Working in Iraq
These are the pics from the area I work in. My basic function is to maintain a
satellite shot using an STT rig and SWAN system. For thos who don't know what
SWAN stands for, it's Satellite Wide Area Network. I already had a satellite
background from the Navy and I spent additional time in Duluth Georgia learning
specific equipment that my company runs. I was in a class of 5, can you tell
which one I am? LOL
My main mission here in TQ it to receive feeds from an Unamanned Ariel Vehicle.
Im sure most of you have seen areial footage of bombs going into bunkers or views of enemy territory
from above or even convoys on the road. Well the feed is sent from the UAV
Now there are several bad things about working way out in the boonies where
my rig is. First off if you have to umm, use the facilities, be prepared and
plan ahead, don't wait til the last minute because it's a nice little distance
to get to the PORT-O-LET
Let's not talk about using it at night. Here in Iraq it is pitch dark at about
7:50pm so not just the walk out there is bad but once you get in the por-o-let
remember your vectors from earlier because you are in the blind now. It takes
some trial and error which I found out but I finally got it down.. *smile*
Another bad thing is driveing around this base. I will never complain about the
roads in the US again. I mean all we drive on is dirt and sandy roads. Now, it
may sound pretty good but now imagine the dirt and sand packing down and then
you get a tracked vehicle chopping it up. The roads are treacherous. We drive a little Mitsubishi flatbed truck, of course you know it's all over the place.
Well, until I take more pics, this is it for now. Keep checking back.
To return to main page
Back to Iraq page