FNGs and others

For those who don't know FNG stands for "Freakin' New Guy."  Sometimes this is used as a compliment to point out the new blood in the room and sometimes its ribbing to do the same.  Most often its a warning to look out for the FNG because he doesn't have a clue what he's doing and may well cause harm to himself/herself or others.

Around here its fairly easy to tell the FNGs.  The new troops who are on their first tour.  Their uniforms are fresh, colorful and unfaded by the desert sun and harsh laundry detergents.  Their eyes are big and you can tell they are all nerves.  You can pick them out especially in the DFAC (chow hall).  They fumble through the lines because they haven't figured out the system yet.  In a few weeks they'll have it down pat.  But until then they will get in the way.

Sometimes you can tell with returning troops as well.  Especially those who were in Iraq back when things were really hot.  These guys have a different look.  More angry and dissapointed.  Things have changed a lot since their last tour and they don't like it.  Like having to live your Freshman year over again after having been a Senior.  They came back expecting the country at war and got a fairly consistent peace.  No more high octane, adreneline rushes and crashing around blowing things up.  Lots of paperwork and advise and assist missions.  Many, especially the fast types (or those who consider themselves so) seem to resent this state of affairs and feel like its a waste of their time to be here.     

For those of us who have been here a while I guess we are somewhere in between these two stages.  We know where things are and how to get things done.  We know the jobs we're doing and are fairly focused on our daily routines.  I won't say we aren't afraid of the chance of being hit by one of the regular mortars or rockets that drop in on us, or indirect shots fired, or IEDs but we have accepted it.  Its so random these days that there is little that could be done to prevent it.  So you get up every day and do the best you can.  We are in a perpetual state of casual, hyper alertness.  Not quite the 1000 yard stare but quietly aware of everything going on around us at all times.    

Its the routine that gets you through.  Focusing on the job that has to be done rather than the conditions in which you are doing it.  After a while you get numb to the environment.  It is what it is.  Of course, some handle it better than others.  I've seen people snap over little things - or things that can't be figured out at all.  Everybody handles it differently. 

We are yesterday's FNGs, todays old guys and, en shalla, won't be tomorrow's troops returning to cover the same ground.