Welcome to Balad

...or maybe the Army is just harrassing us.

Our defensive posture went up Sunday afternoon. Sunday is enlisted folk's and contractors' day off, and the officers' half-day off. Thus, it was a perfect time to notify everyone via email that they will be denied access to all chow halls unless they're wearing their "battle rattle,"* effective immediately. Don't you think?

* I hear AF people call it "battle rattle," but I don't think a flak vest and kevlar helmet actually qualifies. "Battle rattle," methinks, includes LBE (Load Bearing Equipment) complete with all the stuff soldiers attach to it (the "load" in question), M-16 and ammo pouches, as well as the vest and helmet we wear. I think AF people use the term because they don't know what it really means. Plus it sounds cool.

So over 24-hours after the kid was hit, the Multi-National Corps--Iraq (MNC-I) decided we would wear our IPE (Individual Protective Equipment) whenever we weren't "inside a hardened or semi-hardened facility,"* effective immediately.

* I'm guessing hardened would involve either concrete buildings or concrete barriers and semi-hardened would be sandbags.

Jeff had the day off but came in to get a vehicle and go to chow (there being no chow halls in our immediate vicinity). The private at the door of the chow hall would not allow him access because he wasn't wearing IPE.

OK. To get the full picture here, you must realize that the chow halls are not even semi-hardened.* Not a concrete barrier or sandbag near it. Just huge bunkers out front for people to run into if they're nearby and an Alarm Red sounds (another stupidity--the last place you want to be when Alarm Red sounds is on your feet, running or otherwise). Further, if you're in the chow hall (ahem...I mean DFAC) at the time, however, they bar the doors and don't let anyone out or anyone in.

* How stupid is that? Pick a place where there are large congregations of people at four predictable times of day, and leave them unhardened.

You should see the stupidity mounting here already. But it gets better. Jeff pops in to eat, without his gear because he didn't get the email, and the private at the door won't let him in. Jeff says, "But you aren't wearing IPE."

The private says, "That's because I'm under cover."

I believe I've mentioned before my lack of tolerance for stupidity. If it's important to be protected and you're under cover, why would deny entrance to an unprotected man? If he was under cover in the first place, I mean.

So anyway. He decided not to make a scene--something that happens occasionally when an AF person points out some Army stupidity--as the opportunity will undoubtedly rise again soon. He went back for his gear.

At about the same time, they shut down all MWR (Morale, Welfare and Recreation) facilities, including the BX, the gym, the pool, and the recreation center until further notice. This was another Army bright idea.

Take a large group of people who are worked too hard and unhappy already. Throw in some close attacks and a seriously wounded man. Up the force protection level and make them wear the heavy gear, even to the portapotty. Then take away their only means of physical release. (Add to this the fact that the rec tent and the gym are to two most hardened and therefore safest places in T-Town.)

Good thinking, guys.

Our wing commander ordered our services people to open the gym and rec center the next day. Good man. Taking care of his people.

The next day, they dropped the requirement for us to wear our IPE. Just like that, it went back to the way it was before.

Why do I feel like I'm trapped in a huge game of Simon Says?

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