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For the past few days, my team has been at the Baghdad International Airport (BIAP) waiting for flights and transportation back to the States.  However, it is not like we are sitting in the seats of an American airport literally waiting for our plane to board.

Like the airports of many American cities, BIAP is located on the outskirts of the city limits.  Therefore, unlike bases and operations in major cities, the U.S. Army remains in control of the the airport and will likely continue to base at this location as long as we have troops in Iraq.

Essentially, BIAP is an airfield with a series of coalition bases surrounding it:  Victory, Liberty, and Striker to name a few.

My team is not actually waiting at the hanger with the plane or at a terminal.  We are housed in an area of tents where Soldiers reside while they wait for the flight schedule.  In the meantime, we eat at one of the largest dining facilities in Iraq, exercise at the gym, and use community phones and internet to connect with our families in 30-minute increments.

Many Soldiers flying into and out of Iraq come through BIAP.  Flights are largely determined based on number of people, date of request and weather conditions. 

My team will likely fly out in the near future with a few stops on the way back to the States for customs and fueling.

We stay in one of the only actual structures for temporary housing. The room is like the size of a basketball court with a series of green cots for sleeping.

Temporary housing has electricity and A/C. While life is not necessarily exciting, we are all very excited to be home.