First Post from Iraq

Hi Everyone,

So I decided the easiest way for me to communicate with all my friends and family is to create this blog. This will let me stay focused on my work while keeping everyone updated on how I am doing here.

Due to operational security I cannot get too detailed in what I am doing in Iraq. Right now we are preparing our equipment in Taji and we will be moving to JSS Istaqlal in East Baghdad.

The accommodations in Taji are very nice. We have 2 person rooms with lots of space, single bed, AC, electricity, and we can add whatever appliances we want. The dining facility is incredible. We can choose from almost any food imaginable and it is very good. We have anything from country scramble and omelletes for breakfast to T-bone steaks and shrimp for dinner. This place so far puts any base in the states to shame. Thanks KBR!

So mostly everyone is excited to start the missions. It has been a long wait to get down to business. We have been training since September and feel more than ready to get out there. The last two months have been a drag with little to do. Now I know what it felt like for the soldiers waiting for the initial invasion. Lets just get started already.

To kill some of the boredom, I started grad school this January. I am in Penn State's Geospatial Intelligence Certification Program. It is a continuation of my undergrad degree in Geographic Information Systems, but it concentrates more on the intelligence aspect, such as satellite imagery analysis. My Dad is pretty excited that I am a Nittany Lion now!

So we are going to JSS Istaqlal for a short time period. The base has been handed over to the Iraqi Security Forces and they are ready to take over the region completely. We're ready for anything though. News is that it has been calm lately, but you never know when Iranian Special Forces might show up again. They are the chief instigator of violence in this region.

So I posted some pictures of Kuwait. Lots of camels. You have to watch out for them as they run right in front of your convoy. Kuwaitis fine up to $75,000 if you hit one too. They have different colored camels too: brown, white, and black. White supposedly being the most valuable. Also a picture of me at the shooting range. I have an M4 that shoots a .223 in semi-auto or 3 round burst. I was hitting man size silhouettes at 600 meters. I have a 4X ACOG scope, a laser designator for night firing with night vision goggles, bipod, and a surefire tactical flashlight all mounted on the weapon.

I will try to get more pictures up later. I am unsure if my internet connection will be any good in the small JSS we are going to, but I will try to write as much as I can. Be sure to check out our website that we have made for updates on our wedding: http://www.mywedding.com/mattandcolleenerb/ We are developing it more each day.

Miss you all,

Matt