Operation Groundhog Day Turn Around Pt 8

As agreed earlier in the day, once the bus has dropped off the drivers, the gear is loaded, and trucks are given their pre-trip inspection, everyone sets to work assisting with swapping the broken tractor with the spare one. Even with this issue and the less than ideal sleep everyone got during the day, morale is high. Although the common attitude expressed among drivers is that any day on the road is better than a day in the Shire all of them are looking forward to being back there, even if only for a couple of days or less.

This is the last leg of the mission, and the work day will end with the drivers back in the Shire. To a person it always feels like the longest part of the journey as the drivers will literally go from one end of Kuwait to the other. Once on the other end they will off-load the equipment they have been hauling, then return to the Shire where the trucks will be washed, maintenanced, and a company-level post-trip maintenance inspection will be performed. If the clip has not been allocated again by this point they will be given the next full 24 hours off to relax and unwind after a much longer than expected mission.

The clip discovers that indeed Lady Luck is smiling on them. They leave the FOB earlier than scheduled, are able to link up with their Kuwaiti escort quickly, and the only issue off-loading is how to get a dead vehicle off a trailer. At first they attempt to simply roll it off after tilting the trailer back, but there is not enough air in the system to release the brakes. A wretch is brought in to attempt to lift the load off the truck, but a lack of hard points on the load makes the effort a vain one. Eventually the mechanics simply swap batteries with a set from a spare vehicle and the load is driven off the trailer. The drivers quickly stow their chains and less than twenty minutes later the clip is out the gate and on their way to the Shire.

Once at the Shire the trucks are washed, fuel is topped off, a post mission maintenance check performed, paperwork is handed in, weapons are returned to the Arms Room, and for the last time the drivers unload their gear from the trucks. Unlike the last sixteen days however, this time the drivers' gear is taken to their lockers in the barracks. The clip is given the night off and the drivers, who during the mission have been hanging out with each other 24/7, go about their separate ways for a while, each going about their individual routine.

At long last the mission is officially over.

Despite the long trip, morale was always high and talk of being sent back out after only a day of rest in the Shire was constant. The members of the clip are not mere drivers, they are operators in every sense of the word as it applies to those who’s duty it is to move equipment for the military. Professional, dedicated, they put their hearts into all they do, working hard, and playing harder. Despite the many set-backs and delays of this mission the members of the clip continuously went forward with upbeat attitude and a sense of duty that those outside of uniform can never really understand.

~~~

Operation Groundhog Day Turn Around Pt 7

The stars in the sky are visible like a thousand diamonds in the black velvet cloak of night. The clip is given word that not only will it be departing this night, but leaving quite earlier than expected. Once down the road the reason for the early release is evident, for within an hour the road is a continuous stream of vehicle lights like some mystical serpent of legend that stretches from horizon to horizon.

Eight days after they are scheduled to have returned to the Shire the clip departs, and for once Fortune smiles upon them for they reach their intended destination for the night: Kuwait. As the sun rises, its rays reveal the clip’s trucks being inspected by Customs at the border crossing between the two nations.

As well as things are going and as positive as the morale among the clip is, the mission is still a day away from being complete. After clearing Customs the clip will move out to their “over night” destination for some much needed rest. During what turns out to be a shorter than usual wait, the members of the clip form small groups to socialize, mingle with members of other convoys that are waiting as well, and those with cell phones that already have signal start to bring them out and call home so that loved ones can sleep a bit more peacefully knowing that their soldiers are safer.

Once again the age of the HETs becomes apparent. During the post-trip maintenance checks it is discovered that the lead HET, the vehicle with the most issues this trip, has a blown seal on a wheel hub that needs to be replaced. Being an intensive fix it is decided that first thing the next night the tractor will be swapped out with the spare that the clip has brought along for just such an occasion. The drivers have just gotten their gear off their trucks when the bus arrives to take them to their billets. After grabbing some food the drivers get some much needed sleep. Sleep doesn’t come easy for most of them as the A/C in the tent is having issues keeping up with the intense heat of the desert day. Despite the A/C issue, everyone eventually drifts off to sleep.

