Made it to Riley, and we are in the middle of inprocessing. It is a lot of what you would think the Army is about: Hurry up and wait around. But there are some benefits to waiting, as yesterday we received four large duffel bags worth of equipment. What was missing was the small army of Sherpas to help us pack it around.
It was a surprisingly easy and friendly fielding, though, much different than the thrashing I received when we drew equipment as a private just about 20 years ago. Now I know why the war costs so much: The stuff we got is all new, and it is very good. Amazing, the leaps and bounds we have made in the technology, and how refreshing that we are now spending the money on stuff to make soldier's lives better.
Fort Riley is big, and it is surprisingly un-flat. Lots of good hills to run up and down. There is always a flurry of soldier-like activity- refreshing after being away from soldiers for a while. Right now we live in some pretty nice barracks-- you and one other guy share a kitchenette and a bathroom, but you have your own room, and the furniture isn't all beat up "like the good ol' days." No phone, cable or internet (I'm in a computer lab on post writing this) but it is relatively clean, comfortable, and air-conditioned. Soldiers today have it so good......... Makes me nostalgic of the days when I enlisted (20 years ago on July 28...)
We aren't here long and will be moving to other accomodations in the coming weeks. Once the rest of the team gets here we will hitch up and move to another training area.
Mailing address: Lots of folks asked, so here it is. It will be good for the entire time I am at Fort Riley.
MAJ Ron MacKay
D Company 101st FSB BLDG 7006
Class 54 URF 10521
Fort Riley, KS 66442
Lastly, today our Brigade Commander spoke with us. He is overall responsible for the training and equipping of everey soldier going over to Iraq and Afghanistan that will work on the Transition Team mission of advising indigenous forces. He put it in perspective when he said 'the process is somewhat dysfunctional and inefficient, but there is no other current solution.' We are it. We make our own luck, as Two-Face said in Batman. Our product is indigenous forces and institutions that are responsible for their own well-being. To some it sounds like a fecal hamburger, but I get excited about the job when it's put this way. I am excited to be a part of the mission and I look forward to the challenges. But I reserve the right to change this rosy outlook at any given time...
Take care.
Ron
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