I am not alone

Last night I said goodbye to 3 Air Force soldiers that are redeploying back home after finishing their tour here. All 3 of them were hard workers and I hated to lose them, but then again, they need to get back to their families, and it serve as a reminder that some day I'll be heading back home as well.

Last night also served as a reminder that I am working with an incredible group of people over here. I quickly gathered up some photos to show to all of you that I'm certainly not alone over here.

That's Jimmy (US Navy) on the phone

My new guy, Steve, me, Gabe(an Air Force guy, who just left) and Mr. Miller (a civilian contractor) at our building in the IZ.

Tony (another Air Force Dude) out in the field looking real mean with his helmet.

And Gabe and MSgt N (yet another Air Force person) right before they both left to go home.

Taking a trip outside the wire

Hello all!

A couple of days ago, I was part of a group that went outside one of the camps to visit a construction site to view the progress being made. As I have said, I'm working with the contracts that are rebuilding the Oil Infrastructure here. The site that we visited was a Gas Compression Station, an integral part of the process that takes crude oil and eventually uses it to generate electricity for this nation.

Our contractors have the work cut out for them but they really are doing an amazing job. I will excited just to be able to get out there and actually see the work being done and not just read about it in emails.

But I was also excited to get outside of the camp's perimeter and feel like a soldier again. At least I looked the part.

I mean look at me! I should have my own action figure!

All is well here. Take care

100th Day!

Well I have now been here for 100 days and what better way to commemorate that milestone than to find out that I have been selected to be promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.

I am very humbled by this. It’s been a long time in the making and may very well be the last promotion that I experience in my military career.

The Army published the list this afternoon (my time), so I had thought that I would need to patiently way by my computer all day long to find out the results. However, my commanding general over here had other plans.

This morning, all us military types were told to report to the General’s conference room for a special meeting concerning reassignments. Major General Scott informed us that he had gotten word for Washington that he had to give up 3 Majors. He then turned to me and two other officers and said, “I guess that means we will just have to make Lockard a Lieutenant Colonel so he can stay here.”

It takes a lot to surprise me, but I never saw that coming. He then went through an Air Force tradition (he is an Air Force General) by ripping off my Major rank and “punching” my new rank on.

Now although, I have not been officially promoted to this new rank, in accordance with another Air Force tradition, General Scott told me to wear the rank for the rest of the day. I didn’t feel right about wearing the new rank until I had the promotion orders in my hand, so I compromised and wore both. So for the rest of the day I was unofficially a “Lieutenant Major” or a “Major Colonel”.

Depending on when the Army starts to promote off this new list, I will probably be able to wear the rank full time starting in October or November. Until then I will have to settle with being know as Major Promotable Lockard.

All is well here.

Happy Independence Day!

Hello All!

Here's to 230 years of independence from our British Overlords!

I was actually able to take the day off yesterday and enjoy the day. I slept in, cleaned my room, swam in the pool, ate a huge steak dinner and then topped it off by watching a great concert featuring several military bands (including the Royal British Marine Band).

Another very cool thing happened yesterday. An American flag was flown over the U.S. Embassary here in Iraq in my honor. And this wasn't just any American flag. This particular American flag was flown over the U.S. Capitol in 1996 and was presented to me by a U.S. Senator while I was in Bosnia. Ever since then, whenever I deploy out of the country, this American Flag deploys with me. It has traveled with me throughout the United States, in Bosnia, in Hungary, in Austria, in Germany, in Kuwait, in Egypt, and now Iraq.

Now I was not present when the flag was actually sent up the flag pole becuase there was probably hundreds of flags to be flown that day for many of our soldiers. But I was presented with this certificate and very nice aerial photo of the embassay.

LET FREEDOM RING!