Finally! A new post!

Hey ya'll, my apologies for not keeping this updated very well. For a missile test site with quite a bit of techonology around, you would think we would have better internet access on Kwajalein...but, we don't. In my room I have dial-up internet access, usually disconnects halfway through writing something like this. I have better speed at work, but at the Dock Security Checkpoint during the day I don't have much computer time (and most of that time is spent looking up regulations) since I'm usually the one who gets to write all the access violation tickets.

Anyways, right now I'm back in Montana for a few days to make up all the Guard Drills I've missed and am going to miss when I go back to Kwajalein. Most of my time on night shift has been spent catching up on my Air Force Computer Based Training. It's all yearly training, so I usually just click through all the slides until I get to the test and once I pass that, print out my certificate.

And that's about all for now. Hopefully I'll get to write a couple more times before I head back out to the Island.

Greetings from the Marshall Islands

Hey ya'll,

Just wanted to send a quick update out and let you all know that I'm loving life here in the Marshall Islands. I'm working as a police officer for the Kwajalein Police Department, US Army Kwajalein Atoll/Reagan Test Site. I'm working ALOT, but having a good time at the same time. Hope I can update this more often, if not, look me up on Facebook under calidaveinmt@gmail.com.

Ciao, Dave

My thoughts on "Black Friday"

Black Friday...what do most people think about when they hear that? Early morning wake-up the day after Thanksgiving, sales and shopping, standing in line for hours, tempers flaring...WAIT A MINUTE! Didn't we all just celebrate Thanksgiving yesterday?! Has anyone stopped to think about our troops over in Afghanistan, Iraq and around the World who didn't have time to pause and say thanks? My brothers and sisters in arms kept on with their jobs, maybe the only thing that reminded them of Thanksgiving was the food in the chow hall (if they even have one...). I volunteered to work my Montana Air National Guard job yesterday so one of the full time guys could spend time with his family (and so I can continue earning at least a little money while I'm unemployed). I seriously wish I could have gone to Iraq or Afghanistan so at least one person could spend time with his wife or kids or even a girlfriend.

I laugh at people who race for the bargains, why can't people be content with what they have? Why not take the money you spent today for "Black Friday" and donate it to the Rescue Mission, Salvation Army or another charity? Or even the homeless person you see on the street every day...

Why has this time of the year become all about getting the best deal? While I don't disagree with gift giving for Christmas, I think alot of people have forgotten the Reason we celebrate Christmas. I haven't had much money the past few years, so I haven't been able to buy gifts for anyone, even my own family. But, that has also helped me to focus on why we celebrate Christmas and the birth of Jesus. I don't expect gifts, I would rather help other people celebrate. This year, if I'm still here in Great Falls, you will probably find me at the Rescue Mission down the street from where I live or working at the Montana Air National Guard again. Since I'm single and my family is spread out all over the World (literally), I would rather work so somebody with a family can get the day off and spend time with them (even if I wasn't single, I'd probably do the same thing, come to think of it...). Ok, I'm done rambling for now. Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Long time no update

Wow, its been a long time since I've updated this blog...sorry bout that. Every time I tried to log in while I was deployed, instead of being an English language site, everything was in Russian instead. Don't have much time to give much of an update right now, just be ready for a longer post sometime this weekend.

Ciao, Dave

Waiting...

I've been in St Louis, MO since Wednesday night, waiting for tonight. In a couple hours I'm going to get on the plane that will take me to my deployed location. The rough "schedule" is 16 hours of travel time...As soon as we get "boots on the ground", we're going to in-process into our Unit and then get @ least 8 hours of down time before I start working. From the time we start working, we will be on a 3 days on, 1 day off, 9pm to 9am schedule for the next 6 months. As I said before, I'm looking forward to getting back into the "military life" routine again (never thought I would miss it like I do). I'm going to miss all my friends back in Montana, but I'll be quicker than anyone thinks (hopefully before Downpour). I should still have access to Facebook, MySpace and my Gmail, so feel free to send me messages. I'll get my "Snail Mail" address out as soon as I can.

Finally...

Its finally time to leave Great Falls...almost. I have my itinerary in hand, saying I'm leaving tomorrow @ 12:59pm. Only problem is, I have a 4 day layover in St Louis, MO. We have to be "in country" (boots on the ground) @ our deployed location by the 8th...we're not leaving St Louis until the 8th. Oh well, @ least I'm not the only one who's going to be a day late. I'm really looking forward to the next 6 months, getting back into the "military lfe". Its easy for me to leave Great Falls, but some people just don't seem to understand that its only 6 months and I'll be back. Not sure how long I'll be in the Great Falls area when I get back, but I'll be back for a while anyways. I'm also planning a "road trip" around Montana and down Cali when I get back, no for sure dates yet for that either. And now its dinner time...I'll update ya'll some more when I'm in St Louis.

Quick update

Hey ya'll, sorry for not updating for a while. I just returned to Montana Sunday the 18th after spending 2.5 weeks @ Fort Bliss, Texas and Camp McGregor, New Mexico @ the Air National Guard Combat Readiness Training Center. The training was ok, not as "in depth" as they could have gotten, but enough to get us ready for our deployment. I am currently scheduled to depart Great Falls the first week of Feb. (I know the date, but am not allowed to share it publicly) I will be "in country" at my deployed location (also not allowed to share that location, even though its been announced on the front page of the paper) the following week sometime. My calidaveinmt@gmail.com e-mail address should still be a good address for me while I'm deployed. Once I know my "snail mail" address, I will share it with everyone. Check out my new pics on Facebook and MySpace if you want. Ya'll have a great weekend.

SSgt Dave Carlson
120 SFS/SFOA
Montana Air National Guard