Made it to Qatar... finally

So...

After a week in San Diego and then 3 weeks at Camp McCrady on Fort Jackson in Columbia South Carolina doing NIACT. I'm now at my ultimate duty station for the next year, Camp As Sayliyah in Qatar. I spent about a week at Camp Virginia in Kuwait getting acclimatized to the time shift and weather... F*CK is it hot over here (113 deg today in Qatar)

Overall, it took about a month after I left Monterey to get done with everything and finally get here.

Place is the best so far in the trip (except San Diego)... decent housing (converted connex boxes inside warehouse) and decent amenities nice Gym, PX, and Dfac. Well this will be my home for the next year away from my family. I hope to be able to get back on here more often.

I'm just really glad that my orders changed from Iraq to Qatar and I won't have to dodge mortars and look out for IEDs... best of luck to all my brothers in Afghanistan and Iraq

btw, Airforce buddies... flying on a C130 SUCKS!

 

Thanks for your service. Stay safe Mark!

 

You'll have fun in Qatar. That used to be an R&R lay over spot prior to going back to the states. It's going to get hotter there in July, we have the PATRIOT Air Defense system there, check it out if you get a chance. Enjoy your stay there and save the tax free pay checks!!

 

Oh I plan to save as much as I can while I'm here...

 

do some work bud!

 

If you have some extra cash in savings, look into investing into the SDP program. You get 10% interest for 1 year and can put up to $10,000 total in. I did it during my current deployment and will cash that sucker in when I return at the end of this month.

 

Already on it... its just too bad that that the interest is taxable

my goal is 30-40K saved at the least

 

Yeah I think it's bs about being taxed, but what can you do? A plus is when you do your taxes, you are in a lower tax bracket due to Uncle Sam only seeing your income off of your base pay. I saved roughly $35K which includes paying the last $12,000 of the taco off while I was here. But upon returning to the states I will get my per diem pay and cash in that SDP . Cant wait to see my family soon!

 

Thank you for your service Mark.
Glad you're ok.

 

You could always walk...or take a ship.

.....former C130 type.

 

haha, yeah a ship... probably would have more comfortable but not nearly as quick

 

C130 ride into Iraq is alomost like riding on a rollercoaster with the random nose dives.

 

I think the flyboys love to see the look on your face when they make they dive toward the airfield. I know they made a few of the chicks on our flight in scream a little.

 

Oh yeah, the SDP money has to be put in before the 10th of the month to accrue the interest for the month. They didn't tell me that little tidbit....

Also, I know Camp VA says they can do all $10K at once, but the Army finance folks will only put in up to your max monthly rate. That's stupid IMHO, but whatever.

I was just at McCrady in Feb. I bet the weather was a lot better than yours - 70s and no real precipitation. welcome in -theater.

 

exactly... I just dumped some cash and set up an allottment for the rest

 

It's won't be that bad...I'm in Baghdad right now. Will be moving to Qatar because of the withdraw. I'd like to save some money. I need to knock some sense into the wife about spending money on things not needed.

 

Its not that bad here... just pretty boring and hot

 

Thanks for your Service!!!

 

Yea I feel the same way about Iraq. It's a good thing I work night. I get to sleep in my CHU with the a/c turned to max.

 

Yeah its freezing in my CHU