Al Udeid air base

[mole man]

Can enyone help whats at this base and what s to do in your free time

Thanks

Mole Man

[MrBernoulli]

1. They have sand - loads of the stuff
2. Sandcastles and suntans anyone?

[SaddamsLoveChild]

If you are a mover the opportunities are endless......................


ere we go !!!

[startermotor]

It has changed a bit since those pictures were taken.
Still bl00dy hot and humid in summer though!!!

[PlasticCabDriver]

For the USAF perspective, try here:

http://www.flyingsquadron.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=3863&hl=deid

[insty66]

They also have good educational facilities where you can learn foreign languages.:ok:




Like English for example:}

[Talking Radalt]

"This is the swimming pool......This is the Patio.....This is the outdoor theatre and dance floor......" :rolleyes:

For an SH perspective try:
www.butlins.com

:hmm:

[tonyosborne]

Food is pretty interesting if you like cheeseburgers...

[Ginger Beer]

2 Gyms, Cinema, BX, Pizza hut, BK, Costa Coffee type shop, great pool complex, bar area and enough ice cream to get the biggest spam butt in the world.

If you gotta go somewhere OOA (middle east), this is it , enjoy.

Ginge

[Cyprus countrybred]

Who needs anything at the 'Deed? If you ain't sleeping, you're working, and vice versa! 24-hour messing but it's American so don't expect roast beef and two veg... or any veg, for that matter.....

[Runaway Gun]

Karaoke, Bingo, Country Music, Beef Jerky, Gatorade, No exposed skin, Anti-litigation Warning signs everywhere, Kamikaze Road Crossings, Reflective Belts, stares for not standing for the American Anthem, Big Guns at the breakfast table/library/post office/pool, men standing awfully close to other men in the swimming pool, no "Please", "Thankyou" or "Y'all hava narce dayy", slow walking, grunting, three beers, leaky smelly toilets, graffiti, sunburnt Brits, dust, sunlight, Pizza Hut boxes, and cheap shoes.
Five of the most commonly heard phrases, and explanations:
"huhh?" = Pardon me, I didn't quite understand what you mean. Could you please explain?
"Arrrr-di !!" = May I please see your ID, kind sir.
"You know what ahm sayin? Dat's what ahm tokking bout" = I'm breathing, and flapping my mouth around, both at the same time !!
" " (whir/click/silence) = vacant expression when you ask a question.
"Oh, you is from that French Royal Queens Army Force? How cute" = What a shame you can't speak American as well as we do. No wonder you don't understand us. Still, I'm glad that you foreign Antarcticans are here buying our beer and cleaning our quarters. Does your island border on Iraq? I think it's great that your President cleans our Presidents' bathroom. Are you not standing for our Anthem? Do you really know Borat personally? You speak Britainish quite well for a foreigner. Isn't his here Karaoke competition at 200dB outside your sleeping quarters just the best fun? You know what ahm sayin? Dat's what ahm tokking bout.

Bottom Line: Just be thankful that you aren't in a shythole somewhere, getting shot at.

[Avtur]

You are allowed to buy a max of 3 alcoholic drinks per day (bar open about 18 hours). You have to dress into a minimum of shorts and T shirt to go to the cadillacs (ablutions)- not just wrap a towel around you. You have to wear Stanley Mathews MK IV swimming trunks in the pool, where the list of other rules is endless. You cannot wear a running vest in the Gym- it must have short sleeves.

The cookies in the dining room are about the only thing going for the place, apart from the flight out of there (if its not delayed or cancelled).

Do enjoy.

[top_cover]

I think runaway gun has just about hit the nail on the head. There are a few things to do, good gym with running machines etc (has to be said not as good as mpa), cinema 24hrs a day, food 24 hrs a day(as long as you like everything fried and full of calories) brit welfare centre is ok, excellent pool, only 3 beers a night (but that aint the end of the world). Downside is no privacy and no real social area for brits, sandstorms, laundry that takes 3 days, so bring plenty of easy to wash shorts and t shirts, (nothing too expensive as the laundry service will shrink anything). Overall if you have to be out in the desert then this is probably just about the best of a bad lot, and like has been said, at least you not being bombed every night.

