Headed for Iraq

[Doc]

Hey Guys!

I knew that when I was assigned to Ft. Bliss it would just be a matter of time before I would be deployed. But I didn't expect it to be this soon! "Welcome to Ft Bliss! You're going to Iraq!" Found out that I have been tasked to deploy to Iraq with one of the Cav units from Ft. Hood. I will be going for a year as a GMO (general medical officer). I report to Ft. Hood on Sept 12, and the return date is Nov 2007. I will have to miss the Kappa seminar and several other RMAX related projects that I had planned. I have a lap top and hopefully will have internet access so that I can keep in touch with the tribe here. I don't know yet just where we are going and what my role will be, but I'm hoping I will have time and opportunity to train!

[bill cogswell]

Best of luck and stay safe!

[Kathryn Woodall]

Best of luck to you, Keith!

[Joseph David]

Kieth,
Safe journeys to you.
My sincere thanks for your sacrifices keeping our country safe and secure.

[JTCluck]

Doc,

Best of luck to you and thank you for your service to our country.

[Jarlo Ilano]

Keith,

Stay as safe as you can. Our country is lucky to have you as a representative.

I appreciate your service and dedication greatly.

Keep in touch as you can!

[Coach Flanagan]

Keith,

Be safe. I hope you'll be able to keep in contact, amigo.

[zebraOK]

Keith,

Stay safe soldier. Take good care of our brothers and sisters over there.

Gary
(USAF vet 1967-1977)

[NikolayTravkin]

Keith,

Stay safe.
RMAX.tv Productions wishes you all the best.
You have a rain check for one of the CST IC seminars after you return home.
Best of luck to you.

[KD Jones]

Doc -
Check in, if you can. We will be awaiting your return. Blessings to you, and everyone around you.

[Anthony Roberts]

Doc,
Stay safe, tap me through AKO if you need anything. (I'll PM you.)

[sschaula]

Good luck. Anytime I hear of someone going over I wish I was going with them, just to make sure they'll be safe. Stay alert and aware! Let us know if you need anything. I'll be glad to help out if you need any sort of materials sent over there.

[Scott Sonnon]

Keith,

Safe home, my friend.

[joelsey]

Keith:

Many thanks for your service to our country. You may see it as a job, a duty, a calling or an order. I see it as a selfless sacrafice for the betterment of humanity. I thnak you.

I will keep you in my daily thoughts and prayers. If you have an address for snail mail, and wouldn't mind sharing it, I'd be happy to send you mail and "comfort items".

Safe travels. Safe home.

[Pablo]

Keith,

I flew in Shield and Storm for the USN. From one military officer to another: I salute you!

A Word for you and your troopers: Psalm 91.

We look forward to your safe and sound return.

[Coach Bentz]

Keith,

It is our loss to miss you at Kappa, but I am glad for one of our own to be watching over our warriors overseas. I wish you a safe journey.

Brian

[Aengus]

Keith,
Be Safe. I'm getting close to finishing my tour over here so I can understand some of what your going through.

Motivating your self to train in the heat is tough.

[Coach Hurst]

Doc,

Be safe over there man. We're all looking forward to seeing you back safe and sound.

[Chuck Kechter]

Keith,

Be safe over there! Best of luck!

[Doc]

Thanks for the kind words everyone! Looks like we will be leaving country in November, so I'll still be lurking in the forum. :-) After that, I'm hoping that we will have internet access and that I will be able to lug my lap top around.

[Coach Larson]

Nothing like short notice deployments, eh?
I found out recently that I will be going to Afghanistan in January for the second time. I only just finished an unaccompanied tour in South Korea a couple months ago.
That's the Army right now. With the Army-wide high OPTEMPO we can all expect to be deployed on a continuing basis.

Fortunately I should still be able to make it to Kappa.
I'm very sorry to hear that you won't be there. I was looking forward to meeting up with you again.

Take care when you go downrange. I'm sure you will find ways to keep up your practice of CST while deployed.

[Siberian_Husky]

The very best to you. Thank you very much fro your service and sacrifice!

