LTJG Robert D. Virden (left) son of Catherine Virden and the late Teacher, Coach and Mayor Joe Virden, is currently serving a one year tour in Iraq. A career Navy Cryptologist, he is currently working as an Information Operations Planning Officer and Contractor Officer Representative for the United States Forces- Iraq under USF-I Commander 4 Star, General Ray Odierno.
LT Virden started the first phase of his Individual Augmentee training in Norfolk, Virginia. There he was issued medical/dental/uniform supplies and received country briefings preparing for duties in Iraq. Once completed, he and 137 Naval Officers and Sailors traveled to Camp McCrady, South Carolina located on Ft. Jackson, SC, for the intermediate phase of training. Here they concentrated on the areas of convoy operations, basic rifle marksmanship, urban operations, heavy weapons, land navigation and first aid.
LT Virden learns the ins and outs of the M-16 rifle;
Virden stands by his HMMWV preparing for convoy operations
After graduating, the crew flew to Kuwait City in Kuwait, traveled a short way north and took up tent residence on Camp Virginia. Once acclimated to the 100+ temperatures and continually blowing sand and dust, they traveled by convoy for the final phase of training to the Udairi Range located just five miles from Iraq. During this time, they were exposed to more detailed marksmanship training and advanced convoy operations. This gave them the knowledge and knowhow to quickly integrate to current operations once in Iraq.
Always a West Virginian at heart, LT Virden has spent the majority of his 17+ year career deployed around the world in as far flung places as Japan, Malaysia, Bahrain, Iraq and most of Europe, going to countries and having experiences he could never have imagined as a child, loving every minute of it along the way.
LT Rob Virden has been in Iraq for just over three weeks and is settling in nicely. He is in touch with many Calhoun members through Facebook and welcomes people to "friend" him there. His e-mail is rdvirden(at)yahoo.com and physical address is Rob Virden, USF-I IO J39, APO AE 09342 and you are welcome to contact him with comment or questions or just to say hello.
Virden in front of Saddam's al Faw Palace located in Baghdad
about 5 kilometers from the Baghdad International Airport, Iraq |
