Posted: 12/3/2018 6:08:01 PM EDT
|
So has anyone here been posted to
Djibouti? What about nearby parts of Africa? Thanks in advance. |
|
What do you think you'll be doing there? It's largely unit dependent on whether or not you'll be able to go to the nearby parts of africa.
In terms of the place itself and the base you'd be staying at, it's hot and polluted. Like, wake up in the morning and smell the burning trash type polluted. The base is well built, with a mainstreet, newish chow hall that never has a line longer than 15 minutes for the omelet line, pizza hut, subway, and a couple of rec centers. A nice Wardroom, wifi purchasable for your CLU, and some oportunities to take your days off offbase. But that last part depends largely on if your unit will sign off on your leaving the base. That's the broader aspect of it, shoot some more questions if you want some more in depth knowledge. |
Why can't everyone have 99 ASVABs?
|
Actually it will be my son going in the spring for a 6 month tour. The pictures I pull up look pretty grim. Not sure what his unit will be doing day to day. I take that in part they will serve to be a reactive force is something breaks loose in other locations.
How hot does it get over there? Sounds extreme to me. Thank you. |
|
I was there for all of 05 and 06. Camp Lemonier was only 55 acres back then. I loved it. I had a difficult, high stress job that kinda ruined it for me but Africa was great as far as deployments go. I hear it's only gotten better in regards to facilities Truth be told, its not really much of a "deployment" as far as danger and combat. Hell, you can leave base to go drinking in town. The French military takes their families there. Your kid will be fine unless he's an idiot. HIV rate is 13%. Stay away from he ethiopian hookers and any russian and he'll be ok. |
|
Originally Posted By fisherman:
Actually it will be my son going in the spring for a 6 month tour. The pictures I pull up look pretty grim. Not sure what his unit will be doing day to day. I take that in part they will serve to be a reactive force is something breaks loose in other locations. How hot does it get over there? Sounds extreme to me. Thank you. There's a bar on base, and liberty out in town. Tell your boy to stay away from the hookers and he'll be fine. |
|
Flipping hot.
Better developed now than when I went there in 79'. Back then it was all French foreign legion and Armee de l'air. Down town was sacred cows, dutch beer, and a zillion sketchy skinnys. Worst part of my visit was every cab driver who would fly through traffic at 80 mph while stoned on khat and blind as a bat from chewbacca cataracts. Good times... heh. |
"A man can never have too much red wine, too many books, or too much ammunition" - Rudyard Kipling
|
Originally Posted By fisherman:
Actually it will be my son going in the spring for a 6 month tour. The pictures I pull up look pretty grim. Not sure what his unit will be doing day to day. I take that in part they will serve to be a reactive force is something breaks loose in other locations. How hot does it get over there? Sounds extreme to me. Thank you. The time is something I pulled out of my ass, but the important info is that your son will be doing a lot of sitting around like he's in garrison back home. Practicing packing and loading up C-130/C-17s, having all your shit cleaned and prepared, and trying not to get caught shamming. If he's there for 6 months after springtime, he won't see temps below 80 degrees. Daytime gets up to 120+ with humidity, I think there were a couple of days that felt like 130. Best he can do is take advantage of the rec centers, get reading done, and talk to the fine foreign chicks who get onto the base. French, Italians, Germans, etc are all coming on and off the base. |
Why can't everyone have 99 ASVABs?
|
Originally Posted By fisherman:
Actually it will be my son going in the spring for a 6 month tour. The pictures I pull up look pretty grim. Not sure what his unit will be doing day to day. I take that in part they will serve to be a reactive force is something breaks loose in other locations. How hot does it get over there? Sounds extreme to me. Thank you. |
I've tried to see things from the liberal point of view ... but I'm just not flexible enough to get my head up my ass.
