High mobility patient transport alternative

As you can see, the Humvee is a very capable machine and useful for transporting the wounded, but it represents late 20th century technology.

On the current battlefield, high mobility is how the game is won. Due to budget constraints and the green energy movement we must evolve how we think about transporting our patients.

Below is what the next generation of patient transportation might look like in the United States Army National Guard. The National Guard is a great test arena for new techniques. Why, you ask? Because the National Guard has no money and must create ideas and tools out of thin air!

Notice how very patient friendly it is. Just look how happy our wounded soldier is!

A stolen litter from the CSH, some 550 cord and a bike.

As you can see from the picture it's light weight and has almost no emissions, unless you count the burrito bar from last night. It's highly maneuverable and can do something no other piece of transportation equipment in the inventory can do, bunny hop!

There is a CAV version as well, especially suited to the troopers!

These pictures were taken during one of the lulls in the testing. The pictures attempted during a moving trial were too blurry to make out the fine details of the event due to its speed.

Thanks Y'all, be home soon!

Government Motors

My Dream Truck?

Not really, but do you think this could be the future of GM?

It holds 4 people and about 300lbs of gear. They are all over here.

They get the job done here, you can see a guy sitting in the back seat, he said it was ok to take his picture. Great for service work, about the power of a gaitor. The tires are about the size of Luke's first bike.
Interesting how the world does things differently than we do. This truck would do nicely on a crowded narrow city road, don't think I would like it on the interstate. Don't think you would have to worry about speeding though.

See ya soon!

Evening at the JVB

A lovely evening out on the base, surrounded by water. Not filtered anymore but still nice. We went to the JVB for a re-enlistment ceremony for one of our soldiers. Who knew it would end up a night of merriment food and dancing.

These two, they were our adult supervision

Specialist Cornejo decided to re-enlist. She has been working as a clinic medic and also goes out with the CSC (convoy security companies) to protect convoys bringing in our supplies or taking them to other FOB's

Like all the medic she has been working hard and this is a special occasion, so why not celebrate a little.

This is the crew, they have helped see almost 2000 patient visits since opening our doors and have made the operation a success.

Thank you one and all!

After the ceremony why not dance. No better back drop on the VBC than the alfa palace. The food was pretty good too.

The palace

After the dance lesson we went on a tour of the Hotel. It was nice to see it again and share it with the crew. I won't bore you again with the pictures. You can look back at another post to see them.

Short but sweet this time, but I have a couple more to get in before we go. Thanks for following along.

Getting Our Spurs

We got our spurs!

From left to right: MSG Reaves (Platoon SGT), myself, 1LT Garrett and SSG Trevino (NCOIC)

Some more of the platoon, at the end of the ceremony. In the back row is PFC Cornish;

front row is MSG Reeves, SPC Hulse, SGT Miller and 1LT Garrett.

4 Very good men: Major Roskowski, 1LT Robson, 1LT Barrett all in the second row and 1LT Garrett in the front row. Great men that work hard to keep the squadron running.
During this ceremony we also received our CAB's (combat action badge). This was given because of an attack on our area back in early September. Luckily the only casualty was our building. The Chaplain's office was damaged the most, but God was looking out for him. He had left for his leave about 2 hrs prior.

Major Goettle getting his CAB from the SCO (Squadron Commander)

CPT Brian Dukes getting his CAB

Getting my CAB

Now the awarding of the Spurs. I kind of felt like a horse getting shoed. Makes more sense than having us stand and lifting a leg behind us though.

Each soldier is awarded a pair of gold spurs.

The Spurring ceremony shows you belonged to a Cavalry Unit while deployed to a theater of war.

Not everyone was at the ceremony because we have to continually keep operations going. It's too bad, but understandable. I hope that each soldier can take pride in the job they do. It is not the mission we thought it would be 2 years ago, but it's an important mission none the less. There are a lot of good men and women here doing their jobs day in and day out. All of us miss our homes and loved ones and look forward to being back home.



up next "Medcap"

4 Days In Qatar

OK not in Qatar yet, still trying to get the best sunset picture. This is of right outside my CHU looking at commo hill. The sky on the horizon is never clear but the sunsets are lacking. I remember the vivid evening sky in Waxahachie, especially on nights with an Ozone alert from Dallas. The good old days.

Getting ready to begin my long journey to Qatar. You must check out with the CP (command post). I am not sure if this is unit pt or what. They are playing rock band I think. This picture doesn't capture the activity level, but they were jumping around and really getting into it.


Ahh, welcome to Qatar, the lap of luxury. Feel like I was back in Oz in a backpacker. We had 10 people per room. Lower enlisted had 20. You have to be an O6 or above to get your own room. Wasn't too bad, met a lot of nice guys, people to hang out with while there. Luckly I got there a little early and got a bottom bunk. I hate climbing up to the top.

