This fucking snow in DC is impacting a lot of people, that’s for sure, but there is a group of people affected in a “bonus” way that alot of folks don’t know about.
A whole bunch of us have been trying to come home from Afghanistan since last week. Most of the flights from over here go through BWI and Norfolk, but mostly BWI. I’m scheduled to catch a flight home on Thursday, but the plane needs to be able to leave BWI to get to Manas in order for that to happen. I thought we were in the clear since the last storm is getting cleaned up, but now they are talking another fucking 10-20inches of snow tomorrow! WTF??? There is a growing backlog of troops trying to get home and every extra day we are stuck here the backlog grows. Airlift doesn’t just materialize out of nowhere and without planes we are stuck. Manas isn’t equipped to hold 1000’s of troops for more than a few days at a time.
My wife is 6 months pregnant and I haven’t seen her or my kids since early Sept. She’s held on well in my absence but she needs me there now.
For Christs sake, can it NOT snow this week please??
You think you have it bad, for the last two weeks I’ve endured nothing but whiny jackholes who think anyone cares when they say, “Well, I’m from Chicago/St Paul/Pyongyang/Point Barrow/Antarctica and we get fifty bazillion feet of snow every ten minutes, and you stupid DC people can’t drive in the snow/clear every flake of snow at my whim/make a proper snowball/put on mittens correctly.”
THAT’S fucking torture.
Actually, I feel for you. I hope things clear up right after this storm hitting this afternoon, and you can get home quickly.
I feel for you. My wife is stuck in Boston. They keep postponing her flight out to the West Coast. It used to be yesterday. Now it’s Thursday. We’ll see.
I am so sorry to hear that cubsfan that’s gotta blow in a way I can’t even comprehend. I’ve been stuck traveling, but never after 6 mnths. I hope you are able to get home safely and soon. Thank you for your service sir.
I wish you luck. That truly does suck. From what you say, I can’t tell if you’ve arrived at Manas already, or if you’re waiting in Afghanistan.
I was in the exact same situation about six years ago. I was on emergency leave, trying to get home from Afghanistan. But when I arrived in Manas, they told our group that the bird was broke down at BWI. A bunch of us ended up buying commercial plane tickets out of pocket.
Since you said you’ve been trying a week now, I assume that’s not an option. A bunch of us did it back then, but rules may have changed. Heck, it may not have been allowed then. One warning if you do something similar: clear up any visa issues prior to showing up at the commercial airport. Local passport control had to figure out how to handle a bunch of Americans trying to leave the country who didn’t arrive through their system. We ended up paying an “expedited processing fee” for visas or whatever. It was a pain in the ass, but at the time it was worth it.
Wow, that totally sucks for you! (BWI ? British West Indies??, I’m not really sure, but, whatever…)
Nothing sucks like being ready to come home and can’t get a flight! It must be total suckage for your family waiting on the other end too. Sorry about their luck too!
(Myself, I grow weary of the bitter and biting cold, brrrrr, enough already!)
Hope you get home soon, come back and let us know!
I went to a conference in DC last weekend. I was also smart enough to take the train down, instead of flying, like my friend from Utah did, who won’t be getting home until today.
DC is very snow-stupid. Of course, I’m from New York, where we have three-foot blizzards every July and just shrug our shoulders, give an “oy vey,” and trudge down to the subway station in our shorts and grease-stained wifebeaters.
One bright spot was watching a small group of geniuses (no doubt our nation’s future leaders) tie a sled to the back of an SUV and go cruising down the deserted streets of Adams Morgan.
No, but Delta has been losing flights all over the Mid-West and Mid-Atlantic. That means they don’t have the planes for some routes, and people have been shifting their flights like crazy. Delta gets hit by a ripple effect like this every time a storm system takes out more than 5 airports, especially the hubs.
It is snowing like a bastard in the mid west. You are pretty well screwed if you want to get to Chicago area. In Detroit we have snow warnings and soon will get warnings and closures.
cubsfan, does time being stranded like you are count against your leave time? I hope not. You’d think the brass in your COC would be understanding about that. Maybe not due to rotational timetables for leaves.
I’ll grant that this storm was above average in the DC area, but years ago, I worked in DC for a year or so. I loved every minute of it, including laughing at all you residents that couldn’t handle a 2 inch “storm.” I was particularly amused by the 1 mile walk down Wisconsin Ave to M street where my hotel was, and seeing the same car next to me the entire way… including after my stops to pick up dinner, and some booze to go with it.
Following that storm, I returned for the weekend to NH to a good foot plus storm, and drove around all weekend with nary a concern. Hell, for 2" we barely even bring out the plows! A little salt on the road, and you’ll be fine.
For the OP, I hope you get home soon to the family. It must be terrible to be away from a pregnant wife.
Well fuck it. They rebooked us again for the 13th. When I left last year my projected return date was 5 Feb. A week doesn’t sound like much but if you haven’t been here, trust me, it is. Good thing we always told the kids I would be home by Valentines Day. Better not slip again though…
I’m with 'ya. I was just joking around a bit… but I stand on my 2" “disaster scenario” story of my time in DC. Pure comedy gold for me, though I did feel bad for those that had to sit in a 3 hour ride home, instead of a 45 minute commute. I’ve had a few, and they aren’t fun, but it took at least a foot for it to happen where I live.
NH has been pretty light in our snowfall this year, but we’re getting a few inches today. We could use a bit more though. I’m sure our ski mountains would be happy to take your storms!
No fun. The snow sucks for me - but it has to be worse not being able to get home.