Happy Halloween

Our Halloween Party was a success!!! A huge thank you to everyone that helped us pull this off! Everyone had a blast dressing up for pictures and playing games. The decorations helped completely transform our plywood-walled MWR into a ghoulishly wonderful Halloween room for a party.

Certified Emergency Nurse

I seem to have a lot of down time while awaiting a call for MEDEVAC. So I decided to put some of my spare time to good use. Back in September I signed up to take the Certified Emergency Nurse Exam. A few years ago I got the Critical-Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) certification so I figured, why not get another certification.

The test was rather easy. Much easier than I had anticipated. Now that I have passed this one, I guess it is time to study for another one...

Guess grad school isn't as far away as I thought it would be...

Blast from the past

Today was a great day! While visiting with the Docs and Nurses at the local Forward Surgical Team I ran into CPT Tanya Dickey. CPT Dickey is the pharmacist that I was deployed with at the 47th CSH in Iraq. I knew she was in Afghansitan, but had no idea she was on FOB Sharana for a visit and she had no idea I was on Sharana. We had a great time catching up over lunch! I don't think I had smiled that much in a while!

Honoring the California Fallen

Army Sergeant Carlo F. Eugenio, 29, of Rancho Cucamonga, CA, was assigned to the 756th Transportation Company, 224th Sustainment Brigade, California Army National Guard, Van Nuys, CA. SGT Eugenio died in the Kabul province, Afghanistan, of wounds sustained from an improvised explosive device.

Also killed were Army Lieutenant Colonel David E. Cabrera, Army Staff Sergeant Crhistopher R. Newman, and Army Sergeant James M. Darrough.

Honoring the California Fallen

Marine Staff Sergeant Stephen J. Dunning, 31, of Milpitas, CA, was assigned to the 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan. SSG Dunning died in the Helmand province, Afghanistan, while conducting combat operations.

Awesome Crew Chiefs of 1st Platoon

Not only do the Crew Chiefs of the 1st Platoon of C-3/82 keep the aircraft up and running, they keep all of us safe when we fly out to pick up our patients. An amazing group of guys that I have been very fortunate to get to work with.

Honoing the Calfornia Fallen

Army Sergeant First Class Kristoffer B. Domeij, 29, of San Diego, CA, was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA. SFC Domeij died in the Kandahar province, Afghanistan, of wound sustained suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.

Honoring the Califonria Fallen

Army Private First Class Steven F. Shapiro, 29, of Hidden Valley Lake, CA, was assigned to teh 3rd Battalion 8th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, TX. PFC Shapiro died in Talil, Iraq.

Honoring the Paktika Province Loses

Navy Chief Petty Officer Raymond J. Border, 31, of West Lafayette, OH, was assigned to Navy Mobile Construction Battalion 74 in Gulfport, Miss. CPO Border died while assessing a route in Paktika province, Afghanistan.

Army Staff Sergeant Jorge M. Oliveira, 33, of Newark, NJ, was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 113th Infantry Regiment, 50th Brigade Combat Team, Riverdale, NJ. SSG Oliveria died in Paktika province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device.

Camisha's Spur Ride

Tonight was a fun night in our tent as we got Camisha (my fellow RN) ready for tomorrow's Spur Ride. Since the MEDEVAC unit here is under operational control of the 1-227 CAV, we are eligible to participate in their Spur Ride. Because of the nature of our job, only one of us can participate at a time. This month, it is all Camisha!

Historically, a new soldier assigned to a Calvary Regiment was given a horse that had a shaved tail and the soldier was not allowed to wear spurs. The new soldier went through extensive training on horsemanship and combat before being allowed to wear spurs while riding. Over time as the Cavalry "dismounted" for WW2 the tradition of earning of the spurs changed. Soldiers deployed with the Calvary Regiment can earn their spurs through deployment in a combat zone or by participating in a Spur Ride.

Camisha is getting to do hers this month and I am hoping to get to participate in a Spur Ride in December. It all depends on what the unit here is able to do, but the CAV leadership here really wants me to get to participate with them...I am hopeful

Deployed Birthdays

In mid-September one of my roommates, CPL Sophia Hernandez celebrated a birthday. Unfortunately, I was at work and Camisha was in a different part of Afghanistan. While we were bummed to miss celebrating with her, we promised we would make it up to her.

In late-October, Camisha will celebrate her 21st (+9) birthday. For her birthday, she will be at work and I will be in a different part of Afghanistan.

So, we celebrated tonight! My mom had sent me some luau themed decorations and some food so we could make some Afghan stir fry! While the food was nothing remarkable, it sure was great to eat something that did not come from the dining facility (DFAC). Through our connections at the DFAC we were able to get a lemon cake for all to share. It was a great evening of fun and laughter!

Wedding favors

Today I got an awesome package from my family! My cousin Allison got married to a great guy named Ben a few days ago. I was super bummed not to be able to attend the wedding as I am here in Afghanistan, but my mom sent me some little gifts from their wedding. I got a copy of the wedding program, some bubbles in a little champagne bottle, a picture of Allison and Ben, and some bride and groom cookies.

Seriously, these care packages are getting better and better!

Honoring the California Fallen

Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 James B. Wilke, 38, of Ione, CA., was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command, Fort Bliss, TX. CWO3 Wilke died in Doha, Qatar, in a noncombat incident.

Allison and Ben's Wedding

Congratulations to Mr and Mrs Ben Tillman!!!
And welcome to the family Ben!!!

My cousin Allison got married today!!! There are not words to express how excited I am for her and Ben!

Since I am here in Afghanistan, I was unable to attend the event...well, okay, I sort of got to attend. I worked with my Mom and Dad to create a life-sized custom cardboard cutout of me so that I could "attend" the wedding. From the stories I have heard it sounds like I am quite the dancer!

I love you Allison! I am so excited for you and Ben!

Honoring the California Fallen

Army Specialist Ricardo Cerros Jr., 24, of Salinas, CA, was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA. SPC Cerros died in the Logar province, Afghanistan, of wounds caused by small-arms fire.

My Mornings

 

Mornings at work have become very routine. Every morning the junior pilot and the crew chief complete a full inspection of the aircraft while the medic and the nurse inspect all the medical equipment inside the aircraft. The senior pilot is usually getting briefed on weather and other things while this is happening. Once the senior pilot arrives at the aircraft he briefs the crew on our mission for the day and reviews safety protocols. Once that is complete, the crew begins run-up. Run-up includes starting the engines and testing the different systems. We can go days without flying a mission, so it is important to check the aircraft every day.
Our crew chiefs are awesome at their job. They are responsible for the "well-being" of the aircraft. Because of the dusty and austere environment that we are in, there are always little things to be cleaned and fixed. I have really enjoyed working with the crew chiefs here in learning more about the aircraft. While I cannot fix anything major, there are a bunch of little things that the crew chiefs have taught me. We joke saying that the Camisha, the other nurse here with me, and I are going to be honorary crew chiefs before we leave here!