KABUL, Afghanistan –
Maj. Russell "Rusty" Nail
Home Unit: Headquarters Air Combat Command Surgeon General
What do you do? Medical Logistics
What's a day in the life like? Wake up at 3:45 a.m., in the gym by 4 a.m., eat breakfast by 6:30 a.m., in the office by 7 a.m.
What will you remember about your deployment 20 years from now? How cold Afghanistan is in the winter and the sound of AK-47 gun fire
What's the most useful item you packed? I-pod
When did you realize you "weren't in Kansas anymore;" aka your "Dorothy" moment? When I saw a sign in the lobby of the National Military Hospital that says in English and Dari "No Spitting"
What has been the highlight of your tour? Hearing and seeing things in person BEFORE any news stations report it
What's the best part of the deployment? The gym
The worst part? Being away from my family
What new survival skill have you learned? How to take stuff one-day at a time
What do you do during down time? Watch DVDs and work out
What is the first thing you will do when you return? Hug my family
What is the first thing you will eat when you return? What ever my wife makes
What do you miss the most? My family
How is your job that you are doing now different from the job back stateside? Not very different, just takes a lot longer to get stuff done
Have you tried the local cuisine? yes
What do you think about what you hear on the news from what is going on stateside? Try not watch the news
Do you have plans for any extra money that you might be making from this deployment? Paying for my oldest daughter's wedding
About when are you to return? April