How Rumors Start

The first few days up here is a whirl of standing in long lines for chow, then more long lines for record checks, finance, insurance, wills and powers of attorney, and assorted other administrative check points. Then longer lines for medical and dental checks, shots, vision test, more shots and the longest line possible for a 20-minute psych eval.

This morning, I waited an hour and a half to make it in to a waiting room where I got to sit and wait for another hour for a CIF issue. (Central Issue Facility: that's where they issue us all our soldier gear.) Could have been worse, I suppose. We went thru in alphabetical order and there are a lot of letters higher than P.

First we received new NBC suits (Nuclear, Biological and Chemical defense suits, vacuum sealed, along with boots, gloves, a charcoal filter canister, and decon kits). Then the newest ruck sack, which is dramatically improved over the old style, and an assault pack with LBV (load bearing vest) and assorted whiz-bang high-speed attachments, pouches, and other devices that clip, strap and snap on in various configurations.

We got fitted for new IBA (Improved Ballistic Armor: a kevlar vest with pouches for front and rear ballistic plates to protect your torso) and neck protectors, deltoid flaps, and even a groin protector. Thanks to the IBA kit, the duffle bag weighed ... well, I don't know, but I'm a pretty strong guy and I had a hard time with it.

Next was our RFI (Rapid Fielding Initiative) issue. New gloves, several sets of protective eyewear, a new sleeping system (three sleeping bags in one, so you can determine the level of protection you need). And a complete set of Extreme Cold Weather Clothing, that would supposedly keep us warm in weather as cold as 50 below. Not sure if I believe it would keep us warm. But perhaps survivable. The best thing about the RFI issue is we don't have to turn any of that back in. The ECWC is worth well over a grand, so I'm glad I don't have to worry about getting a fat payroll deduction later, if I were to lose track of part of it.

Then after the issuing was complete was (you guessed it) more waiting around, this time for transportation back to the billeting area. Some things just don't change. Hurry up and wait. While we were waiting, the soldiers are chatting, as they always seem to be.

"So why do you think they issued us all that Cold Weather stuff?"

"We're probably going to Afghanistan, not Iraq."

"Or Korea."

"Hey what was that? We're going to Korea?"

"Yeah, haven't you heard the news at chow?" (There is a TV in the chow hall that plays CNN.)

"Oh, that explains why they issued us the ECWC." (Pronounced eck-widk)

Later, a soldier asked me, "Sir, you think we're going to Iraq or Korea?"

Of course, I can't comment here on exactly where we are going in Iraq -- even if I knew -- but our mobilization orders read, "MOBILIZATION IS IN SUPPORT OF OPER IRAQI FREEDOM." But then again, when have orders form the President stood a chance against the inertia of the grapevine?