~~~

Operation Groundhog Day Turn Around Pt 6

The clip is in good spirits as they load their gear onto their trucks and perform the usual nightly pre-trip maintenance to them. The stars are out, they slept well, and are looking forward to reaching Kuwait even if it does mean tonight will be the longest of the mission. They soon find out however, the black cloud of bad luck has found them again…

The clip arrives at their trucks earlier than usual this trip. Tonight they are planning to drive all the way to Kuwait, a task that will take them until well after sunset to reach their destination. A short while after the trucks are packed and nightly maintenance performed the security element drops off the evening’s supply of ice, water, Gatorade, and snacks. Things continue on as normal, radio checks are made, some drivers gather at the front of the convoy and socialize with drivers from other convoys, while others read or play video games on their PSPs.

A half-hour before departure time the clip gathers for the nightly safety/intelligence brief. Once the drivers are all present the CC breaks the bad news: once again due to weather the clip will be waiting for clearance to head out. The news receives mixed responses, most of them positive, and a few jokes are made about the blame belonging to a clip member who is only tagging along as an observer this mission. A small debate begins over how many days now the clip has been delayed totaled. As a result of so many days being the same and running together there is no agreement over how many days the clip has been delayed this will be.

With an upbeat outlook the drivers go back to their trucks and wait for word that they will either be leaving the FOB tonight, or that their stand-down time has arrived. While they wait another convoy from the company arrives at the FOB and parks beside them in the staging area. The atmosphere is some-what like a family reunion as friends catch up on what has been going on in each other’s lives since the clips have been on the road.

At last the word is given that indeed the clip will be spending another night at the FOB. With neutral outlook the drivers gather their gear and make the return walk to their tents. Once again they have a meal at the DFAC and look forward to some sleep. Between the two however they spend more time with the members of the other clip for a couple hours.

