February finds me doing exactly the same thing I've been doing since I got here, but busier. My Platoon Leader is gone on leave so I'm doing his work as well. I've been swamped for the past couple of weeks, catching up and meeting with various people who want to make improvements to my ECP. On top of that, I still make my rounds as the Platoon Sergeant, visiting every place I have people, delivering supplies and mail, trying to make improvements as I go. Now that our Troop is completely devoted to base defense and manning ECPs, the Brigade has a renewed interest in said ECPs. I'm enjoying the extra focus because now I can finally push through the changes I want to make to improve security. On the downside, attacks are increasing throughout Iraq, probably an attempt to discredit the, now in control, government of Iraq. We're following the news closely here, particularly with the new president in office. And the most interesting news would be his promise of a pullout within 16 months. The pullout won't really effect me much but it could mean a faster transition to the Iraqi Armed Forces and I could start seeing them on my ECP. I'm not sure they or we are ready for that. But, I do what the Commander-in-Chief wants.