|
Tell him to take an insulated water bottle, and don't worry about bringing any winter clothing items. The lending library over by the NEX is pretty decent, and there's a Subway that won't make you sick. Pizza Hut in 11 Degrees is okay, and the DFAC has a little grab and go on the side where you can grab a panini sammich, drinks, fruit and whatnot. There are two Green Beans on post, one by the E6 barracks and the other on the main walkway across from the old gym. There's also PX and a sewing shop right there where you can get alterations/repairs and so forth. They can also do custom morale patches. The living conditions are decent, getting toward really nice in the E6 barracks. There's not a lot to do other than online classes, reading, gaming and going to the gym. As others have mentioned, the air quality there is absolute shit. They burn piles of dead camels and tires every so often, which is simply fabulous. It's got the potential to be among the best deployment locations ever, if your unit isn't actively trying to ass everything up with useless complications. |
"I don't give a shit how many hookers you beat up in a video game." - SSG Cooke
|
Originally Posted By doubleclaw:
Tell him to take an insulated water bottle, and don't worry about bringing any winter clothing items. The lending library over by the NEX is pretty decent, and there's a Subway that won't make you sick. Pizza Hut in 11 Degrees is okay, and the DFAC has a little grab and go on the side where you can grab a panini sammich, drinks, fruit and whatnot. There are two Green Beans on post, one by the E6 barracks and the other on the main walkway across from the old gym. There's also PX and a sewing shop right there where you can get alterations/repairs and so forth. They can also do custom morale patches. The living conditions are decent, getting toward really nice in the E6 barracks. There's not a lot to do other than online classes, reading, gaming and going to the gym. As others have mentioned, the air quality there is absolute shit. They burn piles of dead camels and tires every so often, which is simply fabulous. It's got the potential to be among the best deployment locations ever, if your unit isn't actively trying to ass everything up with useless complications. |
Why can't everyone have 99 ASVABs?
Remember COL Rich Higgins, USMC, our best
Joined:
Sep 2005
Posts:
56640
EE: 100% (2)
USA
| I spent a year there. The on-base facilities were decent. If allowed to go downtown, go with a group of at least 4. There's an excellent Ethiopian food place that caters to foreigners. Worth the dinner and show. If able to do MWR trips through the base, jump on them. They're excellent. Also, there used to be a diving class taught on base. If free time is available and you're not dive certified, do it. |
Proud Member of Team Ranstad
|
Any updates? I imagine it's gotta be getting pretty warm over there by now, and the mosquitoes and humidity make a wonderful accompaniment to the lingering camel/tire smoke.
For his own safety, I advise him to stay away from the bottom edges of the T-barriers, and do not set your plate carrier/IOTV down on the ground against the barriers; snakes like to hide under those things, and they will slither up into your gear. One of our guys shook a carpet viper out of his vest one day. Not fun. When you see the locals clear out from an area, that usually means there's a venomous snake of some sort poking his little head out to say "heeeey." There is one particular called a Boomslang that will kill you bad, and they do not, as far as I know, have any stocks of antivenom closer than South Africa. Do not give Benadryl to any baboons, smuggle them on post or dress them in unit t-shirts for funny selfies in the CHU. It ends badly. Don't bring prostitutes on post, beat them up or dump them outside the front gate. It is frowned upon. Don't stomp any chickens or cats. That's weird. No muzzle-tapping the glass in the guard shacks. If you do, though, be sure to carve a Puerto Rican flag into the glass surface so they'll now who to blame. Chasing mongooses...mongeese?...across the ASP loading area is fun. |
38
Vápnum sínum
skala maðr velli á
feti ganga framar
því at óvist er at vita
nær verðr á vegum úti
geirs um þörf guma
Vápnum sínum
skala maðr velli á
feti ganga framar
því at óvist er at vita
nær verðr á vegum úti
geirs um þörf guma
|
Originally Posted By ThePontificator:
Shake shake shake Shake shake shake Shake  But, also consider the spelling of “Sheikh.” 
|
Here’s an example from a butterfly, an example that it can be happy on a hard rock. An example that it can lie on this unsweetened stone, friendlessly and all alone. Now let my bed. I do not care.
|
Originally Posted By DvlDog:
... Your kid will be fine unless he's an idiot. HIV rate is 13%. Stay away from the ethiopian hookers and any russian and he'll be ok. |
Here’s an example from a butterfly, an example that it can be happy on a hard rock. An example that it can lie on this unsweetened stone, friendlessly and all alone. Now let my bed. I do not care.
|
Originally Posted By fisherman:
So has anyone here been posted to Djibouti? What about nearby parts of Africa? Thanks in advance. |
Welcome to the Boogaloo, I'll be your pilot
Joined:
Sep 2005
Posts:
58452
EE: 100% (2)
BDI
Kick Ass.
Take Names.
Repeat As Necessary.
Take Names.
Repeat As Necessary.
|
CLASSIC!!!
Only stopped in a few times dropping folks off or picking them up. Seems like one time we spent a couple days flying in and out of there, circa 2011. I spent three months in Sig and was in those parts of the world when Gidaffi was killed. I’m sure there are beautiful places to see in Africa but I didn’t see them and have no desire to go back. |
|
Originally Posted By BigeasySnow:
I’m just here because I love saying Djibouti. The capitol of Djibouti is Djibouti. Djibouti. Djibouti, Djibouti. I might be wrong. |
If you're going to fight, fight like you're the third monkey on the ramp to Noah's ark and brother, IT'S STARTING TO RAIN!