Leadership at the 'Deid

[PirateAF]

Caught a ride over to OPS the other day with a Comm NCO who said the one guy who is charge of that project went home for a wedding for FIVE WEEKS. He left roughly two weeks ago, which would bring WI-FI to the Bra area around mid-May. He's the only guy who can install it.

And I'm sure you guys caught this one, but the day of the pool's "grand opening"? It was closed for cleaning.

Peace.

[JarheadBoom]

...who said the one guy who is charge of that project went home for a wedding for FIVE WEEKS. He left roughly two weeks ago, which would bring WI-FI to the Bra area around mid-May. He's the only guy who can install it.

Left for 5 weeks, eh? If that dude was on anything less than a 365-day tour, whoever signed off on that should be kicked in the nuts. Repeatedly.

I do have one question (and it's rhetorical, of course...):

When the f*ck are military leaders DoD-wide going to realize that having ONLY ONE F*CKING PERSON able to perform a particular task is a REALLY BAD F*CKING IDEA?!?

Good God, if I had a dollar for every time I've been told in my 13 years of uniformed service that "the only person who can __________ isn't here. You'll have to come back __________" or some other variation on that theme...

[zach braff]

Left for 5 weeks, eh? If that dude was on anything less than a 365-day tour, whoever signed off on that should be kicked in the nuts. Repeatedly.

I do have one question (and it's rhetorical, of course...):

When the f*ck are military leaders DoD-wide going to realize that having ONLY ONE F*CKING PERSON able to perform a particular task is a REALLY BAD F*CKING IDEA?!?

Good God, if I had a dollar for every time I've been told in my 13 years of uniformed service that "the only person who can __________ isn't here. You'll have to come back __________" or some other variation on that theme...

Commercial Wi-Fi in the AOR is handled by contractors. Government writes the contract, but generally has no say in how many people the contractor hires. If its still in the process of installation and he's not breaking any dates listed in the statement of work, the DoD has no say in it - he can go home as long as he wants. Hopefully they wrote his contract for 24/7 support once it is online though.

zb

[zach braff]

Similarly, when I go to a squadron and get the litany of excuses like "he's on leave" and "she's at the NCO Academy" and "the only one", I then say "Well then, if SSgt Snuffy dies while at the academy, then who would handle that?"

They always say, "Then TSgt Afterburner would handle it", followed by me saying....."THEN GET TSGT AFTERBURNER HERE NOW."

Works every time.

Rock on. Can I use that one?

BTW - I was merely telling it like it is, not defending whoever's managing the wi-fi program (or lack thereof) at the Deid. I do know we've been struggling to get wi-fi that doesn't suck here in Baghdad for a while and haven't had much luck. We've been through about three different companies since I was here last and none of them ever live up to their promises...

zb

[brickhistory]

Unless I really, really f#ck up (always a possibility) and get subject to a 'rendition,' I'm never gonna see anywhere in the ME again, however,

the wi-fi might be a 'contract thing,' but the AF guy who negotiated the single point of failure contract and the AF guy who signed off on it should have JB's remedy applied. A 5 week work-stop is unsat.

I hear CSAF has some good contracting skills and connections..........................

[zach braff]

You can't find good WiFi in Baghdad? Where in Baghdad? Magic Island is the AAFES vendor at VBC of course, but if you are at any other FOB almost everyone goes through a private satellite vendor. When I was there last we had two sets going for $1200 a month each, each set serviced about 20 people. We had to move to Diyala a few months in and just packed up our satellite gear and took it with us and had it running again within a day. The vendors will come to you for tech support also, regardless of which FOB you are at. If you can't find WiFi anywhere in Iraq it means you aren't looking very hard. I can give you the contact for our last vendor if you want. I also wonder why people don't do this at Al Udeid either.

Sather. There actually is wi-fi here but its expensive and the tin pods/trailers 50% of the troops live in just bounce the signal right off. If you call Magic Island "good" then we've got slightly different definitions of good wi-fi. Magic Island's elsewhere on VBC but not here, negotiations to bring them here haven't worked out the best. The new guys we're working with have got a solid rep, and the vendor agreement is currently in JAG abyss. It sure would be nice if T-Mike was dinner buds with these guys...

We're also trying to not charge the airmen an arm and leg too, which has been tough. We did manage to get a SPAWAR cafe here recently so there's at least one good myspacing option...

zb

[PirateAF]

FYI - for those coming out to a certain Air Force facility in SW Asia; the nazi's have struck again.

Now you are no longer allowed to wear any type of open toe footwear in the chow hall (regardless of ankle strap).

