Soon to be over!!

The adventure commonly referred to as KFOR 12 will soon be over. Our replacements have arrived and we are in the process of pulling away from our missions and allowing KFOR 13 to take over. All in all the KFOR 12 mobilization has been a good one. I have had an opprotunity to meet, work with, and befriend many great people and soldiers. Following 11 years in the ADA (air defense artillery) this mission provided a nice change of pace. I was doing things that i had never done before, with people who had never worked with before in a place that i had never imagined or planned on going. The people that i worked and the place (Kosovo) in which i worked are the two things that i learned the most about.

The place: Kosovo is fledgeling democarcy attempting to take flight. It has its set backs, but really what newly formed country found success quickly. There is crime and corruption, smuggling and crocked government employees, high school graduates with nothing to look forward to, struggling economy and sky high unemployment rate. Yeah, so. That could describe and town in almost any region of the United States. Yes, people are and things are done different in Kosovo. Does that make them wrong. I dont think so. The people here are doing what they have to do to get by and provide for their families. I cant say that if placed in the same situation that i would act much differently.

The people were great. Yes, there were plenty of bitches, gripes, and complaints but whinning was something that was a bit tougher to come by. the difference you ask. BGCs are the everyday things, mainly directed at the way big army or big organizations work in general. such as, we are not allowed to change light bulbs when they burn out. you have to call the light bulb replacement team and schedule them. computer issues where popular as well as the food. computers are machines and machines do what they want some times. the food issue i see like this. you put people some place and they eat at the same place at the same time and have relatively the same options day in and day out, over time there will be complaints. in all reality in a few months you would probably find that most people that lived on CBS (Camp Bondsteel) would have few BGCs about the food. Ok, got off track the people. The army has a formula, which to my knowledge isnt written anywhere but goes pretty much like this.

(people + same job + 7 days a week + confined areas + varying amounts of pressure = good friends or i never want to see you again enemy) well i have to say that i have made it through another mobilization and cant say that i have reached the i never want to see you again stage with anyone that i work with. dont get me wrong, i recognize that some of the people i work with i need to deal with in doses, but for the most part i have built good relationships with many people i didnt know at all or knew very little prior to KFOR 12 and i plan on remaining in contact with them in the future.

with that mess of words on the page i will conclude this post. i dont plan to add another until i am on US soil. with that said. Signing off from Kosovo. 1LT Jay G. Sheldon