The (Wretched) Deployment Begins...

    Kicking and screaming the Air Force has managed to send me on one more deployment, my fifth(and final?). Today I departed home, sweet home - my gorgeous wife and two incredibly awesome sons - for the continent of Africa. Djibouti (pronounced "JA BOOTY") to be exact; for those of you who may not know where I've attached a map.

It's right there in the crack of the world, on the East coast of Africa near the Horn. A strategic spot to go chasing pirates and hunting down terrorists, for helping the impoverished throughout the continent, and especially for reaping its resources before Japan, China and the rest get it all. I'm not exactly sure why they need me there, but the position asked for a pilot. I won't be flying, so I don't know why they need a pilot - it's not as if there is a shortage Air Force wide (sarcasm - huge shortage, especially fighter pilots). I'm sure I'll be there to feed the monster that is the AFRICOM Commander's staff. Each and every major command has a ginormous following to run things - highly inefficient and wasteful, but the Generals love it. So when I return I expect to get back to the same as before - traveling to every Active Duty Air Force base with a flying Wing. Myself and a maintainer (Maj Chad Oba) teach the Mission Generation Road Course (MGRC) an operations and maintenance integration class for pilots (operators) and maintainers. I'll also keep flying the T-38 as a Pilot training instructor when I am home at Sheppard. One year from my return I'm eligible for retirement, but I enjoy and am proud of what I do (particularly when I am home) and hope to stay in the AF a few years longer... we'll see.