So many things have happened since my last post...

I haven't written in a few days, and there a couple of reasons why.  If you haven't heard, on 19 April, we had a blackhawk crash killing all 4 crew members on board.  It has definitely been a hard time for a lot of people in the Brigade.  The Brigade held a memorial service today here at KAF for the fallen heroes.  I really wish I could have attended, but I hadn't made it back to KAF by the time it started.

I just got back from travelling again, and I know I was told to stay at KAF, but my bosses wouldn't accept the "my mother in law said" excuse.  So, I had to go.  This time I traveled up to Tarin Kowt.  The Brigade has a Task Force up there.  I had a Soldier who thought it would be a good idea to turn down an Article 15 and demand to be tried by court-martial.  That is really never a good decision.  With an Art. 15 there are limits on the maximum punishment that a Soldier can receive, and it does not count as a conviction.  When they turn down an article 15 and demand to be court-martialed, the only limits on punishment are those that each offense carries under the law.  Also, if found guilty at a court-martial, the Soldier will have a federal conviction which will follow him forever.  This Soldier was receiving an Art. 15 for dereliction of duty, the worst thing that would have happened is that he may have lost 1 rank.  Now, if he is found guilty, he is most likely to receive a harsher punishment as turn down cases are usually treated more harsh.

I was supposed to stay up at TK for another day, but I received an email from Division that the SJA had tasked to me sit first chair on another case.  Coincidentally, this case too is another Art. 15 turn down for dereliction of duty.  She wants the charge sheet and pros memo by tomorrow, and the case involves some classified documents and the network up at TK was slower than dial up, so I couldn't download the documents that I needed there.  So, I flew Space A on the next flight to KAF.  Once I got back to KAF, I only got about 2 hours of time to work on the case, and then the power went out.  Luckily, we have little battery back up power outlets, so I had enough time to save my document in the dark before the computer shut down on me.  So, now I have to get up extra early and try and finish it tomorrow morning.

The trip to TK was nice and I got to climb on top of a blackhawk, which was a new experience as I have never stood on top of a blackhawk or really any aircraft before.  Still didn't get to ride in one though.  On the way to TK it was a plane, and coming back was another chinook.  I meant to take more pictures while at TK, but since my trip got cut short, I only got two...

FOB Tarin Kowt

Another view of FOB Tarin Kowt