The lap of luxury

I have shifted my location to Fort Bragg for specific training. Prior to the training the group has been let loose on some leave. I have taken this opportunity to visit my mother in the Richmond area. I titled this posting the lap of luxury because of the stark contrast of my living quarters in South Carolina versus my current berthing in North Carolina.

A complicated game of telephone

Today at Fort Jackson we participated in our final practical training evolution, a convoy involving 8 humvees. The training was very interesting from a communications and coordination standpoint. I wish that we had the opportunity to cover further convoy operations for a couple of days. Some of us will be in convoys in country, so we might have benefitted from further convoy training. Many of my shipmates here will be continuing their range and convoy training in Kuwait, living in coed tents without showers in the desert for a handful of days. I will not be joining them. I will be traveling to North Carolina for some further training specific to my job. I appreciate all the coordination by Alpha Company at Camp McGrady in order to make this convoy training happen.

Land Navigation 101

Saturday morning was spent plotting out coordinates on a map and determining the azimuths (bearings) from one point to another. We figured in the 5 degree declination using the lensatic compass. One person on the team paced out our course and bearing every 100 meters, while the rest of us were spead out sweeping the area for the waypoints that we were assigned. I have certainly plotted coordinates in the past but I never had the field experience finding specified coordinates in the Carolina woods. Great experience.

Super Hooah!

The last few days here at Fort Jackson have been very full. Yesterday I qualified on the M16 rifle. This simply means that I shot a bunch of pop up targets reasonably well. I have been fortunate that my firing line has been going first for the last few days.

Today was very enjoyable. Alpha Company had a very early start so that we could fire the M9 on the range in low light conditions. This was followed by a M16 flex fire exercise, then a stress fire. The flex fire exercise is done with the M16, at a relatively close range. Most of the firing positions approached the target starting from a side position or with your back facing the target. The stress fire is a combat stress M16 firing exercise that included running up to different targets.

After that, we fired the M249 (AKA "Saw"), the M240B and a Browning M2 50 caliber.

Later that day some of us went to the the HEAT trainer. This is a humvee rollover simulator. I have rolled over (in slow motion) in the simulator twice. The point of this exercise is the understand how to escape from the vehicle. It was briefly physically demanding at times. I noted that some of the dirt from the vehicle floor ended up in my mouth during the rollover.

"Mr. E"

I would be remiss if I did not pay homage to the MRE (Meal, Ready to Eat). I recall an annual training in South Korea a couple of years ago when someone cracked open an MRE in jest. It was a novelty then, but a reality for me now. When Company A is out shooting at the range for the day, the MRE is our lunch. If you are at all curious, you could buy a box full of them for your survival kit at home. Might I recommend the entree entitled "Chicken breast fillet seasoned, grilled, chunked and formed (smoke flavor added)?" It is served with "crackers, vegetable", followed by cherry blueberry cobbler and short bread cookies.

Breathe, come to the bottom of the breath, then fire

One of the challenging things for me is to time my breathing correctly when firing the M16 rifle. I am improving and the instruction is very helpful. I realize that one of my key character traits (impatience) comes into play here. Alternatively, the M9 (pictured here) is more my speed. I love firing this thing. It's fun and it's immediate. The body armor adds another layer of complexity to the experience.

Pat head, rub belly

My recent training involves wearing a ballistic load-bearing vest with heavy strike face inserts, one example is pictured here. The plates surround the torso area. I would estimate that the small size vest weighs fifty pounds. Wearing such gear is exhausting in this early stage of training .

The red tent

Here at Fort Jackson I am in open bay berthing. This translates to a barracks, not pictured, with bunk beds ("racks") accomodating 40 females presently. This also translates to 40 females synchronizing their menstral periods. But there are a few smart ones among us, myself excepted, who have taken advantage of "Depo". Apparently medical has an injection, a hormone blend that eliminates the menstrual period. This injection is given every three months for up to a two year timeframe. The risk here is a future likelihood of decreased bone density, and (get this) possible increased cramping once mensing resumes. No thanks.

Scab, anyone?

The small pox vaccine is a medical requirement going overseas. I was "pricked" yesterday. I have a feeling that my body will heal too quickly. The desired process takes about a month of pusing then scabbing.

White coat hypertension

Here in Port Hueneme, a higher tenure servicemember in my processing group has fallen prey to this phenomenon his entire life. He is over the allowable blood pressure threshold after multiple readings and will not be able to go forward with his mobilization. My thoughts are with him as he heads back home next week.