[kells81]

I left for Iraq last monday, anyway in the last week have just been dickin around doing much a nothing. I was supposed to fly from Liberty to IZ the last 3 days but 2 days flight was cancelled due to a dust storm and the other well not sure WTF happened there. Soo skipping the IZ trip and am flying up to Balod friday, Hopefully no dust then and can actually get on a bird.

Anyway while out milling around Liberty have been to a couple PX/BX's, some Dfacs 3 diff ones, and some other places.

Seen tons of different configs of M-16's A1 A2 and even A3 uppers with fixed and collapse stocks , M-4's A2 A3 and M-WTF's, gets pretty easy to tell the desk monkey's from the real combat soldiers here,
Oddly the contractors at the DFAC's most have 16" carbines and 16" M-4's, look to be semi Auto.

Now to the odd stuff.
Seen a couple of M-14's, pretty neat looking rigs, marines, and some army.
AK-47's Private contractors, not sure what company, but 5 of them, all underfolders, and none had flash hiders, all had thread protectors.

G-36's, seen a crew of about 10 whatever the hell they were at the LZ today all had 36's, I really really wanted to take pics of them but not sure on the properness of that yet, so until I have a good answer I will not take a pic of any troops or weapons.

Now the kicker, if I see this guy in the DFAC again I will ask for a pic. Was carrying a XCR, look to have had a 11-12" barrel, Aimpoint, ARMS 40L, Troy front, Magpul Mags in chest rig, side folding with magpul stock.



Heres a View from the my hotel room in Kuwait I stayed there a couple days,

 

[TerraShrewsbury]

Hope everything is going well there!

 

[piusmilitis]

which service are you in? I spent a year in Baghdad myself. don't be suprised to see m-14's and AK's. Ak's are, of course, everywhere there and the army has been fielding M-14's in Iraq forthe past few years. When I was over there each squad had a designated marksman armed with an M-14 and an M-16A4.

 

[captain92]

Be careful and definitely let us know about the weapons you see. I would like to know more about that XCR as well.

 

[kells81]

That hotel cost more than I made in an entire month when I was an E-3 in the Army. I work for one of the top company's over here, everything is first class, no ground transport, all movement is in the air. I know if I travelled outside I would see tons of AK's, but that wont happen. Hopefully I will see the XCR again and get a pic of it. And sooner or later will figure out the proper ediqet of taking pictures of soldiers/weapons.

 

[aziator]

I am here at Balad if you get up here.

 

[kells81]

Leaving for Balad on Friday if my bird doesnt get dusted etc. The IZ trip has been scratched so just gonna head up there to fill in for a guy that is going on R&R

 

[aziator]

What do you do? I am an Army Flier.

 

[kells81]

Electrical Supere for Perini, we do the overhead coverings for the DFACS etc. Will be up there on a fuel storage tank project filling in for a guy that is heading out on leave. be there 2-3 weeks then heading down to IZ for a spell before I head up north somewhere.

 

[amprecon]

I was in Balad from Jan '05 to Apr '06 working for the 'corp...Dyncorp that is. Aircraft maintenance on their C-12's and UC-35. Could've done a complete two-years except that company is so screwed up I just couldn't stand it anymore. Never saw any XCR's, but plenty of M4's and 16A2's and a few tricked out 14's.

 

[aziator]

Amp, guess you were working at the Thunderdome?? That is where I am right now, flying RC-12

 

[amprecon]

Yep, the 'Dome was the hangar, almost right behind the control tower, does it still have the mortar hole in the ceiling?

 

[aziator]

No, the roof is repaired. We have made lots of improvements to it...Still, only C-12s, RC-12s and Sherpa park over here. Some things will never change.

 

[amprecon]

Oh the sherpa's. I was there when the Duncan contractors went on strike 'cause their new company M7 cut their pay. Quite a few Dyncorp peeps pushed their toolboxes across the hangar to work for them then, including my sup. and both the Dyncorp RC-12 sups. What a mess. If things go Tango Uniform here, I'll be back.