Another Bryan Update

Bryan has left Manas Airbase and has finally made it into country. He's in-processing for the next 5 days and then will depart for his final destination. He has a cell phone but the rate is insane for out of country; so we'll most likely be dealing with phone cards and phone centers - which will be just fine - it's better than nothing. I can also use the same phone card to call his cell phone ... which won't cost him anything. While he was in Kyrgyzstan, my $10 phone card gave me 39 minutes. Now, in theatre, my $10 phone card gives me 7 minutes to call him. The rate difference is crazy.

So we're learning. It's far different from Iraq.

(A good care package item: Phone Card)

If you're bored ... places to look up - Camp Clark, Camp Lightening and Camp Thunderbolt.

The in-processing stop is full of other soldiers. Bryan said there are 17,000 other troops coming in - with no rotation. So the lines for everything will just get longer with time.

Bryan says he is doing well. He heard baby Jack in the background and I think he got a little upset. He's happy to be on the road home, if that makes sense - even if the road home is over a year long. Bryan hates being away from his family - but he's a phenomenal soldier with far too much experience and leadership not to demonstrate it to future leaders. One of Bryan's old Army comrades, McRae, that fought with him in Iraq told me,

"He's going to be the leader they depend on. You should be very proud."

And he's right. I remind myself of that every morning and every night. So thanks, McRae - sometimes you have to remind your heart of what your brain already knows.