I was originally deployed to Camp Speicher, but I am now at Camp Warhorse which will probably be my permanent station. Wish me a safe return.

I will be in Iraq for a whole year starting mid-January 2007. I'll be stationed at Camp Speicher working in MWR. The base is just north of Tikrit on the west bank of the Tigris river. Tikrit is the home town of Saddam Hussein.

I'm used to the weather as I have been on many "Mojave Viper" Missions helping the Marines with their training at the 29 Palms Marine Corps base in the California high desert. The terrain and weather are much like Iraq. Extremely hot in the summer and freezing or below at night in the winter. No camel spiders though, just rattlers and coyotes. Oh and violent sandstorms too!

Would love to hear from anyone at Camp Speicher before I leave, especially those who like to hit the gym regularly. I understand there are 2 gyms on base, maybe someone there can tell me what the equipment is like. If it needs upgrading, I'm the guy to talk to as the gyms are run by MWR.

Cheers.