[dionysius]

Ah Mole Man, obviously looking at the KBR jobs !!, not happy at VDA then ??

;)

[TheHogwartsBEngO]

My experience of the Deid was brief and in Dec 04 when we took 2x VC10s in for a few days.

Typical VC10 crews - they whined the whole time, but my lads got on with it.

I found the messing quite good (but I can see it would be very boring if it was the same menu for 4 months straight) - salads were good. There was a cinema, BX etc etc etc. But expect the sport on the bar tele to be Dolphins v Redskins rather than Chelsea v Man U.

Basically, an OOA in the desert at Al Udeid would not be all that bad.

(and some of the USAF enlisted girlies were quite easy on the eye :E )

[airborne_artist]

Here it is on Google Maps (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=doha&layer=&ie=UTF8&om=1&z=16&ll=25.128074,51.337116&spn=0.008995,0.021629&t=k&iwloc=addr).

[Heywood Djablowme]

It's all relative. If you've spent months on end slumming it in the TDA at Basrah then Al Udeid is a massive step up. However, if your idea of deployed ops is a suite in Bahrain with a wheelbarrow full of rates then you're going to be a miffed aren't you?!

[FormerFlake]

They allow beer there now? My time there was dry on both senses of the word.

[Avtur]

Mr. Junior Engineering Officer; you appear to be an arse. Can you please state precisely why the "typical VC-10 Crew whinned all the time" ? I can only presume you were instrumental in functioning as the self-licking-lollpop that all DOBs are. I guess (from experience) that you provided zero support to the VC-10 detachment while maintaining your once in in every 3-4 year work-holiday commitmnent that is usually combined with elevated self-importance. (Like Ben T- another useless Eng O- at Seeb last year).
Should you be capable of bringing something useful to a detachment, I would be grateful to see it brought to fruition. Otherwise; do your 3 months holiday and keep your neck firmly wound in when referring to the operationally over-streached contingents of our ailling Service; such as the PERMANENT VC-10 detachment.
Rage complete.

[TheHogwartsBEngO]

I'm not getting into a flame war here - nor will I bite.

The whines of the crew at our brief forward deployment from BAH revolved almost exclusively around their sleeping arrangements and 3 days without rates. The engineering support from neither the techies nor myself was ever questioned.

I might add, not all of the flight crew whined, so apologies if I tarred all with one brush.

And to clarify - I wasn't a DOB EngO at AlUdeid, I came with the VC10s.

[TonkaEngO]

Been there twice over the last 2 years - same as everyone else in the GR4 world. As said before, if you've got to be in the desert then The Deid is the place to be.
Good pool, pretty good gym, cinema, pizza, ice cream - come on guys did you never do Al K or AAS? Beats the sh*t out of them I can tell you.
Accommodation is excellent now, tents 1st time, air con, plenty of space etc. I thought food was pretty good actually - bit groundhog day but more than adequate.
To be honest, when on a permanent 12 on/12 off shift you dont really need much in the way of entertainment.

See - no mention of the mighty VC10, got me home when it had to - nuff said !!

[SRENNAPS]

Apologies if this has been shown before but have you seen this:
http://new.edp24.co.uk/content/news/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&tBrand=edponline&tCategory=news&itemid=NOED21%20Dec%202006%2010%3A08%3A42%3A063
It does not show much of the actual air base but gives you an idea of what is there.

