Aug 03 2008
MAO Replacements
My replacement, LTC Rob Hynes, arrived today along with Rick’s replacement, MAJ John Nufable. They hit the ground in Kuwait in the wee hours of the morning, rested for a few hours, then jumped on a C17 and flew to Mosul. Rick and I picked them up at the airfield about midday. We brought them back to the USACE compound, dropped off their bags, then walked over to the DFAC for lunch.
After lunch, we took care of the most important business first, computer paperwork. I had them go through the various IT policies and briefings so that they can get their computer accounts as soon as possible! I’m looking forward to sending an email that says “Please add LTC Rob Hynes to all emails for the MAO OIC”. After that, I launched into the Mosul Area Office briefing. It made me feel like I was back at West Point teaching cadets again. Imagine this. You’ve flown halfway around the world to a timezone with a 7 hour difference. You haven’t slept in a couple of days. It’s 115 F outside. You just ate lunch. You’re sitting in an air-conditioned office. Now some guy is droning on and on giving a PowerPoint presentation. I think they look pretty good considering my 3 hours of briefing torture!
LTC Rob Hynes, MAJ Rick Biddle & MAJ John Nufable
You are a pro at getting out of Dodge. First you move into visitors lodging, next you hand over your desk and computer, within 8 hours of arrival you have briefed him on everything, and soon you will drive around and introduce him to everybody and his brother (In Iraq it’s essential to meet the brother as well). All emails will soon automatically go to him and you will fade into the background until you disappear onto the flight out. Leaving a place without looking back…Nobody does it better than you!
The only thing holding us back right now is getting his computer account finalized. The paperwork has been submitted; we’re just waiting for the account to get established. As soon as that’s done, he’ll get the keys to the office!
The Thunder Run has linked to this post in the blog post From the Front: 08/04/2008 News and Personal dispatches from the front and the home front.