Now that the 172nd isn’t expected back to Alaska until sometime in December, the soldiers are anticipating another round of quick acclimatization. When soldiers arrived in Baghdad in August, temperatures hovered near 110, up to 125 during the day in the city. Most of the Stryker vehicles don’t have air conditioning but can keep air circulating through the belly of the vehicle where soldiers ride. Still, soldiers often swelter beneath their Kevlar vests and helmets. “I think I lost 10 pounds in the first month just from sweating,” said Pfc. Michael Hoyt with the 4-14 Cavalry. Soldiers keep plenty of cold beverages in ice coolers inside their vehicles. And the arrival of a little rain, scattered clouds and high 90s were welcomed this week as “cooler” weather. Still news that the first snow arrived in Fairbanks late last week made many realize it’s going to be a shock to the system to arrive back in Alaska in the middle of December.
Looking forward to weather shock
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