Pointing in the right direction

Photo By Sgt. Thomas Day | SOUTHWEST ASIA (December 6, 2006)---Spc. Jamie Vieke reviews the flight procedures and rules governing the R & R program in Qatar for a group about to take off. Vieke told the group about the three-drink-a-day limit for Soldiers in Qatar, and she also informed them their R&R pass only starts charging days after midnight of the day they arrive.  

12.05.2006

Story by Sgt. Thomas Day 

40th Public Affairs Detachment

by Sgt. Thomas L. Day
Desert Voice Staff Writer
40th Public Affairs Detachment

A four-day pass to sunny Doha, Qatar. No work, no worries. It's the military's four-day pass program for troops who need a break from their combat mission.

The trip starts with a friendly greeting from Sgt. Tim Monzon, a Missoula, Mont., native, who has worked at an airfield in Kuwait for Third Army/U.S. Army Central since December 2005. Monzon's job is to make sure the Soldiers do not miss their flights.

In Qatar is Warrant Officer 1 Patrick Earl. He is Rest and Recuperation (R&R) coordinator for the 40th Personnel Services Detachment. Earl receives the troops Monzon sends his direction, as well as troops coming from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Together, Earl and Monzon are like a quarterback and his third-down, go-to receiver.

The defense for Earl and Monzon is unpredictable, coming in the form of an overloaded flight, a cancelled flight or even stormy day.

"The flight schedules are real flexible," said Monzon. Compounding issues for Monzon: "Generally, only one flight a day (leaves for Qatar)."

There are easy days and there are hard ones. For Monzon, during the peak season, the number of incoming troops can exceed 100. Other times, when most deployed Soldiers are going on mid-tour leave or redeploying, are not so busy.

Usually the peak and slow seasons for Monzon and Earl mirror one another.

"The last couple of months we've been as slow as putting one person out (a day)," Monzon said.

"We rely on the Air Force to provide the flights," said Earl, who operates out of Camp As Sayliyah, Qatar. "Sometimes coordinating between the two services can be challenging."

Slow days mean easier days; more incoming troops result in a busier day at work. Fewer Soldiers going on pass mean less of a hassle in claiming seats on flights going to Qatar.

No single flight goes to Qatar with the sole purpose of transporting Soldiers on pass, so both Kuwait and Qatar teams are forced to reserve seats as they become available.

"If we weren't actually able to get them on a flight, we have them on stand by," Monzon's assistant, Spc. Jamie Viere said. Troops can be held for as long as several days for stand-by flights, Viere explained.

• Date Taken: 12.05.2006
• Date Posted: 12.05.2006 09:25
• Story ID: 8482