I've actually heard of some doing diving in Dubai...but there are no combat divers here cause they've ceased our dive pay! I try not to get bitter about it cause they've ceased the jump pay too. The problem is we're having a little 'excessive water' incursion problem in camp right now and from the looks of it the problem is stemming from an old problem of physics...too much water coming in and not enough going out. The creek/river is running through the center of camp, the engineers were deployed last night and I didn't touch bed until 00:30hrs. Earlier I was with Razor & ArmyBuck out in the village looking at where the water splits into the village and into the camp. The assessment was made on how to combat the problem...while lowly me just watched for bad guys in the engulfing darkness. At this point the water in camp had not risen to emergency levels, but that wouldn't take long. We scooted back to camp and stood up our redi-made flow dispersal/dam relief team...then we stood them down. Then we were on 30 min notice, then 1 hour. When it was looking like a 'shut er down' scenario...we were told to 'dial it up'. 1 backhoe, 1 motivated engineer section and my G-Wagon carrying the TC, the heavy equip Sgt and 1 MCpl who would accompany me to the dam sight to await the order to bust. The stream was widened and the order was given. I tossed my night vision in the wagon, grabbed my shovel, handed my rifle to the MCpl and told him to stand back cause that water is pure sewage and it was gonna get gross. (yes I did get splashed and I'll be looking at HEP-C shots)
To make this (already) long story short...after a lot of back and forth over the radios we relocated to inspect the camp stream's exit flow. They wanted to know if there was an exterior blockage that was keeping the level so high and once we informed them that there was nothing we could do to assist from outside...we were let back in. Troops...the water is still high but the tent lines are dry and the banks are holding. Did I mention I love the engineers? Want my opinion? Give me Razor as my partner, a couple of fricken contaminated water suits and AGA masks and 20 strong guys to haul our limp asses out of the water after we clear the blockage. That's just my opinion of course...someone with brains, more experience and a degree will most likely devise and impressive solution.
BUBBLES UP!!