Howdy folks, I'll bring ya up to speed....Big Al is back on orders and I am currently in Germany just having returned from a WONDERFUL holiday down at Baghram, Shitholeisstan and I have to vent.Yesterday, we fly into A'Stan to pick up 8 pallets and 54 Joes. As they board, I see nothing but 82nd patches!! My eyes well with tears, my broad chest swells with pride and I am in my element!! I prompltly reach in my flight suit pocket and take out my Division patch that I always carry, tear off (velcro'd) my squadron patch and slap on the ol' gang sign. The boys were from 4th BDE, the 508th PIR!
I welcome my brothers (and one hot chick paratrooper 
) and tell them we will get them all home safe and sound!!! A lotta Hooahs and what not, then I dropped the bombshell........I explained that we could not take off until I had a show of hands of how many 82nd ABN DIV Association members I had on board. LOL! A few hands didn't go up so I said until I had their $15.00 dollars and a signature on my application forms, we weren't leaving.
Well , that got a buncha boos and I think some hisses, but it was all in good natured fun. Althought I did get into some majors shit about not being an AA member.....
I glanced through the manifest and lo' and behold I found two 11 Chucks amongst the Bravo rabble. They were promptly given seats on the flight deck courtesy of the Mortarman Secret Networking Association and Drinking Club!
Anyhoo, were are scheduled to fly up to Manas AB, Kyrgzstan (or how ever the hell you spell it...) to refuel and spend the night. Next day, travel up to Germany, crew swap and send them boys home............
So you'd think.
We get alerted this morning, go over to ATOC and I get the load brief. Guy says I got seven through loaded pallets and 7 passengers.
I said no I don't, I got 8 pallets and 54 joes to take back home.
He says, No the Army LNO says they can't go..........
I say What the fuck do you mean they can't go?? Who is this Army LNO?
He says, some female Army captain. Hegoes on to say she says they are scheduled to commercial out of there in a WEEK to fly home.
I about came unglued!
No really, I about lost it.
I say you mean to tell me my jet is going all the way back to Bragg in 18 hours and you are letting 47 EMPTY seats go???
He says yes sergeant. The LNO says they have to wait for the commercial ride home. They came up early so they have to wait.
So we came to Germany with 47 empty seats and left 51 paratroopers stewing at Manas AB all because some fucking Army LNO captain decided they have to stick to their redeployment schedule!!
Nevermind the fact that they have been incountry for 15 months away from family and loved ones and here sits a frickin' jet ready to take them home, but some fucking BEAN COUNTER doesn't want to fuck with the bean count, and cockblocks the whole troop movement.
This individual is there to ensure the troops get home, she should use some common sense. If the AF has 3 seats available, 3 people go. If there are 54, 54 go. Then the rest go as the commercial flights come in.
Believe you me, me and my aircraft commander, TRIED like hell to take them, but this piece of shit LNO at Manas stopped the whole parade.
If anyone has juice and can find out who she is, then her sorry ass needs to be reassigned to Iraq to LNO down there. Maybe then she will appreciate what being deployed for 15 months really means.
I hope she gets slow Africa AIDS.
I'm off to drink a few german beers.......
Love to all..........