It's a New Year on the Tour...

Happy New Year out there to everyone!!! We were inside the wire for the New Year, but sad to report no parties, no booze, etc... we did however have a controlled detonation by EOD at midnight. That rocked the windows!!!

2009 will see some things different over here in the "big picture" but shouldn't change too much down at our advising level. The new Security Agreement between Iraq and the U.S. took effect on 1 Jan 09. There are some changes in it with regards to our operations, missions, and other things. Most importantly for a lot of people though, it gives a timetable for our inevitable departure from Iraq (none of this is secret...you can google the Security Agreement).

We have been pretty busy so far in the first part of January. We have been out and about with our counterparts from the IPB. We also got to escort a General and his entourage around Sinjar. The elections are coming up here at the end of the month so there may be more of those sort of missions coming down the pipe. That is only speculation on my part.

On a good note, we had the pleasure of promoting one of our own yesterday. SFC Spencer, our team mechanic, finally got his orders so we had a ceremony yesterday afternoon. It is always a good day when you can promote someone...especially to Sergeant First Class. That is a milestone for an NCO.

Well another weekend is upon us here. The Steelers host the Chargers. I am hoping that we are not on mission so I can hopefully watch the game. We will see. Go Stillers!!!