[top_cover]

So Hogwarts, Vc 10 crews typicaly do nothing but whine and dont get on with the job???????

interesting observation, really hope you dont come back, theres a good chap

[TheHogwartsBEngO]

did I say the crews didn't get on with the job? Nothing like twisting words is there :rolleyes:

I was of the opinion at the time that the complaints of the crews about the accommodation, in front of my airmen, was uncalled for. The airmen and NCOs (all credit to them), some of whom had recent operational experience in the SH world, did no such complaining. However, the crews gave, as always, the upmost professionalism to the operational tasks in hand.

sheesh :ugh:

[dallas]

Apologies if this has been shown before but have you seen this:
http://new.edp24.co.uk/content/news/...A08%3A42%3A063 (http://new.edp24.co.uk/content/news/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&tBrand=edponline&tCategory=news&itemid=NOED21%20Dec%202006%2010%3A08%3A42%3A063)
It does not show much of the actual air base but gives you an idea of what is there.
The EDP video is worth a watch, especially if you're off to the Deid, but you can also see why the journalists are writers. :E

[scan]

Those VC10 guys must love it in comparison with that complete dump BAH that I also had to endure foe 2 x 4 months.:ok:

[Runaway Gun]

Scan be careful - you'll start something..... :ouch:

[peppermint_jam]

Been there a few times, as has been said, the mess has a one week cycle, that's only 7 different main meals. Veg is rare too. The American security Forces at the base have no sense of humour at all and zero tolerance of our sarcasm. I'd say the highlight of our annual 2 month stretch has to be stinging the Americans. It's amazing how many people you can fool with a simple "excuse me" or a beep of the horn. Childish? maybe, but great fun! Also beware, last year there was a member of the Security Forces that we nicknamed "The Deadly Nightshade", (after gladiators) she was not to be messed with!

[Lazer-Hound]

I had understood that Al Udied featured two state of the art concrete hangars capable of housing up to 40 fighter each. However, the RAF Tornados appear from the tv show to be housed in flimsy open hangers, which can't be much fun for the ground crews in that heat. Why is this? Are RAF personnel/aircraft not allowed in the big concrete hangers?

[L J R]

Lazer, so what do you understand happens in those huge hangars?

[Runaway Gun]

Big thigh-slapping, rodeo riding, line dancing, karaoke singalongs. Yeee-haaaaarrrr....
No wonder the Brits don't go in there.

[Comp Charlie]

Rumour has it that the VC10 Det were removed from BAH to EID (amongst other reasons - mainly operational and because they tied up a lot of real estate in Muharraq) was because they were renowned for bitching, whinging and moaning so the decision was made to GIVE them something to moan for!!

Of course I wouldn't buy into that terrible and probably unsubstantiated rumour suffice to say that you don't hear the same kind of thing from the Comms Fleet guys now based in BAH. Go figure.

In my experience it goes with the territory that everyone bitches about where they are thinking the 'other guy' has it better. Unfortunatly though the AAR fleet DOES usually have it the best (with regard to tasking, accomodation, Hotac, Rates) compared to the AT, FJ or SH boys and girls, hence why people get miffed when they hear the 'woe is us' tales.

Of course, this is to take nothing away from the fantastic job they do in adverse circumstances in order to sustain a high rate of Operational focus and tempo. If you are on 10/101 and these words rankle and you have never heard these whinges then you are fortunate - it doesn't mean they don't exist... := And as we know the words of a few are usually sufficient to secure the reputation of many.

[Lazer-Hound]

LJR, I beleive they are used to house several Lockheed Martin SR75 Aurora Mach-7 pulse-jet spy planes and Dark Star+ UAV's, plus probably some flying saucers.

[Spit the Dog]

Regarding 'The Deid', can someone tell me why the 'NO non-UK Forces' rule is not being enforced with the 10 internet terminals? Fresh signs go up on a weekly basis and are repeatedly ignored, if you go in there any time after midnight you can't move for shaven headed spams in ridiculous PT kit staring at the latest Texan indie car results. Its the last piece of UK sanity where you can escape for a short while and I dont want to spend it sitting next to a damn yank with 'Nickleback' belting out from his ill fitting headphones. ...that feels better :*

[goldcup]

CompCharlie

Yeah, that's right.

Gulf Air decided it wanted the hardened pan space, but only because someone high up in the RAF asked them to request it because they wanted to bugger about the guys on 101. That is EXACTLY what happened.

No, really it is.

