Well, here we go again...
I fly out to Kuwait on 12th May and from there stage forward to Iraq a fortnight later for another 6-month Tour of the sandy place.
Good news this time is that compared to previous deployments there and to Afghanistan, the supply gurus have finally accepted that a €10 pair of boots aren't going to do the job of a €100 pair of boots. In the past I wore US Army-issue desert boots, but a lot of the guys bought Meindl or Altberg boots instead. We now get the choice of Meindl, Lowa or the old Hi-Tec Magnums (like high-topped trainers and about as useful). Since I use the (German-made) Lowa Mountain boots here in Germany, I've gone for the Lowa Desert boots as well...I'll be taking the trusty old US boots as well though - comfy like an old pair of slippers they are now...
Some of you may wonder at this strange obsession with footwear, but trust me, a soldier's feet are the most important thing to look after. Personally I have different boots for different occasions - I also think Imelda Marcos was rather conservative in her own footwear collection...lol

I was looking forward to 6 months of photographing fun-runs and volleyball competitions, but with the recent upsurge in activity (and the insistence of the US Govt that we play a more dominant role in theatre), we'll be getting out and about quite a bit. I'll upload what I can from theatre as and when the material gets release-authority from the Press Information Centre director - what you wont be seeing is anything controversial or restricted in any way. But some nice generic shots if I can get round to it won't be a problem.
Someone also suggested I try and do some in-theatre nude studies...trust me if I can find a good-looking female soldier willing to get her kit off for me (a) it'll be a miracle and (b) I may be thinking of other things besides taking photos...

The only fly in the ointment is having to wait for the new car...it's now all paid for, the insurance is sorted and goes live on the day I collect it in Bremerhaven, all the German conversion paperwork is done... I just can't drive the thing until December...