Up and Away

We left Camp Atterbury for Forward Operating Base (FOB) Panther for the last week of training.  This is a remote site, a 15 minute drive from the Miscatatuck Urban Training Center.  We went by H-60 Army Helicopter in full battle armor to get us used to this mode of transportation, and what a ride it was.  Our pilots and crew were great and didn’t mind our jokes or the class pictures in front of the Helo.  

We strapped in, put on ear plugs and lifted off.  Helicopters are not the smoothest of machines but they do things no other aircraft does.  Its noisy, hot and shakes a lot, but unlike rides I’ve had on some older Navy birds, this one didn’t leak fluids or have screws vibrating across the floor. The 2000 foot altitude ride over the Indiana countryside was scenic and when we got close to FOB Panther, the pilot entertained us with a high banking turn with a nice flair to a landing on the grass.  It was a great way to arrive at our new home.

FOB Panther is a collection of a few dozen trailers and a some large soft sided enclosures to get us used to living in austere settings and focus on being an adviser.  The classroom stuff is over.  This last week will involve us planning an Adviser session, convoying to the UTC and meeting with our counterparts played by Afghan Ex-pats. Its going to be as real as can be before we deploy.  We get a bunk, a foot locker and a small closet.  No room for extras.  At least there is A/C.