R&R Tale Days 1-4 (Time Flies)

R&R, Rest and Recuperation Day 4. Well, considering where I have been the past 8 months. The camp I am doing R&R has been paradise. From day zero until now I have spent my time the best I could. From eating good chow to sleeping on a very comfortable bed to wearing civilian cloths every day. And although I would have appreciated a 15 day leave home. I can say this has been very worthwhile to me. And I actually can say I do feel a bit recharged. Here are a few interesting tidbits about R&R.

First, there are people from all over. Service members and contractors who serve in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kuwait. People from all branches and ranks, different all FOB's and camps. I, actually listening and talking to people here, found it mind boggling all the diverse collection of people who are here serving. One of the biggest things about the Guard is the people in my unit are all from same state. And although we are from different cities and have different jobs, we all basically share a lot of the same issues and beliefs. Where as on active duty you have a collection of people from all over US, and sometimes outside the US. This makes for a very diverse crowd. And do to the fact that I am from a National Guard unit I forget that there are so many different personalities. This trip actually helped me to remember this and I found it pretty refreshing.

Next, our living conditions here. We are in tents sitting inside warehouses. Now before you ask what is the point let me explain. I think they are set up that way so they can keep the different groups separated by days you arrive. This helps keep the staff from guessing where you are in case an emergency happens. Not to mention makes it easier to clean when we leave. Initially I was a little disappointed at this fact. But because there is a strict noise standard enforced inside each tent, I actually found it rather peaceful. And found the fact that the lack of explosions, gunfire and helicopter traffic helped me to enjoy some of the best sleep I have had in theater to date. I honestly have no complaints about the living conditions.

One of th choices we had to do while here was the R&R staff set up daily trips to the city, mall, and water park as well as a golf course. Also because it was Easter weekend some American families set up some dinners for troops on R&R with their families. So we where not confined to camp, we had the opportunity to leave. The only problem is you need to get there at a certain time (usually during my sleep schedule) to sign up. So I opted out of any of the scheduled trips. I was actually content with just sleeping and eating good chow.

Another good thing was the fact that there is a lot to do. With 4 "bars" (yes they served beer, but there was a strict 3 beer limit), a world class gym, a USO with multiple gaming systems, 2 very good internet cafe's, movie theaters, a pool, miniature golf course, bowling alley, phone banks you can talk as long as you want on with US phone card rates, spa's, and probably more I never even checked out. There was so much to do there where times I felt a bit overwhelmed at times.

Sadly, all good things must end and I have to fly back to Iraq sometime soon. But at least I had this chance to unwind and be "Rob" for a while. Sometimes while serving you forget about what it is like being a civilian. Things like laundry, (yes I washed my own cloths for the first time in almost a year, and I was excited to do it), seeing a small child, or just throwing back a couple cold beers while watching my favorite NCAA basketball teams get beat in the tourney, actually seem foreign to me. I realized that I am not only "Ballew", I am also "Rob" and even more important "Dad", and that some day soon I will be back to the life I miss so much. As always another day down, to bad it was a day I was not ready to let go.

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