I can answer some of these from my perspective, as a Ground Mobile Forces SatComm Operator...
Skeptic said:
Have you on previous tours pwned any "insurgents" i.e. Jihadists?
No, but I did get sooooo deliciously close once... They were about 1000 yards down the way, and I was not authorized to fire. I was pointing at them saying "bang, bang" in my head tho. I kinda chubbed up a little.
Skeptic said:
Speaking of phat lewtz, do they let you bring home any souveniers? Say AK-47's or ritual beheading knives, that sort of thing?
You can bring home anything you don't get caught with.
Skeptic said:
I see all the pictures, and I hear it's really hot...but nobody is drenched in sweat. Why is that?
It's an insanely DRY heat. As soon as you sweat a single drop, it's so friggin' hot the sweat just evaporates right off your skin.
Skeptic said:
I'd like to send some care packages to the troops. What sort of things do you guys want over there? I hear DVD's are big.
Yeah, DVDs are always awesome. If you're not looking to spend much money, baby wipes are so much better than the porta-john TP we use out there, and dog flea collars are awesome for keeping the sand fleas from crawling up your legs (just put them around your ankles outside the boot) - Snack food is also a welcome gift. Vienna Sausages, other canned stuff with pull-top lids and other non-perishables are WAY better than the BS MRE's we have to eat.
Just be creative... Some of the coolest stuff I got out there was things noone else's family ever thought to send.
-CodeCaster
P.S. - Where you gonna be at in Iraq this time around man? I was at Al-Asad last year, and headed to Al-Quaim in February... Maybe I'll see you in Kuwait.