The Time Has Come . . .

For those of you who have been most gracious in sending care packages, my comrades and I send you the sincerest of Thank You’s. In addition to being a huge supporter of our Wounded Warriors here on KAF, I have also been able to share the wealth with others at outlying Forward Operating Bases (FOB’s) and Combat Out Posts (COP’s). COPS are smaller than FOB’s though some FOB’s and COP’s do not even have their own dining facility. Some must cook food in Mobile Kitchen Trailers (MKT’s) and cook only that food with they are able to receive via convoy or air-dropped in. Watching an air drop is an amazing sight…..Essentially, items are placed on a pallet (if possible) and a parachute is attached to that pallet. Once palletized, an aircraft (fixed wing or rotary) take the items to be air-dropped out and drop the items either in a Landing Zone (LZ) or a Drop Area and drop the items! Air Drops are not limited to food and water. Depending on the ability to reach the area via land, items as large as Tanks can be air-dropped as in the attached picture. Humanitarian drops are also rather common. Humanitarian drops have been used in Haiti, Afghanistan and a host of other locations throughout the world where land or sea navigation is not possible. I’m also including a public photo of a rather large humanitarian drop which shows 40 bundles of humanitarian supplies being dropped from a C-17 to a drop zone in Afghanistan some time ago.

I have some good news for those who desire to continue sending care packages even after I redeploy back to the United States. Our Wounded Warriors and other brave men and women who continue serving at FOB’s and COP’s still need your support because they, often times, aren’t able to purchase or obtain even the most basic of items. I will soon have information where such items can be sent.

Until then, know that I eagerly await my transition back to the United States (can’t accept any more mail since it may not make it here before I leave) and am very much looking forward to re-joining my family to create new and exciting memories for all of us to experience and remember! My replacement arrives tomorrow and that will make my departure seem that much more real. Rather ironic that he’ll be arriving on the Birthday of the Chief Petty Officer (118 years young)…and Uncle Dave! Happy Birthday Uncle Dave and Navy Chiefs serving around the globe!