For some clip members the weather delays have been a good thing. The general consensus among the members of the clip is that any day on the road is a good because it is one less day in the Shire. Some however do not mind being in Kuwait and the delays are a nuisance. Over all though, even those who do not like being in Kuwait begin to show signs of fatigue from being gone so long, and every member is starting to mention their awaiting mail back in the Shire.

~~~

Operation Groundhog Day Turn Around Pt 5

After a few nights of delays from a dust storm that seems to hover around the clip like a cloud of bad luck they arrive at what should be the second to last stop in Iraq before returning to Kuwait. Hopes are high that the first night will be the only night spent at the FOB. Mother Nature (or possible Lady Luck) has other plans for the clip however...

The clip arrives at the FOB just past sunrise. Morale is good as this FOB is well liked by most of the clip members. The DFAC is within walking distance, as is the PX, gym, phones, and the Green Beans coffee shop. The A/C in the tents is working well, and some of the clip pay the small fee for wireless internet use in the tents. Before the afternoon arrives however, a thick layer of dust starts to descend on the FOB. By evening visibility is low and after five hours the clip's trip for the night is canceled. Half grumbling, half happy, the clip carries their baggage from the trucks and walks back to their billets to make another attempt at leaving the next night.

The following night the dust level is the same as the previous. In fact, the next three nights are more of the same. The clip starts to feel like it is living the movie Ground Hog's Day as each night they awaken, carry their gear to the trucks, wait five to six hours, and then carry everything back to their tent. By this time both the civilian and military vehicles need to be refueled and both groups need to have their water and ice supplies restocked.

Finally, after being delayed four nights it appears the clip may be leaving the FOB and heading to their final destination in Iraq before arriving in Kuwait. At this point morale is an even split between semi-upbeat and starting to go down-hill. The days have started merging together into an indiscernible blur.

After five full days, four of which are delays from the dust storm, the skies are clear from a little before sunrise and past the clip’s departure time. As a result of all the delays across the country the roads are busier than usual and it takes a while for the clip to actually leave the FOB. Once the gate is cleared by the last vehicle in the convoy a sense of happiness and relief rises from the members of the clip, similar to a heavy weight being lifted from their shoulders. At first it would appear that like the dust storm, the black cloud of bad luck has left them.

The clip is cheerful as they load their gear onto their HETs. Almost every member slept longer than usual today, a possible sign that deep in the recesses of their minds they all realized tonight was the night they would be leaving the FOB after a longer than planned stay. Even though they were delayed for a total of four days, and stayed a total five, it has not been “time off” as each night they had to load the trucks and then wait at the staging area until the stand-down sign was given. The waiting averaged six hours a night, some longer, and was anything but relaxing.

On this night however things go well. The trucks’ fuel tanks are topped off, water, ice, Gatorade, Rip Its, and snacks are replenished. A last minute call for a change in personnel is received, and the unusual volume of traffic on the road delays the clip an hour before they actually pass through the gate of the FOB and are once again on “the road”.

The drive tonight ends up being a shorter one than planned however. The various delays, added to the max speed the convoy is allowed to travel, results in the clip not being able to reach their destination within the time window they are allowed to travel. At literally the last minute before it is too late they are instructed by their higher headquarters to stop for the night at the truck stop/FOB between their last stop and their planned one. This is met with an unanimous bitterness from the members of the clip. After being grounded for almost a week total so far this mission the clip was looking forward to making more progress on reaching the end of this mission.

After making a quick U-turn the clip heads toward the gate of tonight’s FOB. The road has recently been narrowed as half of it has been returned to civilian use. Concrete barriers line one side of the road, with sand filled, paper-like, wire framed Hesco barriers line the other. The lane is narrow, extremely close to being the same width as the HETs, and previous convoys have damaged the Hescos to the point that many have spilled onto the road, their wire frames hanging out eager to catch upon vehicles and tires.

While on his way through the lane one of the members of the clip feels his truck start to bog down and meet resistance. Unknown to him at the time, the last axle on his trailer has become caught in a broken Hesco. Fighting his way through it, the driver frees the truck and continues on.


A quick inspection while waiting at the gate to the FOB reveals something none of the clip has ever seen before: not only are the outer tires on the third and fourth axle popped, but the tire on the fifth axle is completely missing. The rim is still present and in perfect condition, but the tire is missing. After the trucks have been refueled and parked for the night the drivers of the truck with the blown and missing tires do a quick swap-out and the truck is once again ready to roll. Once this is completed the clip members head to their tent for the night to drop off their gear before enjoying a hot breakfast followed by sleep.

~~~

Operation Groundhog Day Turn Around Pt 4

So far the clip's mission has been a mixed one. Some things have gone well, but incidences beyond their control seem to plague them almost nightly. At this point morale is still good for most, yet others are starting to see their's waiver. The clip successfully travels from their current FOB after a night's delay and arrive at their next destination. While there it is discovered there are some previously unknown issues...

The clip is now at their third stop in Iraq. While here they quickly find out that the black cloud hovering over them has yet to move on. First there is an issue with the paperwork for their loads, then it is discovered that a truck has yet another brake chamber issue. In addition to these problems, the TCN team spends an extra three hours processing the civilian drivers that accompany the clip. The processing is an expected issue, but the length of time it takes is a surprise. At this FOB, TCNs (Third Country Nationals) are assigned their own area to remain during the stay, separate from and on the other side of the post from where the military members spend the night. Having left the night before around 3 A.M. it is 3:30 P.M. before all the clip members are in the billets and bedded down until later in the night.

Fortunately the clip is only delayed leaving by an hour or so and is able to take off the first night being on the FOB. The trip to their next destination finds the front truck making two wrong turns, which they immediately correct and no other members of the clip make. They are briefly delayed by a route clearance team investigating a suspected IED, and just past sunrise are told to pull in to a FOB short of their destination.

The clip is slightly annoyed at having to stop short of their destination. However their higher command has decided that due to the time of month it is not worth risking possible threats by remaining on the road for another hour until they reach their intended FOB. The black cloud continues to hang over the clip as for the next night they are once again grounded due to dust storms. Luckily the delay is only one night, and the next night the clip leaves as planned, with only a short drive to make to reach their original destination for this leg of the mission.

~~~