[6foottanker]

OK Charie,
just how do you differentiate between the VC10 AAR fleet and the VC10 AT fleet.....erm....same aircraft, same aircrew, and all of us spend more time out of the country away from our families than you ever do. And I think you'll find 10 Sqn has not existed for at least 8 months. But then you know that, since you're an informed opinion on all things VC10 aren't you. How does moving a tanker 45 minutes further away from its operational theatre improve its operational capability? You're not Baz 'no idea about fixed wing assets' North are you?

BTW, I'm on my 5th det in the deed in 8 months.
And no, it's not as good as bahrain :(
But it is better than Basra, and I don't get shot at.

IMHO:
Food - ok, lots of it, lots of sugar and fat, and a bit groundhog day. Good cookies and free Ben and Jerry's ice cream.
Rec - pool good, bit of a cock fest.
Gym good, organised footy/cricket etc, fill your boots
easy internet access, and phones you don't have to queue for hours to use, lots of TVs, a brit bar open 3 times a week. Just don't get involved in the bingo....
work - lots!

6'
(love from the deed)

[MrBernoulli]

That wouldn't surprise me much. The worst whingers and jobsworths were often the blunties on the BAH det - selfseeking bunch of shysters for the most part. (I said 'often' and 'most', not 'all')

[toddbabe]

6 foot the move is 45 mins closer to it's main operational theatre! not further. did you do geography at school?

[vascodegama]

tb You obviously did neither Geography nor English. I can only guess that you mean the Theatre that should be covered by the TRI* which is not the main VC10 area of ops. The VC10 main area clearly is further from Al Ud than it is from Bahrain. Quite how anyone can see an operational advantage in the move beggars belief. Wasting 1 hr plus per sortie on a limited life frame is criminal but the disadvantages do not end there. Thanks to the US rules a quick turn is not possible at the Deed so supporting 2 sorties with one ac is not an option which it often was at Bahrain. The basing of the 10s was made for good operational reasons but ever since petty minded half wits have wanted to change things. Just as a side issue how many posts have gone at Bahrain since the VC10 move-none!

By the way you meant its not it's.

[Seldomfitforpurpose]

Ah the whine of a conway/VC10 crew.........there's nothing quite like it :p

[TonkaEngO]

Without wishing to divulge too much info - Beadwindow blah - there are 2 large HAS type structures there, one of which is for us to use. The sunshelters were/are an excellent idea and they keep the worst of the sun off the guys very well. Saves lots of towing and leaves HAS for sched maint etc.

[Comp Charlie]

In answer to some of the spiteful venom slung at me (and I DO recall saying it was rumour and that I personally didn't buy into it!!):

1. To the best of my current knowledge (no, not Google Earth!) there are NO Gulf Air aircraft that ever use the area on the Western Apron where the VC10's used to park.

2. I never claimed to be an expert on VC10's/ 10 Sqn/ 101 Sqn/ 10/101 Sqn or whatever the current name of it is. My experience of VC10s stops purely at a couple of hundred flying hours on them, the same amount trying to get comfortable on them, and more than quadruple that in being delayed by them.

3. Please do not be as crass as to suggest that any VC10 aircrew spend as much time away or seperated from their family when you do not know others service history. For the record my days away (according to my latest pay statement) stands currently at 1329 days and counting - but this isn't a pi*sing contest as EVERYONE is stretched and spending a lot of time away from home.

4. The claim that no posts have been removed from Bahrain since the VC10 Det left for the Sandpit is dependant on your viewpoint. The Comms Fleet have no need for nearly as many personnel due to their size and the fact they don't break down nearly as much. As for the rest of the support personnel I think you may find the Supply section has shrunk to a one-man band, Ops is smaller, the RAFLO have relocated to pastures new etc etc Maths isn't my strongpoint but when I saw the nice framed photos from the VC10 era there seemed to be a lot more people than currently inhabit the place.

[Doha_lad]

Having left the maritime community last year, I'm now living and working in Doha (and having a ball :cool:) If anyone is coming to the Died and thinks they know me, please pm me and I'll pick you up and take you oot on the toon....

Greavsie