21 August 2011
Day 64
Today was a typical Sunday, only we got to sleep until 0600. Much needed! We pretty much relaxed all day! We cleaned a little, napped a little, wrote a little. My body was pretty tired after FTX 3, so it needed a break. We will be in recovery until we graduate, but we have plenty of things to do! I will be blogging each day on these things! Everyone enjoy their Sunday!
Matthew
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Final Training Day: 16k Ruck
20 August 2011
Day 63
Today was probably the best day thus far in my short military career (63 days actually)! We finished Basic Combat Training this morning and what a great feeling it was! Surreal almost and in many ways gratifying!
The company woke up at 01:30 and geared up to start our journey back to the barracks at 02:10. After the first hour, we stopped for a 15 min break. Our next stop was at the 8k mark. Then our last stop was at the barracks, where we arrived around 06:30. The staff had placed tiki torches along the walk ways for us. The drill sergeants were throwing smoke grenades as we were entering the CTA (Covered Training Area). When we got to the CTA, a DVD slideshow was playing with all of the pictures that had been taken throughout the cycle, with all types of music! Very touching! I won't lie, a few tears came to my eyes. Not because I made it, but because a few guys in my platoon and company made it and I hadn't given them a chance from day one! I only hope they were as proud of themselves and everyone else was! They company then participated in a ceremony where a "punch" was made with different types of juices, representing things such as, blood, sweat, tears, integrity, etc. Everything that goes into making a professional solider. I want the recipe because it was really good! After the punch was made everyone got a cup and the drill sergeants toasted the following: The United States of America, The US Army, our company (Bravo 2-46), and lastly the fallen soldiers who gave their lives for our country! What an awesome ceremony!
Breakfast chow at 0800 and pretty much the rest of the day was relaxing (cleaning rifles, straighten up lockers, etc). At 14:00 the senior drill sergeant come and got Colavito and myself and told us to ride to Marietta with him to pick up the AWOL guys! Yep, the Army tracked them down and had them bused back to Georgia to return to Ft. Benning. Those guys have no idea what they are about to go through! Both are only 18 years old.
We got back to the barracks around 19:00, ate our left over chow and lights out at 20:00 for some much needed rest! Good night all!
Matthew
Day 63
Today was probably the best day thus far in my short military career (63 days actually)! We finished Basic Combat Training this morning and what a great feeling it was! Surreal almost and in many ways gratifying!
The company woke up at 01:30 and geared up to start our journey back to the barracks at 02:10. After the first hour, we stopped for a 15 min break. Our next stop was at the 8k mark. Then our last stop was at the barracks, where we arrived around 06:30. The staff had placed tiki torches along the walk ways for us. The drill sergeants were throwing smoke grenades as we were entering the CTA (Covered Training Area). When we got to the CTA, a DVD slideshow was playing with all of the pictures that had been taken throughout the cycle, with all types of music! Very touching! I won't lie, a few tears came to my eyes. Not because I made it, but because a few guys in my platoon and company made it and I hadn't given them a chance from day one! I only hope they were as proud of themselves and everyone else was! They company then participated in a ceremony where a "punch" was made with different types of juices, representing things such as, blood, sweat, tears, integrity, etc. Everything that goes into making a professional solider. I want the recipe because it was really good! After the punch was made everyone got a cup and the drill sergeants toasted the following: The United States of America, The US Army, our company (Bravo 2-46), and lastly the fallen soldiers who gave their lives for our country! What an awesome ceremony!
Breakfast chow at 0800 and pretty much the rest of the day was relaxing (cleaning rifles, straighten up lockers, etc). At 14:00 the senior drill sergeant come and got Colavito and myself and told us to ride to Marietta with him to pick up the AWOL guys! Yep, the Army tracked them down and had them bused back to Georgia to return to Ft. Benning. Those guys have no idea what they are about to go through! Both are only 18 years old.
We got back to the barracks around 19:00, ate our left over chow and lights out at 20:00 for some much needed rest! Good night all!
Matthew
FTX 3 -Day 5 (Final Day)
19 August 2011
Day 62
Final day of FTX 3! And what an interesting day it turned out to be! Wake up at 0500 with breakfast chow at 0800. Duty squad had the truck loaded with gear we had to return and after chow we headed to the main post to return it. However, on the way to the main post we found out that our priority was not returning the gear, but finding two missing soldiers from our platoon. Long story short, two soldiers had gone to sick call the day before and never showed back up at the patrol base, nor had they contacted anyone. So, duty squad rode around with our senior drill sergeants for 6 hours looking for these two individuals. They were nowhere to be found. Finally, around 14:30, they were reported AWOL (Absent without leave).
Duty squad came back to the FTX site and performed our training with the hummers like the groups from yesterday. Our team did well. The Battalion Commander, LTC Brown, was watching and he had some good comments about our techniques, as well as the drill sergeants. We finished right before dinner chow @ 17:00. The the real work began. Duty squad had to pack everything, collect and sort all ammo, and clean up many areas. No fun, but it did help pass the time. We finally bunked around 2300, knowing we had to wake up at 01:30 for our final training test: the 16k ruck back to the barracks.
