PFC Naranja

As I briefly mentioned a couple of days ago, my life has become quite the adventure over the last many months, hence my lack of time to write.  I have oodles of pictures from my world travels to share with you, but my internet connection in Afghanistan is spotty at best.  For now, you’ll have to settle for a written summation of it all.

The first two locations that I was shipped off to after returning from Baghdad were not nearly as glamorous as I’d like to have you believe.  I’ve always thought that my hometown might very well be the armpit of the south, but I think I was mistaken.  That title instead belongs to Ft. Polk, Louisiana.  With only two hotel options to choose from, the Holiday Inn Express is as nice as it gets.  The closest airport is about an hour’s drive away, and there are absolutely no gas stations or pit stops down that lonely road.  There’s also only one main street through Leesville, and it’s lined with titty bars, crawfish and barbeque shacks, and in true Louisiana fashion, drive-thru frozen daiquiri shops.  This was certainly not a town that valued entertainment.  I was seriously so bored during my down time that I holed myself up with my Mac in my hotel room, and I downloaded cover art for all 40GBs of music in my iTunes library.  I suppose I can’t complain so much about the second leg of the trip, though.  Ft. Bragg, NC, may not be anything to write home about, but the town has at least embraced the concepts of restaurants and nightlife.

As dreadful as the after work hours might have been, the three weeks I spent in the southeast offered some invaluable experience.  It was the first time I’d taken the lead of a project and flown solo.  I spent the time building and installing CIDNE servers for the Louisiana location, training HICON staff on system administration, and holding classes for the soldiers that would soon be using our software in the field.  I have to admit, I was quite nervous the first time I stood in front of that bright projector with a semi-circle of camouflage hats staring back at me.  My nerves quickly eased, though, when they started asking questions, and I realized that they were actually paying attention.  They really did want to learn.  I know it also didn’t hurt that I was dressed much nicer than most females typically roaming the training center grounds.  Don’t think I didn’t do that on purpose.  Hey, I use every resource I have to my advantage.

In November, I was afforded the opportunity to travel to Germany with one of my now favorite coworkers, Andrey.  We spent three weeks doing much of the same: building and testing servers, briefing staff and officers, and traveling to the outlying areas to teach soldiers in the field on the inner workings of our system.  We spent much of the days on the base in Hohenfels, but we spent the nights in a wonderful hotel in Regensburg.  While there, we sampled glass after glass of locally brewed beer, tasted (and often spit out) much of the traditional fare, danced with drunken 16-year-olds in blustering underground clubs, and toured tiny villages.  I’m looking forward to the next rotation.  I believe Andrey and I will be heading back at the end of April, but we will be staying in Frankfurt and working in Heidelburg.  It’s a much bigger city, of course, with many new sights to see!

As you all know, I’m currently in Afghanistan.  I spent the last week of January working in our Hampton, VA, office.  I’ve been given the lead on the upcoming version of CIDNE, due in part to my recent experience in the field and, quite frankly, my personality.  Here’s a little background on the situation.  We’ve had one sole competitor for the last several years — a software called FusionNet.  When CIDNE first arrived in Iraq in 2003, CCIS, the company behind FusionNet, saw our product in action, and, for lack of a better term, stole the idea.  They began developing a competing product, and they came very close to putting CIDNE out of business.  Fortunately for our company, FusionNet was severely lacking in functionality and user friendliness.  They lost the contract to us in Iraq, but since we had no immediate plans of moving into Afghanistan, they pressed forward and became the sole event reporting tool in the area.  The 101st Airborne is currently transitioning into Afghanistan.  They’ve previously been deployed in Iraq and have been supporters of CIDNE for quite some time.  After years of FusionNet not being able to deliver, we are taking over their system in Afghanistan, and their contract is officially deceased.

Obviously, there is quite a history between FusionNet and CIDNE.  When one government software program wins a contract to take over another, the losing company is basically forced to help the winning company get their job done.  Such is the case here.  After working side by side with the FusionNet FSR to migrate their data into our system, it only took a few days for me to understand why they specifically hand-picked me for this trip.  Anyone else would have walked off the job.  Anyone else would have been in a fist fight by now.  I’ve put up with yelling, cursing, lies, and even outright threats from the FusionNet dude.  He actually stood up to me one day over something that didn’t even happen and said, "Do we need to take this outside and settle it?"  I really enjoyed wrinkling my forehead, rolling my eyes, and responding with, "I’m a chick, you fucking retard.  What, are you going to hit me?"

Though I’m ultimately here to support the 101st, the unit that is transitioning out has long been a proponent for FusionNet.  They’ve made it very clear that I’m not exactly welcome here.  I’ve never been yelled at so much in my life.  I’ve decided to title myself Private First Class, because that’s pretty much how I’ve been treated.  I’m almost sure that some of the Colonels here have been trying exceptionally hard to make me cry, and I’m even more sure that it just pisses them off when I stand there with a smile on my face.  There’s nothing like having a blood-red LTC’s face an inch from your nose screaming, "You don’t fucking work for CIDNE!  You fucking work for me!"  Yes, I understand now why they were so adamant that I take the reins on this.  Not many people can look a Colonel in the eye and calmly remind them that, "Sir, I’m not in the Army.  I’m not one of your enlisted soldiers.  I’m here to do a job, and if you’ll step out of my way, I’m about to prove to you that I can get it done."

I must admit, too, that it’s been quite satisfying to see the change in attitude over the last few weeks.  Many days I’ve huddled in a far corner, out of sight from the others in the office.  Many days I’ve overheard exclamations of how ‘cool’ CIDNE is.  "Wow, did you see this part?"  "This is going to be really beneficial."  "Hmm, FusionNet can’t do this!"  I’ve never been more proud of my company, our product, and our service to the United States military.

Wow, I never intended to ramble on that long about CIDNE, nor about my job.  I suppose this is just the first time that I’ve immensely enjoyed what I do for a living.  It’s an unbelievable feeling to be involved in something that will be such an important piece of history.  It’s an unbelievable feeling to know that what you’re doing matters.  I’d love to write some more, but it’s getting late.  My stiff mattress and deflated pillow await me.

Cheers,
Felina