We'll be looking forward to welcoming you back!

Gary.

[dferguson]

I appreciate the sacrifice of you and your fellow soldiers. I look forward to your safe return.

[Thundercleese]

Keith,
I just found out that I'll be deploying to Houduras around the same time is you. Only for a much shorter time. Stay safe.

[deckman]

Sir, I don't know you, but wish you the best, and appreciate what you're doing. If you're getting over there around Nov., that's a plus as far as getting acclimated. When I left in May, it was just starting to get 110 or so every day. It's also not a complete desert there, as opposed to Qatar or Saudi.

Our young people over there are doing an outstanding job, worthy of their grandparents. It made me wonder what planet the newsmedia were on, to hear them.

Be safe,

Jim Decker

[Travis]

Keith, don't worry its not too bad over here. I am in Anaconda and we have a great gym with a martial arts/aerobics room, complete weight room, everything you could want except clubbells. Its down to about 100 - 105 degrees now, Nov. will be the start of the rainy season, yes it rains here, a lot. I am not sure what you do as a GMO but I have sent several Locals to the emergency room here in Balad, look for extensive damage to extremitys and amputees from ieds, I haven't had any injuries in my company, thank god, but ieds are rough on the local civilians. We get mortared regularlly but its nothing to worry about, they are just little bombs. The situation is about the same everywhere in Iraq. Some areas are a little more sporty than others, but the accomodations are comparable for the bigger LSAs in country. If you stay in the wire then you really have nothing to worry about safety wise. I spend a greater part of each week outside the wire hunting ieds, me and my guys all know the area *very* well so we actually have a good time. Try to get in with some group that has an internet service set up in the living areas, its much more convient with internet in your trailor/tent. oh and try not to get fat with all the food at the dfacs.

[Doc]

Thanks for the kind words and advice guys! They have moved our deployment date up 2 wks to 02 Oct. We still don't know exactly where we are going.

[Coach Simon]

Keith,
Our prayers go with you. Safe return.

[KD Jones]

Go safely, return safely. Every concievable blessing to you.

[Robert V]

Good Luck, Brother and God Bless!

I spent time in Bliss. I didn't like it much, but it beats Iraq!

[Doc]

Well guys, I made it to Iraq. I've been on LSA Anaconda for about 2 wks now running the rear battalion aide station. My counterpart is at one of the forward operating bases running the aide station there. I see sick call, they see periodic trauma..mostly Iraqis. We will likely rotate out between aide stations thru-out the year. Things aren't bad at all on Anaconda. Can Clubbells be sent to an APO address? :-)

[Coach Gostnell]

Hi Keith,
Be thinking of you over there.

"periodic trauma"...I can only imagine...

The APO post offices are in the U.S. I haven't shipped RMAX items, but we ordered some other things online for my boss in Afghanistan,
and he received it OK. The online forms want the two letter State code, and of course APO doesn't have one. His APO is APO-AE 09355.

I just repeated the AE in the State code box, and it worked.

[kblifter]

Keith,

I believe the weight limit for shipping to APO is just shy of 70lbs. I recall because a friend and Marine wanted a 72lbs. kettlebell, he had to settle for the next one down in the 60lbs range. If they can ship and receive a kettlebell in Iraq, I see no reason for a Clubbell. Best wishes for a safe return.

[David Nicol]

Best wishes man, serious respect to all the allied servicement in Iraq from Scotland.

Peace,
Dave

[NikolayTravkin]

Keith,

As it states on our website - we do ship the Clubbell Equipment to APO addresses. Please email to info@rmaxi.com which weights you would like to order, and we will find out a shipping quote from the manufacturer. Your order will be shipped by US Air insured mail.

We wish you a safe return soon.

[Aengus]

Keith,
I just got back from LSA Anaconda and had the "opportunity" if you will to go to the Aid station and the Post Hospital. My buddy was sick so the addmited him there. While I was there, I got to see the real heroes.

Be Careful and don't let the phalanx scare you to bad. :)