I’ve now been at Resolute Support headquarters for a week, feeling like I belong. The folks I am working with now are great which makes it weird to think that by November, most of them will be redeployed and back home with their families. The base is incredibly small; the longest run route I can come up with, which includes going around the outside of parking lots and down alleys to stretch the distance as much as possible, is only .65 miles per lap. Combine that with the altitude and the air quality and I might as well run on a treadmill indoors.
I am thankful for the no-solute policy on this base as I have never seen so many senior officers before; JOs and enlisted are definitely the minority. But the nice thing is I have not encountered any rank pretentiousness either, most people use first names and maintain a fairly relaxed atmosphere – as relaxed as it can be when working 12+ hour days in a warzone.
The warzone part is interesting. This base is very small and also very insulated. We don’t often receive attacks here. It could be easy to become complacent or forget why we are receiving imminent danger pay.
I am also glad for my job in the PAO office. Media ops suits me far better than press desk or social media or plans would. I am good at planning/coordinating logistics, but I’m most thankful that it will allow me the opportunity to fly out to other parts of the country too. I can see the size of this base becoming rather suffocating a few months in.
I am happy to be here and start to contribute to the team’s success. I am happy to meet and get to work with the great people in the office now, the leadership we report to, and I am also looking forward to working with my shipmates who will join me on the watch soon too. I think this will be a great tour.