We were not allowed to take pictures outside on base, so here is outside our room but still in the building. We were basically warehoused. This is the front of the building and those are the rooms lined up down the hall, 4 rows of them. Way in the back they have conex trailers stacked up like Lego land in Afghanistan for the O6 and above.

Downtown Doha. This is looking from the front of the Islam Museum. The city is growing like nothing I have ever seen before. We must have passed 300 cranes on building projects just from the base to here. The rumor has it that they are bidding for the 2020 Olympics and are building not like they already have it. They were holding some sort of Asian games while we were here, but never got to close to it. The structures are very modern and some quite beautiful.

I don't stick out as an American, do I?

This impressive building is the Islamic Museum.

Artifacts from as far back as the 6th century. Incredible to think that things can last that long. Someone had the forethought to protect them or we are just lucky.

Just inside the front entry. The center is open without displays. They were setting up for some sort of dinner this day though. It is multiple levels high with stunning views the entire place and of the city skyline.

A view of the levels and the cat walks. If you look through the window you can see some of the downtown skyline.

Close up of the same window.

The exhibits were amazing to see. In the US you just can't find things that were made there 2000 years ago. One thing they talked about is the way they take normal objects an beautify them to bring beauty into their lives.

Tile wall covering. Very impressive inlay and done with the most basic of tools

Jeweled daggers, I think from the 1200's

Hand written copies of the Koran from before the eighth century. The design and gold inlay is amazing.

Some of the jewelry on display. Must of taken quite a while to do all of the impressive inlay in the gold.

What do you think Rickie?

The I dream of Jeanie lamp.

An oil lamp. It is wonderful with it's design. I would have liked it if they had lite it from inside to really show off the colors. The combo of glass and metal is amazing.

One of the many examples of pottery. Many had vivid colors and detail. I saw some that almost looked like our dishes at home. Some things don't change that much.

Jeweled falcon

This was a center piece of a door. The entire thing was just a massive inlay project. These people didn't just survive, but must have really thrived to even think of projects with this kind of detail.

Another example of a simple dagger, yea simple.

Later on the same evening
31 flavors known around the world. They also supply or chow hall ice cream.

This is in downtown Doha in the old shops area. It had many restaurants and galleries as well. Very European feel to it, but still very middle eastern.

These guys were hand carving traditional wooden boats. Notice the hold down clamp the guy on the left is using. OSHA approved. The finished work was amazing. Real craftsmen.

Dinner time at a Lebanese restaurant in the down town area. The food was amazing! We all try ed the hookah. They used fruit flavoring in the tobacco. It was very smooth, still not a habit I'll take up anytime soon, but it was interesting to find out what everyone likes about it. Out table is on the roof top of the restaurant with amazing views of the city.

Our appetizers. I wish I had written down what everything was. It came with some pita bread and we made burritos with it. I could have just eaten this for the entire evening. Not a bit of meat in it either. I know the green things are stuffed grape leaves.

More views of the street area. The large building in the back ground is a mosque. The entire city was amazing to see. So modern, but still a lot of what I would call traditional middle eastern feel about it. Many people still in the traditional head gear and dress like outfit for the men.

Doha golf course. It is on the PGA tour. Had to play it. I am not the golfer my father in law is, or for that matter my son is, but it was nice to get out and beat a little whit ball to death. This place is really kept up as well. They had guys out front cleaning the curbs!

A view of the club house and grand stands from a distance.

The grand stands from a bit closer.

Even the bathrooms are amazing.

This might be the Olympic course in 2020. I can say I played it.

You can tell this is at the beginning of our play, I'm still smiling pretty big. The clubs were great, which gladly improved my game. I didn't loose a single ball, and even found one. That, to me is a great day golfing!

Well after all the travels, it was time to get back home to VBC. I packed like but still found a stow a way in my bag. Captain had quite a trip as well. Got some needed rest and met some very famous people too. Think he enjoyed the time away as well.

Americana, it's everywhere. Makes you wonder sometimes why people hate us so much?
Pretty dry in Kuwait had to get him a drink. He wanted a beer, but not allowed here.

This fog is pretty cool if you don't know what causes it. The C-17 had a leak in the back door seal and we couldn't pressurize the cabin. When you get high enough it is kind of like hitting the dew point. Pretty cool, but not good for a long flight. We turned around twice to get it fixed. Good thing it was pretty empty.

There I am, all rested and ready to get back to work. That's what I keep telling myself anyway.

Random shots of the inside of a C-17. Had some extra time with the turn arounds and stuff to get some shots.

It was a great trip. Qatar is a place I might return to at sometime in the future. I think it would be a great place to explore. Pretty small country, most likely only take a few days. A lot of great culture.

Next up Spurring!

Thanks again for looking in.