flight to Manas took almost two days. I flew on an international airline that was filled solely with Air Force servicemen in uniform. I tried to stay positive, but I found myself easily returning to wallow in thoughts of self-pity, the “why me” type of thinking. However, as I spoke to the airman in the seat next to me, I realized that most o f the servicemen also did not really want to be deploying. The airman sitting next to me was leaving his wife and daughter for a third time. He worked in the hospital at Bagram on his last deployment. I won’t go into details, but he told me graphic stories of treating injured soldiers (lots of blood, screaming, and shrapnel involved). At first I was bit shocked and horrified hearing firsthand the things the news only gives a brief blip of. However, I’ve been extremely humbled and since hearing these and other battle stories. I have begun to view each of the soldiers, marines, and airmen I’ve come in contact with a bit differently. I realize that many of them already have sacrificed much or will sacrifice much (possibly even their lives) over the next four to 18 months. Suddenly the sacrifice I’m making and will continue to make has become a little easier as I realize that I am not alone in my sacrifice, nor can my sacrifice come close to comparing to that of so many other service men and women.
In my two days at the transit base in Kyrgyzstan, I’ve also learned a lot from the locals who live on base. The country of Kyrgyzstan seems to have had a rough history. They were under Soviet rule until the fall of the Soviet Union. Their current government has suffered from two recent coups (one of them just a little over a month ago). They all seem to be uncertain as to what will happen next. The workers I spoke with on base are extremely appreciative for the opportunity to work on an American base and receive much better pay than they would in most jobs off base. Those who work on air conditioning and heating had to be completely trained since they don’t have central heating nor air conditioning in their country. I hope that they can use the skills they’ve learned to help their country once we leave. One of the locals also commented on the American attitude. I was eating with this local in the dining facility and he said he couldn’t believe how much food we wasted. He also commented on our “we are the center of the world” mentality. I admitted to him that we tend to not appreciate all that we have and the can sometimes be bit arrogant. In any case, in speaking to the locals I am reminded of how much we do have. Many of my fellow servicemen are complaining that the food is bad on the base. In reality, even in a warzone we are probably eating better, and have better living quarters than most of the world. We may be living in tents, but at least these tents have AC and heating and even Wireless internet, things that most Kyrgyzstanians probably only dream about.
I’d be lying if I didn't say I haven’t been scared about what the next four months holds for me. The reality of being in a war zone has set in as I’ve been issued battle gear, heard battle stories from returning soldiers, and seen hoards of soldiers and marines carrying M-16s (I too will have to carry an M16 when I arrive to Afghanistan). I’m grateful that my job doesn’t entail going off base and being on the front lines, but you still never know what to expect when you are going to “enemy territory”. The greatest source of strength and comfort for me has been prayer and the Book of Mormon. I have found myself turning to the Lord more than ever, and in many ways I feel like he has been there for me more than ever. Last night, I spoke with one of my fellow airmen who was expressing some of his anxieties about this deployment. I was able to express to him my belief that the Lord truly watches over those who serve in the military. I told him of the many people that pray for the military and that I believe the Lord listens to those prayers. One of the scriptures that has brought me great comfort is about a group of 2,000 young men in the Book of Mormon who never had fought before, but when they were asked to fight they exercised great faith: “Therefore what say ye, my sons, will ye go against them to battle? And now I say unto you, my beloved brother Moroni, that never had I seen so great courage nay, not amongst all the Nephites. For as I had ever called them my sons (for they were all of them very young) even so they said unto me: Father, behold our God is with us, and he will not suffer that we should fall; then let us go forth; we would not slay our brethren if they would let us alone; therefore let us go, lest they should overpower the army of Antipus. Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them. And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it. “ (Alma 56: 44-46). 
