Dandy in Afghanistan

Salutations Gang,

 Today’s topic is about what I like about being deployed here.  I’m quite sure twenty years from now my memory will be limited on it’s ability to recall fond memories of my Bagram deployment, so if I capture them in the literally world, I’ll always have them to reflect on.  Not to mention it will give y’all a brief five minute pause from your crazy rat race lives.

 I like being submerged into medicine every day.  The opportunities that I have had to grow clinically have been truly amazing.  I love working with the ER physicians, Trauma Surgeons, Orthopedic Surgeons, etc and the way they break down xrays, labs results, and injuries for me to understand without making me feel stupid.  Not all people are cut out to teach medicine, but these guys are top notch in my book.  They have the ability to take a mangled body and patch it up.  The thought of being responsible  for that is bind blowing to me, but they do it over and over again giving these patients another shot at life.   I’ve also got to perform/assist with various procedures from suturing to chest tube insertions and spinal taps that I wouldn’t normally get the opportunity otherwise.

 I absolutely love the job satisfaction here.  It’s through the roof!  It’s the most job satisfaction that I have encountered in my 14 years of service.  The U.S. service members that come through here from the battle field are so appreciative of our help.  Being touched by our American war fighters has been a humbling experience.  I live like a queen compared to some of them out there surviving on field rations and taking daily baby wipe baths.  My showers are hot and twice daily if I like.   Who could complain?

 I like being able to show up at the dining facility and have my limited choice of hot food.  I didn’t have to pay for it, shop for it, cook it, or clean up the dishes after I ate it.  Breakfast is my favorite meal here.  It’s an extravaganza of fresh fruit from watermelon, honey dew, cantaloupe, pineapple, grape fruit, kiwis, and grapes to omlets made to order, hot fruit cobblers/crisps, french toast sticks, pancakes, pastries, pop tarts, biscuits and gravy, bagels, and assorted cereals.  You’ll never leave hungry.

 I love the friendships I’ve made here. The Department of Defense is one of the only organizations in the world where they send people from all over the world to one location to perform a mission.  I’ve gotten to work with Army radiology technicians, Navy lab technicians, and of course my own Air Force medical counterparts.  I’ve gotten to experience diversity like no other from eating my Filipino co-workers cuisine to eating fresh bread from the local Afghan housekeeper to taking care of the Coalition Forces (Polish, Afghan National Army, etc).  I absolutely enjoyed learning the farm animal names in the local language from the housekeeper.  I would “oink” and he would teach me the name and then I would “whinny” and he would teach me another name.  It was international communication at it’s finest.

 Lastly, I’ve enjoyed having the luxury of time to go to the gym and submerge myself in fitness.  I’ve researched plenty of programs, methods, and exercises and applied the knowledge to the test.  It’s been great being my own guinea pig and watching the dividends pay out.  The human body is truly an amazing piece of machinery and I think we seldom allow it to accomplish the physical feats it’s capable of.

 I’m sure I could go on and on, but I won’t.  My time here at Bagram has been a memorable chapter in my book of life.  Thank you to all of you out there that have shown your support to not only me, but the rest of troops out here during this deployment through emails, pictures, and packages.  I appreciate knowing there is a reality waiting on me to return to.   

 Dandy thank goodness it’s finally November Aaron