Just posting some more pictures for Andy...again=) If you would like to help send shoes, clothes, soccer balls etc. To help out feel free to leave a comment below or if you have Andy's email address you can contact him through there.





Passing out some shoes....







Helping at a local orphanage ......








There are a lot more that I will post later.

Hello From Africa...
I am sorry it has been so long since i had posted last, I have been unable to post given my situation has changed quite a bit as you could imagine. We are not yet fully settled in yet but well on our way. What I have gotten to see of it Africa is a beautiful place but very hot. We are coming to the end of spring and it is in the 90's and quickly coming into sumer where it will approach 120 +. We have all have now learned our roles and a routine is falling in place. The one thing that has and will make this a experience of a lifetime is the opportunity to provide humanitarian aid to the regions close to the base. We have been assigned a village in which we spend time with to improve there livelihoods and living situations. I don't yet know allot about the village but I am very eager to learn. There are aprox 88 families and all have several kids of all ages. As you could imagine in a country with an over 60% unemployment rate the need is quite great. Recently i had gone for the first time to meet them and asses the need. Once we had arrived we were greeted by a dozen or so excited children who simply wanted to shake your hand and have there photo taken. I will keep you informed as i get more opportunities to go visit. If you are interest in participating in the Aid of these people please get in contact with Amber or myself and we have a list of things that this village is need of most. As the only Coalition base of operations on the continent of Africa we have a huge undertaking here on every level. I look forward to what the next six and a half months have in store. Now more then ever the one thing that still remains unchanged is the ever forefront thought of my beautiful girls waiting for me at home.

Some of the children from the village





Goats that the last guys bought for them.

Andy asked me again to post some of his pictures. Hopefully he will have time to get on and update you all himself very soon.

Just wanted to let everyone know i got Andy's address today, if you want it email me. We where able to talk for a little bit and he said that you could see the poverty level just flying onto the base. He gets to make his first trip off base tomorrow so he is excited to see Africa. He said the base is small and very packed, chow hall is open 24/7 and is really good and there is coffee! They can also take some college classes while there so he is planning on getting his EMT certification for fun.

Well, that's the word for now. Hopefully he will be able to get online soon and update you all himself.

Amber

Andy's in Africa!

Just wanted to let everyone know that Andy is in Africa! The count down begins for me, YAY! I will update you all with his latest and let you know when I get his new address. Thanks for all the prayers and keep them headed his way.

Amber

Andy asked that I post some pictures here for him. He has been taking a lot of pictures since he is the platoon photographer. I can't wait to see all his pictures from Africa.













I should have his Africa address soon!! I will post to let everyone know I have it.

Here I am with Ssgt. Martinez on the rifle range. Ssgt. Martinez is my platoon commander and a great guy. We went to the range and we were there all day from 0630 to 2200. But it was a blast we each shoot over 300 rounds. As you can see from the video we got to do night fire with night vision goggles and infrared lasers. Not much else is going on. We are just ever coming closer to the time where we can end this chapter and begun a new.

Rounds Comin Down Range...

It's been a long time, but hello to all. It's been one month now in the books and it feels like three. All is well here, training has slowed a little but is much appreciated by an over worked 8th PSC. Though time has finally begun to pick up a little pace still we are all anxious to get in country. My combat life saver training continues and is ever so informative. Still not yet certified but it in my near future.

We have gone to the rifle range witch is welcomed by any Marine though the mornings were so cold, by the sounds of the complaints one would not think we were Marines at all. I had shot better then ever the first three days of practice and pre-quall, but when it came down to quall day I shot well but not as good as I had hoped. I walked away with a 218 Sharp Shooter, only 2 points from expert. With the range out of the way we begun to turn back to the class room and prac-app of the sole responsibility to our mission in HOA, security. All in all I am alive and well and continuing on with what has been set before me.

Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers which have gotten me this far. As always the one thing that still remains unchanged is the ever forefront thought of my beautiful girls waiting for me at home.






-Cpl Hickman

More good reads!

A website all about whats going on in Africa......
http://www.hoa.centcom.mil