Called home, everybody seemed to have moved away.

there's always one dude that won't work

Well, there's always one special day in the Army, and that's moving day. There's a few different types of moving, especially when talking about deployments. The most common type of moving is called "clearing the barracks," where someone who has nothing better to do with his (her) time than nitpick over the absolute cleanliness of giant, concrete bays. Keep in mind that most large-scale barracks (ie North Fort Hood) are mainly cinder block and poured concrete. If there is so much as one minuscule speck of dust, the entire bay has to be re-cleaned. The only good thing about the barracks clearing procedure is actually leaving, and knowing you don't have to do it again any time too soon.
Moving day takes on a whole new meaning when deployed. The process of leaving is called RIP/TOA, which stands for Relief in Place/Transfer of Authority. Basically, it's a fancy term for shift change, except the shift is a year long, and you don't get overtime. RIP/TOA begins, typically, about three to four months out, when talks begin with the replacement unit. About two months out, it gets really exciting, because you begin to pack your connex (twenty foot ISO 6346 standard shipping container) for the trip home. At about three to four weeks out, you move completely out of the trailers and into the transient tents. It's amazing what people collect over the time that they're here, and everyone tries to sell it at the end of their tour. The funny thing is that everyone is selling the same things, so if you're a particularly good haggler, you can get away with some good deals.

stuff for sale!

A buddy of mine got two TVs, a table, a rug, and some other good for next to nothing, and ended up giving most of it away. It's a lot like a big garage sale, except it's Iraq, and we don't have garages.

this guy drew the short straw... it might be pleasant, except it's 120 out

People move everything. Of course, they stack whatever vehicles they can find with bags, and some even try to take all their furniture. It's a real circus.

they load it all



unfortunately, you can't take it all

Anyway, today was one of those such days. The 2nd Infantry division is moving out, and being replaced by the 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment. It's always a bit hectic around here when large units RIP/TOA. Most active duty combat units RIP/TOA at a battalion or higher level, so they come in droves. For about the past two weeks it's been near impossible to get lunch due to the iunflux of several thousand more soldiers. Poor Camp Striker wasn't meant to support so many people. Just the other day I had to wait almost forty minutes to get a haircut! A haircut! Once I sat in the chair, I was out the door in under nine minutes. It was well worth it, I guess. Things are starting to normalize again, though.