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Over the past year, I have discussed conducting a marksmanship range on numerous occasions, but the other day it finally worked.  Also, I had an interesting conversation with an Iraqi officer about his soon-to-be born son.

Iraqis generally do not get overly excited about conducting training, opting instead to go out on missions and receive on the job training.  However, I pitched the idea of providing training to improve his Soldier's accuracy with their rifles and to train his Soldiers to run their own ranges to a company commander.  The commander bought the idea, who in turn, sold it to his commander as well. 

As excited as I am to conduct the training, the training will likely be among the first opportunities for the incoming military transition team, which is slated to replace us within the next few days, to assist and advise the Iraqi Army. 

The incoming team is in luck when it comes to the weather.  It was 118 today and is forecasted the same for the next few days.  When the highs drop to 110, not only will it feel cooler, but a rise to 118 will not feel so drastic.

I saw another Iraqi officer today for the first time in a week or so.  I asked him about his wife with child, as she is due this week.  The major became so excited that I remember his personal situation.  He explained that he was going to name his son Mohammed, but he changed his mind.  Now he going to name his son Khalid after his father, who died last week. 

The Iraqi officer seems so excited, and I asked, "That is great!  I am so happy for you.  But what does your wife think about the new name?"

With a deep, booming laugh straight from the gut, the officer explained, "Naming my son is not like how it is for you in the States.  I am saying that MY son's name is Khalid."

The man continued laughing, and I laughed with him for camaraderie.  However, he is right.  Things are very different in Iraq.

In other news, a few members of the team took the tuberculosis test a few days ago and the results are in:  negative.