A day in the life - Afghanistan

So I thought that I would share some of what I've done over here besides photograph wildlife, and for two reasons. The first is that I want you all to know that you tax-payer dollars are not just going to waste while I play with nature over here and the second is that I think that it's good for people back home to see things aside from what the media wants to report. I hope you all enjoy these ones.

One of my first patrols off of the FOB talking to some children.
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...ayhawk/1-8.jpg

Our mail comes in via helicopter and it's like a shark feeding frenzy only instead of sharks and baitfish it is soldiers and care packages!
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...ayhawk/2-3.jpg

I am as passionate about food as I am snakes and other reptiles (and beer and mountaineering and gardening and...) and the food over here, as a general rule, is INCREDIBLE!
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...ayhawk/3-1.jpg

Me and our medic with an ANA mortar team.
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...ejayhawk/4.jpg

It's about to get dusty! Dirt devils, as I've always known them, of epic proportions come sweeping across the valleys on a regular basis in late spring and summer.
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...ejayhawk/5.jpg

Roads here are terrible. This was after we tried to get this vehicle out of the ditch that the road collapsed into by pulling it backwards and sideways. That didn't work (as you can see here) but we were able to self recover and continue mission.
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...ejayhawk/6.jpg

Me, doing some fire support.
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...ejayhawk/7.jpg

Me, trying not to eat too much dust while riding in the back hatch of a Stryker.
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...ejayhawk/8.jpg

Sun setting next to our JTAC's truck (Air Force guys that work with Army units and talk to aircraft so that they can drop bombs) on patrol.
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...ejayhawk/9.jpg

Our emergency resupply coming in on a recent patrol.
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...jayhawk/10.jpg

This is us blowing an IED that we found on a patrol.
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...jayhawk/11.jpg

This is a MEDEVAC bird coming in on a recent patrol.
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...jayhawk/12.jpg

These last three are of us doing sling load operations for the second time in 3 weeks.
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...jayhawk/13.jpg
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...jayhawk/14.jpg
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...jayhawk/15.jpg

I hope you all like them!

Thanks for your service, whats your mos?

Great pics! Thank you for all that you and the other men and women do! God Bless!

I was an Army print/photo journalist for 6 years. I appreciate you sharing your experience with us. I finished my contract almost three years ago, and I miss it from time to time.

Thank you! I'm a 13 series, so Field Artillery! At present I'm a fire supporter.

Cool pics. I can only imagine how great that would feel to get a care package over there. Thank you for your service! :)

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Originally Posted by gsarchie

Thank you! I'm a 13 series, so Field Artillery! At present I'm a fire supporter.

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Nice! I was going to be 11x I also had option 40 (ranger assessment and selection program) in my contract. I was scheduled to leave for basic November 1st 2011 but I broke my wrist on October 23rd. I got discharged but they said I could get back into it. But recently developments will keep me out the military for good. I was diagnosed with a colloid cyst in the middle of my brain. I was pretty bummed out so lets just say I am extremely jealous of you lol. Where are you stationed when your not deployed?

Those are some awesome photos. thanks for sharing. What type of camera are you using?

The camera is a cheap Fujifilm Finepix T.

Sorry to hear that you weren't able to end up enlisting, but at least you tried!

Great photos! Thank you for your service and be safe!!!

Great pics! So, whats your favorite care package item?

A guy I used to date a long time ago always loved getting things like nerf footballs, squirt guns, and of course his Skoal...

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2

Awesome pics and a cool idea for a thread!

Thanks Mike!

As for care package items, as may have been indicated by my mentioning my love for food, it's food! My ex is always sending me organic dried fruit and nuts, granola bars and whole grain crackers, granola and oatmeal. Other people send me sugar free red bull, beef jerky, peanut butter and honey on the regular. Care packages are what allow me to eat well here!

Great stuff Sir! I wish I had taken more photos while I was in IRAQ in 2004. Thanks for sharing those, brings back memories.

You bet! Also, you have GOT to drop the sir crap. :P

A friend of mines boy friend just got back. He's Nat Guard. I don't think he had as much fun as you seem to be ;). How much longer do you have over there?

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Awesome pics, as always. Thanks again for sharing! :gj:

When you get back to the states, if you're ever in Ohio, I'd like to shake your hand. :salute:

Nice pics, brings back memories, only we have strykers.... even though we couldn't use them in our AO. 4th ID i see, my company was attached to 1-22 in Kandahar City when I was there. Be safe!

These are such awesome pics. Thank you so much for sharing them with us :)

Just wanted to thank you for your service. I may be a Canadian but I don't see your efforts as benefitting only the citizens of the US. My oldest step-daughter just finished basic training two weeks ago with the Canadian armed forces and I suspect my other step-daughter and step-son will be quick to follow her. So proud of all of you. Come home safe and soon. :gj:

Awesome. I may be over there in a few months myself.

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Originally Posted by jinx667

Awesome. I may be over there in a few months myself.

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Dibs on snake sitting... Just sayin... :D

Is it something to do with that promotion you got?

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Originally Posted by Mike41793

Dibs on snake sitting... Just sayin... :D

Is it something to do with that promotion you got?

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You are a bit far to snake-sit for me....

Nothing to do with the promotion, more to do with the type of training I have.

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Originally Posted by jinx667

You are a bit far to snake-sit for me....

Nothing to do with the promotion, more to do with the type of training I have.

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Awww shoot lol.

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Originally Posted by gsarchie

Thank you! I'm a 13 series, so Field Artillery! At present I'm a fire supporter.

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I see a 4 ID unit patch that's who I'm with now at Carson. Sweet pics man!

So here is one of me right around christmas 2010, another one of me getting ready to try and get a quick nap after a VERY long day with several more long days to follow, one of a crazy sunrise, and my avatar was taken on patrol as well.http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/...3/f7921dcd.jpghttp://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/...3/00696e7c.jpghttp://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/...3/0c9e5bae.jpg

First off, thank you for everyone's support. As for Canada - I am second generation American from Newfoundland, so I claim Canada as far as family history goes. I've also got a couple of friends that I met at Fort Leavenworth that are in the Canadian army - one is infantry and the other is Artillery.

Skyler - Not sure what dive training you have but you may know my current team leader. He used to be the commander of the Army dive school. If you want hit me up with a PM and we can figure that one out.

Jinx - Where will you be headed and will you be advising/mentoring? It's what I'm doing now and I'd much rather be fighting my own fight like all my peers are doing. They're out killing guys while I'm trying not to GET killed by the very forces that I'm advising.

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And Kevin - I'm trying to get together a beer call for all Colorado Springs area BP.net members when I get home. If you're of age you're welcome to join us.

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Originally Posted by gsarchie

Jinx - Where will you be headed and will you be advising/mentoring? It's what I'm doing now and I'd much rather be fighting my own fight like all my peers are doing. They're out killing guys while I'm trying not to GET killed by the very forces that I'm advising.

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I will likely be processing and treating casualties with the USMC somewhere in their AOR.

Yeah, you are in a tough spot. Keep your head on a swivel and always be ready to throw down.