Hope all is well. Just thought I would send an email regarding a recent visit by Secretary of Defense Ash Carrter. Three days ago Ash Carter visited OB Fenty, here in JBad to speak with another General regarding the threat of ISIS, that is at our doors. Security measures were put in place.......no local civilian support allowed on base for the day. No problem. The problem starts when the all personnel were told the chow hall would be closed and no alternate meals served for lunch; not even an MRE. Mind you, all we have here is a Green Beans Coffee House. Sure, everyone could skip a meal, but, to shut it down so Ash Carter and his wife could enjoy a meal? The flight line was secured, no landing or recoveries during his time on ground. Most walkways secured to foot traffic, the gym closed. Pretty much all activity halted for his visit.

I spoke with two Apache pilots who were providing base overwatch during his visit, and they told me they were not to be closer than 5 miles to the base. The pilots said, they could not provide proper visual to the surroundings of the base at that distance, but, were told that there was to be no aircraft noise during his visit. Really? A combat zone and a military airfield, with no noise or activity? Ha... To top it off, the thing that really disappoints me and pisses me off the most, is the fact that the active duty military personnel and contractors were told to remove their mags from their weapons. According to the Army Officers I spoke with, they said they were supposed to leave them in their quarters. If the Secretary of Defense can be in charge of the countries defense, come and speak of the impending threat of ISIS that is in our Province of Nargahar, yet not allow service men and women carry their weapons for protection, maybe he shouldn't be in the position he is in. A true leader of men, would let them carry the tools of their trade without fear that one of them would harm him. (by the way....he did have his own protection detail). It is a slap in the face to disrespect the professionalism of the military and contractors, who, daily, risk their lives being forward deployed in a combat zone, supporting U.S. policies. If they don't trust them here, it's no wonder they don't trust alot of Veterans with weapons in the States.

Stars and Stripes Newspaper had two articles regarding his visit in which, both articles state how many personnel are on this base.....a violation of OpSec! Thanks Ash Carter and Stars and Stripes!! You have just made us more vulnerable to attack.