Thursday again began with combatives. We began to incorporate the different steps we had been leaning so far. It had rained the night before so we spent that morning rolling around in the mud. We got so stinking filthy. Our backs were covered in mud. The icing on the cake was when I was running through the drills with Lt Gore and I rolled right onto a Fire Ant hill. Yup, it felt great!!!! I ripped my blouse off so quickly and began picking ants off of me.
The rest of the morning was spent with final rehersals for the actual convoy. After lunch the convoy began. We received fire between our first and second check point but drove right through it as practiced. We later were hit with a pretend RPG and small arms fire. We sustained 4 casualties and one of our trucks "broke down". We had to secure the area, get our casualties out, and get our broken truck out. It did not go very smoothly as people tried to put themselves in charge of the situation instead of listening to our convoy commander and truck commanders. Once we convinced the rest to follow orders and not do their own thing we got out. At our flaoating rally point we set up for a Medevac before having a review with our instructors. The review did not go so well, but we learned a lot which was the point of this. We later found an IED on the road and practiced how to secure the area and such. On our last leg of the convoy our instructors wanted us to switch leadership. They asked for a volunteer to be the Convoy Commander and the crowd went silent!!! No one spoke up. So what did I do? Of course, I said I would do it. On the drive back to the FOB truck 7 was hit with an IED and small arms fire. That truck was disabled and Truck 8 went into the kill zone to secure the area. I called on the radio to send truck 1 back to offer fire support. Truck 5 and 6 were sent to get the casualties out and tow the broken truck out. We finally got everyone loaded up again and then went to another floating rally point to call for a Medevac. Once we got to an open field we again set up for a helicopter. As the acting Convoy Commander I called the ACE, SALUTE, and 9-Line Medevac reports before the instructors called for a review. The instructors were very impressed how we as a group had taken what they had told us before and put it into action. They were also very impressed with how well I had communicated to all 8 trucks with only 3 radios and hand signals. And don't you worry, I managed to lie down on another fireant hill before becoming Covoy Commander. Yes, I am that talented!
Before we were allowed to call it a night we had to "field clean" our M-16s to turn them in on Friday. We have not yet been taught how to clean this weapon so it was fun to be creative.
The rest of the morning was spent with final rehersals for the actual convoy. After lunch the convoy began. We received fire between our first and second check point but drove right through it as practiced. We later were hit with a pretend RPG and small arms fire. We sustained 4 casualties and one of our trucks "broke down". We had to secure the area, get our casualties out, and get our broken truck out. It did not go very smoothly as people tried to put themselves in charge of the situation instead of listening to our convoy commander and truck commanders. Once we convinced the rest to follow orders and not do their own thing we got out. At our flaoating rally point we set up for a Medevac before having a review with our instructors. The review did not go so well, but we learned a lot which was the point of this. We later found an IED on the road and practiced how to secure the area and such. On our last leg of the convoy our instructors wanted us to switch leadership. They asked for a volunteer to be the Convoy Commander and the crowd went silent!!! No one spoke up. So what did I do? Of course, I said I would do it. On the drive back to the FOB truck 7 was hit with an IED and small arms fire. That truck was disabled and Truck 8 went into the kill zone to secure the area. I called on the radio to send truck 1 back to offer fire support. Truck 5 and 6 were sent to get the casualties out and tow the broken truck out. We finally got everyone loaded up again and then went to another floating rally point to call for a Medevac. Once we got to an open field we again set up for a helicopter. As the acting Convoy Commander I called the ACE, SALUTE, and 9-Line Medevac reports before the instructors called for a review. The instructors were very impressed how we as a group had taken what they had told us before and put it into action. They were also very impressed with how well I had communicated to all 8 trucks with only 3 radios and hand signals. And don't you worry, I managed to lie down on another fireant hill before becoming Covoy Commander. Yes, I am that talented!
Before we were allowed to call it a night we had to "field clean" our M-16s to turn them in on Friday. We have not yet been taught how to clean this weapon so it was fun to be creative.
1 comment:
Good grief! Take it easy on the ant hunting! Sounds like a full but incredible day. Not anything close to what I experience!
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