Warning orders: prepare to move...

This has been in the works for awhile. Years, in fact. Memos went up the chain of command, and back down again. Never any luck. And then, just recently, approval.

I'm going to Afghanistan.

I can't say when, but it will be shortly. I can't say exactly where, nor how long I'll be gone for. DND is understandably picky about that sort of thing. But if the creek don't rise, I'll be posting from over there at some point in the fairly near future, so watch this space.

This is a first for a Canadian blogger. A fairly narrow first, but a first nonetheless: bloggers have served, but not really written about it; American bloggers have embedded with Canadian troops; Canadian bloggers have gone over unilaterally. But to the best of my knowledge, a Canadian blogger has never before been invited on a CF-sponsored visit.

Much as the CF is hosting this visit, there are still some incidental costs that the CF doesn't cover - a couple grand worth, as a matter of fact. For a member of the paid media, these can be put on an expense claim. For me, they come out of my pocket. I'm already taking precious vacation time to pursue this, so I'm hoping you, Gentle Reader, would help defray those costs by hitting my tip-jar. Any contribution, no matter how small, would be most welcome. Click the button to donate via PayPal, (which for those not familiar with it, does accept credit cards).

I'm looking forward to this incredible opportunity to see some of what the CF and Canada is doing in Afghanistan first-hand, and to tell you about it from my perspective. Wait, out.