Leaving on a Jet Plane

On the morning of April 2nd2010 NMCB-21’s Advance Party(that’s right I was first this time) woke up at 0230 to board our plane for Kuwait. After checking our baggage in a day before(limited to 150 pounds of which my body armor weighs 75) we collected our weapons to be hand carried and headed to the theater for a lock down. In lock down the AP would get our small pox vaccine, a series of 15 needle pokes, fill out last travel claim, and have our last cup of American coffee…with a doughnut of course. Then we would board our plane for Kuwait.

Lockdown in the theater on Pt Mugu


Boarding our plane to Kuwait (I had 3 seats to myself=lay down and sleep)


How often can you carry automatic weapons on a commericial plane?


The trip to Kuwait lasted a whopping 22 hours, with stops in Maine and Germany, before landing in the flattest, driest, hottest, sandiest place I have ever experienced, Kuwait. We stayed in Kuwait for only 2 days while we zeroed the sights on our weapons and checked into CENTCOM.

Camels wondering through Kuwait


Then it was off to Afghanistan.
I was glad that I was not part of the group staying in Kuwait, since it was much hotter there. We also distributed our ammo in Kuwait, and then we were ready. A US Air Force C-17 would be our transportation to Kandahar, wearing full “battle rattle” and carrying our weapons once again. I slept the entire flight(about 4 hours) and woke up to “Good morning Afghanistan”. We were finally here.

Loading up to leave Kuwait


On the C-17 flying to KAF(Kandahar Air Field)