So to sum up these idiotic footwear rules:

- flip flops only to pool/shower

- other sandals WITH a heel strap around CC only

- shoes/boots only to the chow hall

- if wearing boots with shorts, must have white socks.

[Guest Cap-10]

FYI - for those coming out to a certain Air Force facility in SW Asia; the nazi's have struck again.

Now you are no longer allowed to wear any type of open toe footwear in the chow hall (regardless of ankle strap).

So to sum up these idiotic footwear rules:

- flip flops only to pool/shower

- other sandals WITH a heel strap around CC only

- shoes/boots only to the chow hall

- if wearing boots with shorts, must have white socks.

What do you mean now....the no open toe footwear thing started when I was there in 2004.

Cap-10

[Vertigo]

Correct; no open toed shoes in chow hall has been around forever- besides I don't want to look at your toe jam while eating my Sweet and Sour Chicken.

[Scooter14]

Correct; no open toed shoes in chow hall has been around forever- besides I don't want to look at your toe jam while eating my Sweet and Sour Chicken.

Why are you looking under the table? Trying to get a peek up someone's super tight PT shorts?

[Fozzy Bear]

Yeah, so, I left in Feb and am back here again, and there is no change to the permanent cadillacs - there hasn't been one dude working on them since I git here two weeks ago. On a positive note, the cookies in the chow hall cure cancer.

[TacAirCoug]

Yeah, so, I left in Feb and am back here again, and there is no change to the permanent cadillacs - there hasn't been one dude working on them since I git here two weeks ago. On a positive note, the cookies in the chow hall cure cancer.

Nah, it's just the crack sprinkled on top of them that makes you think they cure cancer.

[Vertigo]

Why are you looking under the table? Trying to get a peek up someone's super tight PT shorts?

YES!

Is the cookie nazi still there? When I left the services CC was being anal about how many cookies you can have, you could no longer get them yourself but rather had to be served them, etc etc.

[Guest Boom]

YES!

Is the cookie nazi still there? When I left the services CC was being anal about how many cookies you can have, you could no longer get them yourself but rather had to be served them, etc etc.

It was when I left there in March. You had to have a TCN get them for you and you could only get two at one time.

[Guest Mower]

I've been here for a couple months now and while I don't know firsthand, I've been told that the delay for the Wifi is due to negotiations with the Qataris since the carrier would be a local provider. I heard they want to be able to prosecute individuals for downloading porn, while the Air Force is trying to get a no-restrictions type Internet access.

[cragspider]

Or they could do what the Kuwati's do with the wi-fi here at Salem, just filter out the porn/sexual content sites. Granted the wi-fi is slow and not really worth the pirce you pay but at least we can us a web cam and chat with our familys back home. I don't even want to know how slow it is going to be at the died.

[JS]

Or they could just set up satellite internet and say fuck the porn-hating Qatari's.

[Clayton Bigsby]

...and say fuck the porn-hating Qatari's.

Exactly. They want their own Air Force, then they can fuckin' pay for it! While we're at it eliminate those customs searches too.

It's not like US personnel want to be there...

[Guest renee levitator]

could I get an update on the BX please? Much in the way of sport clothing? And what about laptops? Should I buy one at home or does the BX have a good selection? See y'all soon!

[HerkDerka]

Buy one at home.

[Guest Boom]

could I get an update on the BX please? Much in the way of sport clothing? And what about laptops? Should I buy one at home or does the BX have a good selection? See y'all soon!

It has the standards BX laptop selection of a stateside base. I would buy one while at home.

[Fozzy Bear]

Good selection of clothes. Buy good running shoes from home - crap selection here. Socks too, bring plenty. Buy laptop at home and DO NOT LET COMM TOUCH IT!! Great selection of beef jerky, though!

[BFM this]

[Cue Jeff Foxworthy voice]: If you start your laptop purchase process with "which BX should I buy from"...

I haven't been in the computer market in over 4 years, so I'm sure that there's ton's better links, but why dontcha try here for starters.

This thread hijack brought to you by the letter H.

[Guest acoutlaw]

Just a note to let you all know I appreciate all the useful info on the died. Will be out there soon and will post more when I get my bearings.

[Guest Yoda]

One more reason to buy at home:

You cannot use a credit / debit card at the BX, nor anywhere on base. You can use cash, or you can get a card at finance that works like a debit that you have to add money to from your accounts.

Another thing; alot of time when you purchase a new computer you have to be online to get alot of the programs you want to add on to it (media players, picture viewer's etc...)