I’ve served in the Air Force now for about 8 years (4 years active duty, 4 years Reserve). However, this is my first deployment. I didn’t quite volunteer for this deployment since I’m trying to finish graduate school back in the states, but since I’m in the reserves I’ve always known that it was a possibility. Leading up to deployment I’ve had a mixture of thoughts and feelings from frustration, anxiety, fear, and excitement to thoughts of “why did I sign up for the Reserves”, and “what if I don’t make it back alive?” Even though I’ve been gone for less than a week and I’ve yet to arrive at my destination spot, I’ve already learned a lot. I’d like to share a little about what I’ve learned so far. The flight to Manas took almost two days. I flew on an international airline that was filled solely with Air Force servicemen in uniform. I tried to stay positive, but I found myself easily returning to wallow in thoughts of self-pity, the “why me” type of thinking. However, as I spoke to the airman in the seat next to me, I realized that most o f the servicemen also did not really want to be deploying. The airman sitting next to me was leaving his wife and daughter for a third time. He worked in the hospital at Bagram on his last deployment. I won’t go into details, but he told me graphic stories of treating injured soldiers (lots of blood, screaming, and shrapnel involved). At first I was bit shocked and horrified hearing firsthand the things the news only gives a brief blip of. However, I’ve been extremely humbled and since hearing these and other battle stories. I have begun to view each of the soldiers, marines, and airmen I’ve come in contact with a bit differently. I realize that many of them already have sacrificed much or will sacrifice much (possibly even their lives) over the next four to 18 months. Suddenly the sacrifice I’m making and will continue to make has become a little easier as I realize that I am not alone in my sacrifice, nor can my sacrifice come close to comparing to that of so many other service men and women. In my two days at the transit base in Kyrgyzstan, I’ve also learned a lot from the locals who live on base. The country of Kyrgyzstan seems to have had a rough history. They were under Soviet rule until the fall of the Soviet Union. Their current government has suffered from two recent coups (one of them just a little over a month ago). They all seem to be uncertain as to what will happen next. The workers I spoke with on base are extremely appreciative for the opportunity to work on an American base and receive much better pay than they would in most jobs off base. Those who work on air conditioning and heating had to be completely trained since they don’t have central heating nor air conditioning in their country. I hope that they can use the skills they’ve learned to help their country once we leave. One of the locals also commented on the American attitude. I was eating with this local in the dining facility and he said he couldn’t believe how much food we wasted. He also commented on our “we are the center of the world” mentality. I admitted to him that we tend to not appreciate all that we have and the can sometimes be bit arrogant. In any case, in speaking to the locals I am reminded of how much we do have. Many of my fellow servicemen are complaining that the food is bad on the base. In reality, even in a warzone we are probably eating better, and have better living quarters than most of the world. We may be living in tents, but at least these tents have AC and heating and even Wireless internet, things that most Kyrgyzstanians probably only dream about. I’d be lying if I didn't say I haven’t been scared about what the next four months holds for me. The reality of being in a war zone has set in as I’ve been issued battle gear, heard battle stories from returning soldiers, and seen hoards of soldiers and marines carrying M-16s (I too will have to carry an M16 when I arrive to Afghanistan). I’m grateful that my job doesn’t entail going off base and being on the front lines, but you still never know what to expect when you are going to “enemy territory”. The greatest source of strength and comfort for me has been prayer and the Book of Mormon. I have found myself turning to the Lord more than ever, and in many ways I feel like he has been there for me more than ever. Last night, I spoke with one of my fellow airmen who was expressing some of his anxieties about this deployment. I was able to express to him my belief that the Lord truly watches over those who serve in the military. I told him of the many people that pray for the military and that I believe the Lord listens to those prayers. One of the scriptures that has brought me great comfort is about a group of 2,000 young men in the Book of Mormon who never had fought before, but when they were asked to fight they exercised great faith: “Therefore what say ye, my sons, will ye go against them to battle? And now I say unto you, my beloved brother Moroni, that never had I seen so great courage nay, not amongst all the Nephites. For as I had ever called them my sons (for they were all of them very young) even so they said unto me: Father, behold our God is with us, and he will not suffer that we should fall; then let us go forth; we would not slay our brethren if they would let us alone; therefore let us go, lest they should overpower the army of Antipus. Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them. And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it. “ (Alma 56: 44-46). The chapters that follow these verses tell of the battles these young men fought. None of them were killed, yet at the same time there was not one that did not suffer injuries. It brings me great comfort to know that just like myself, there were men who entered into battle never having fought before. Yet, because of their faith in God, they were successful. The fact that they all were injured to some extent, however, also tells me that it won’t be easy.
Until next time!
