Operation Groundhog Day Turn Around Pt 6

The clip is in good spirits as they load their gear onto their trucks and perform the usual nightly pre-trip maintenance to them. The stars are out, they slept well, and are looking forward to reaching Kuwait even if it does mean tonight will be the longest of the mission. They soon find out however, the black cloud of bad luck has found them again…

The clip arrives at their trucks earlier than usual this trip. Tonight they are planning to drive all the way to Kuwait, a task that will take them until well after sunset to reach their destination. A short while after the trucks are packed and nightly maintenance performed the security element drops off the evening’s supply of ice, water, Gatorade, and snacks. Things continue on as normal, radio checks are made, some drivers gather at the front of the convoy and socialize with drivers from other convoys, while others read or play video games on their PSPs.

A half-hour before departure time the clip gathers for the nightly safety/intelligence brief. Once the drivers are all present the CC breaks the bad news: once again due to weather the clip will be waiting for clearance to head out. The news receives mixed responses, most of them positive, and a few jokes are made about the blame belonging to a clip member who is only tagging along as an observer this mission. A small debate begins over how many days now the clip has been delayed totaled. As a result of so many days being the same and running together there is no agreement over how many days the clip has been delayed this will be.

With an upbeat outlook the drivers go back to their trucks and wait for word that they will either be leaving the FOB tonight, or that their stand-down time has arrived. While they wait another convoy from the company arrives at the FOB and parks beside them in the staging area. The atmosphere is some-what like a family reunion as friends catch up on what has been going on in each other’s lives since the clips have been on the road.

At last the word is given that indeed the clip will be spending another night at the FOB. With neutral outlook the drivers gather their gear and make the return walk to their tents. Once again they have a meal at the DFAC and look forward to some sleep. Between the two however they spend more time with the members of the other clip for a couple hours.

For some clip members the weather delays have been a good thing. The general consensus among the members of the clip is that any day on the road is a good because it is one less day in the Shire. Some however do not mind being in Kuwait and the delays are a nuisance. Over all though, even those who do not like being in Kuwait begin to show signs of fatigue from being gone so long, and every member is starting to mention their awaiting mail back in the Shire.

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