The Flight Over

International travel, the military way, is not glamorous...just an exercise in endurance and patience---although the Omni Air folks were great.  To give you an idea, arrive at the Norfolk passenger terminal at 11PM for a 3-hour check-in...board the plane for a 7-hour fight to Rota, Spain...where you are restricted to the terminal for a 1.5 hour fuel stop.

Reboard for a 3-hour flight to Sigonella, Italy...restricted to terminal for 1.5 hour crew change...followed by 4-hour flight to Bahrain with another 4-hour delay in the pax terminal.

Finally...a 2.5 hour flight to Djibouti...9 Time Zones later...board the bus to attend In-Processing Briefings...then draw linen, haul bags to the CLU (Containerized Living Unit) and fall over.

After being awake for over 30-hours (in Bahrain)...the day finally arrived...I had to put on my new reading glasses to see...No Laughing Girls!