I too was based out of Camp Mortarittaville :P
I left August 28th-I bet you knew my Crew-It was Pooh Bears Crew-all combat vets. Best tanker crew in Iraq

Here's a link to some of my pics... you may recognize your truck...

http://strickstuff.com/photo/main.php?g2_itemId=3871

I was with the Air Force Gun Trucks... 2632nd...

No you won't. We had an ex-USAF driver in my trucking school class, and me made all of us look really bad. Give him his CDL already and put him to work far away from here. We're tired of looking stupid. :D

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Don't remember which AF Unit was with us one night but the .50 Gunner wiped out about 25 Haji's when they set up a ambush on us near Taji.
I liked Al Asad but it sure sucked getting there. Lost quite a few guys in AO Phoenix.
I have lots of photos also-How did you take a pic with Night Vision?

My buddy who was in a convoy ahead of us on AO Phoenix(Hit a Russian Landmine)

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...pr/RIPMr-1.jpg

I'm sure you remember this sign by Haditha lmao
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...ndminesign.jpg

RIP Mr. Z

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...necasualty.jpg

Your Kuwait pics look Eerily like Camp Wolverine :P

I just stuck the camera lens in my NVGs & presto... it worked. I don't remember if it was us who hit the 25 haji's, but we lit a van-full up w/ the .50 cal... needless to say, the AK-47 fire stopped...

silvan:

If you could elaborate on this more, I would appreciate it. I consider myself a good driver. I've been training the younger guys on Tractor Trailer for years now. Although I may not have as many OTR miles as civilian truckers, I still have racked up my share... I've driven in mountains, desert, snow, rain, probably everywhere in between. Now, I'm not saying that I'm a know-it-all, there's lots to learn. I know nothing about log books, and I never stop at weigh stations, and I've never been limited to how long I can drive. Having said that, I'm sure I can quickly pick up what is needed right away. Driving for myself is primary, driving for a company is secondary. I already have my foot in the door to move AF cargo. I just need a truck & trailer...

-James

What most people are trying to say is "driving" a truck and being a truck driver are two different things. Like I was told when I started looking (same boat as you), the days of "jumping in Uncle Bob's cornbinder and learning on the farm roads" are over. There are a lot of people who can drive the truck extremely well, but you have to understand the rules, both for the insurance companies and yourself (to be able to make any money).
If you are just now getting your CDL, your military experience will be of no use to you. No companies will see the military as true OTR experience. If you had gotten your CDL several years ago, along with that experience, then you might could "sell yourself" to a smaller company willing to train you on logs and such. That is what I did.
If you have the GI Bill, you might check out Werner (shutter and spit!) as they will allow you to draw on your benefits your first year (6 mo full benefits, 3 mo 3/4 benefits, 3 mo 1/2 benefits). If you can do it for a year, it will allow you to boost your income during your lean training year, then get out on your own. Just some thoughts...
Ken