Author: chrisdonlon

When I am in place I am unfamiliar with and ask someone, “Hey, where’s the head,” they are usually an army soldier and they look at me like “what the hell are you talking about.” To which I return a very similar look to express “oh shit, you’re a soldier, what the hell do you…

Today I got to shoot photos of an opening ceremony to kick off Rule of Law and Legal Issues training for Afghans. The photo shoot itself wasn’t exciting; I generally hate taking pictures of people at a podium speaking to a group, or the grip-and-grin posed shots. But this event was exciting because it took…

It’s a pizza place with an Italian name, staffed by Indians and Afghans, and the TV on the wall is always tuned to a Polish version of MTV. I’ve never actually seen a Pol in the restaurant, maybe its the only channel they can get? It’s confusing to me but a nice escape from the DFAC.

Last night was my first solo CJOC watch. I went to bed early and then set my alarm for 2230 so I could get up and go to the gym to wake myself up before beginning the watch around midnight. The shift was going really well; I was ahead of schedule on preparing all the…

This week I had to train on covering the night watch in the CJOC (Combined Joint Operations Center). It’s kind of like in the movies; picture a big stadium style room, tiered work stations with several computer screens at each, large screens at the front and around the room with projected satellite or drone feeds… you…

I spent some time with a reporter from a decent sized Texas newspaper. He used to write for Stars and Stripes and spent a significant time here in Afghanistan in the past. He is by far one of the most gracious and appreciative reporters I have ever worked with. Every interaction I have had with him,…

There has been a lot of terrorist activity in Kabul since I arrived. My first night at RS, the team was dealing with media inquiries regarding the first American casualty from hostile fire since the beginning of the year. This didn’t occur in Kabul, but it was a significant event. Two nights later there was…

Last night I got to fly in a Blackhawk at night back down to Bagram. The trip was justified because I helped LCDR Tillery and CDR Flesvig, with all their bags on the first leg of their long trip home. Secondly, I was encouraged to find and meet the Air Mobility operations team to build…

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…

Navy Individual Augmentee Combat Training NIACT was HOT. Kevlar, plate carrier, elbow/knee pads, gloves over a uniform and boots in 100 degree heat with 90% humidity ends up feeling like dawning 50 extra pounds of wet clothes. I learned a lot of army type things I was always curious about, such as weapons, weapon cleaning,…