New Perspective

This last week in the field has put a new perspective on A LOT of things. The three main things we did were the Gas Chamber, MOUT, and Convoy Operations. The Gas Chamber is what it sounds like, we get exposed to CS Nerve Gas. The second is MOUT, Military Operation in Urban Territories. We do a lot of clearing buildings and house to house searches. Then we did Convoy Operations were we simulate convoys that are happening in Iraq and Afghanistan with IED's and the like. 

The reason that this all a 'new perspective' is that as a civilian you hear about everything that goes on in the military and our current situation in Iraq and Afghanistan. But to actually put it to practice, to simulate your convoy being hit by an IED and taking care of casualties, returning fire, getting a medevac. Also being part of a team that clears buildings. Kicking in doors is cool and all, but its pretty scary knowing you are kicking in this door and have no idea about the inside of the house. I have A LOT more respect for our troops now that I have done a FEW things that they have. Even with a four man team, and being locked and loaded with your weapon ready to go, entering that house not knowing what awaits you  is an unpleasant feeling to say the least. CS gas sucks big time. It burns like a horrible sunburn that someone is slapping. Then when you take off your mask and the gas chokes you all you can think of is getting out of the room. We have one more week of the field and then we are done! Time to go to bed, an early morning awaits me!

High Speed

So I finished my first week in the field and am getting ready for week number two. The first week was really interesting. We did a lot of Warrior Tasks which included familiarization with the M16 and M9 which included functions test and disassembly and reassembly of both. Using the sincgar radio (the one you see in the movies, but not the big back pack ones like in WWII, the ones in Vietnam) how to call in a 9-line medevac  www.armystudyguide.com/content/army_board_study_guide_topics/First_Aid/9-line-medevac-request.shtml 

So basically a 9-line would work like this, I pick up the radio and say this (or something very similar): Me: "Dustoff 3 alpha this is Bulldog 6 requesting a medevac"

Evac: "This is Dustoff 3 alpha go ahead Bulldog 6"

Me: "Line 1: NH387234839483 Line 2: 40205.8 Bulldog 6 Line 3: 2 Alpha break 1 Delta Line 4: Bravo break Delta Line 5: Alpha 2 Break Bravo 1 Line 6: Echo Line 7: Charlie Line 8: Alpha"

That is how medevacs are called in. Notice no line 9 because there was no threat of nuclear biological or chemical agents. We also did day and night land navigation which including learning to read a map (and not the kind you get a wall-mart) and doing Mounted (vehicle) land navigation with a GPS (not your car gps, its a lot different)

We had no running water, so no showers. And 5 days of doing training in 101-106 degree heat can make for some stinky soldiers. But it was okay, we are in a FOB (forward operating base) so it simulates being deployed in a non-industrialized area. So imagine what the TV show MASH looked like and its a pretty good description. We eat standing up, or on bleachers if you are lucky enough to get a spot. We get two 'hots' a day and an MRE. The hot meals aren't hot. For breakfast we get cold scrambled eggs, cold sausage, a dinner roll from the previous night and orange drink, not juice, drink. Then for lunch we get an MRE (meals ready to eat, also known as meals rejected by ethiopians) some of them are HORRIBLE, but some are not to bad. I had one that was 'vegetable omelet' it was basically a sponge with egg flavoring. It was hard to eat. But the rest have been okay. We drink a TON of water. I am starting to get sick of it so I bought flavoring packets. Hope that helps this week.

I labeled this post "high speed" it is a term we use to describe people. It means you go above and beyond, or you do really well. Like special forces and rangers are definitely high speed. But normal soldiers can be high speed too. I have been doing my best to be high speed. Luckily I have a good Battle Buddy who also wants to be high speed. For instance on day and night land navigation you only have to get 3 of the 4 points. Well me and my battle (short for battle buddy, just basically an accountability partner) got all 4 points on both when a lot of people only did 3 and went home. It took a lot longer, had a lot more walking associated with it. But it felt a lot better doing it 100%. I also qualified as Expert on the M9 as well. So I have been trying to do the best I can and all but my PT test I have been doing really well. But hopefully that will change and I will do better on my next PT test so I will really be 'High Speed'

This week coming up we do convoys and we are going to have to plan the convoys, plan the routes, plan for all the alternatives and execute it. There will be Opfor (opposing force, or the bad guys) who will ambush us, we will also have to deal with IED's. So we are going to be simulating a lot of combat. Plus we are going to the Gas chamber to be exposed to some CS gas. Not looking forward to the gas...

All in all it has been a good experience in the field. But carrying around 40 pounds of gear plus a weapon at all times gets to sucking in the heat. But it could be a lot worse so I am not complaining. But its off to bed for now I gotta be in formation at 0430.