I have more info on the AWOL idiots. They did indeed go AWOL. They were traced through the Greyhound bus system as passengers on buses to Kentucky and Chicago. More on them when updated.
Matthew
Day 62
Final day of FTX 3! And what an interesting day it turned out to be! Wake up at 0500 with breakfast chow at 0800. Duty squad had the truck loaded with gear we had to return and after chow we headed to the main post to return it. However, on the way to the main post we found out that our priority was not returning the gear, but finding two missing soldiers from our platoon. Long story short, two soldiers had gone to sick call the day before and never showed back up at the patrol base, nor had they contacted anyone. So, duty squad rode around with our senior drill sergeants for 6 hours looking for these two individuals. They were nowhere to be found. Finally, around 14:30, they were reported AWOL (Absent without leave).
Duty squad came back to the FTX site and performed our training with the hummers like the groups from yesterday. Our team did well. The Battalion Commander, LTC Brown, was watching and he had some good comments about our techniques, as well as the drill sergeants. We finished right before dinner chow @ 17:00. The the real work began. Duty squad had to pack everything, collect and sort all ammo, and clean up many areas. No fun, but it did help pass the time. We finally bunked around 2300, knowing we had to wake up at 01:30 for our final training test: the 16k ruck back to the barracks.
I have more info on the AWOL idiots. They did indeed go AWOL. They were traced through the Greyhound bus system as passengers on buses to Kentucky and Chicago. More on them when updated.
Matthew
FTX -Day 4
18 August 2011
Day 61
Today was a great day at FTX 3! Wake up at 0500 and chow at 0800. 1st platoon (my platoon) and 3rd platoon got a break most of the day while 2nd and 4th platoon conducted convoy training. Four military hummers showed up around 0900 to be part of the training. The objective was to conduct a search on a 5 house village for enemy forces and weapons. We were in squad teams of 10-12 people. The drill sergeants had five small houses set up and the hummers took the squad, traveling in a convoy, to the village. The squad, using learned tactics, conducted a search at the houses. Enemies were in each house and each squad had to react to that as well! After each house was secure, squads had to make several reports and give them to the commander. We basically used everything we learned at basic training in the hour long exercise. I can't wait for our platoon to go tomorrow!
At 1600 the company got a great surprise! We got to go back to the barracks for a couple of hours to shower and rest in the cool bay! I think we really needed that! Tomorrow is a busy day! Better get some rest! I have TOC duty at 0100.
Matthew
Day 61
Today was a great day at FTX 3! Wake up at 0500 and chow at 0800. 1st platoon (my platoon) and 3rd platoon got a break most of the day while 2nd and 4th platoon conducted convoy training. Four military hummers showed up around 0900 to be part of the training. The objective was to conduct a search on a 5 house village for enemy forces and weapons. We were in squad teams of 10-12 people. The drill sergeants had five small houses set up and the hummers took the squad, traveling in a convoy, to the village. The squad, using learned tactics, conducted a search at the houses. Enemies were in each house and each squad had to react to that as well! After each house was secure, squads had to make several reports and give them to the commander. We basically used everything we learned at basic training in the hour long exercise. I can't wait for our platoon to go tomorrow!
At 1600 the company got a great surprise! We got to go back to the barracks for a couple of hours to shower and rest in the cool bay! I think we really needed that! Tomorrow is a busy day! Better get some rest! I have TOC duty at 0100.
Matthew
FTX -Day 3
17 August 2011
Day 60
Wake up at 0530 today and conducted personal hygiene. I changed clothes for the first time since Monday at 0400. Felt really good! Duty squad performed the usual duties. After lunch chow, duty squad went to the Main Post and picked up the MILES Gear (basically like laser tag gear). Took us 5 hours to sort through and make sure everything was in working order. Got back just in time for dinner chow at 17:30.
Pretty much been a slow evening. We have eaten MREs five out of the last 9 meals thus far. I don't mind because of the selection they offer. My favorite is the sloppy joe! I have TOC patrol from 0100-0230, so I better try to rest a few hours!
Matthew
Day 60
Wake up at 0530 today and conducted personal hygiene. I changed clothes for the first time since Monday at 0400. Felt really good! Duty squad performed the usual duties. After lunch chow, duty squad went to the Main Post and picked up the MILES Gear (basically like laser tag gear). Took us 5 hours to sort through and make sure everything was in working order. Got back just in time for dinner chow at 17:30.
Pretty much been a slow evening. We have eaten MREs five out of the last 9 meals thus far. I don't mind because of the selection they offer. My favorite is the sloppy joe! I have TOC patrol from 0100-0230, so I better try to rest a few hours!
Matthew
FTX 3-Day 2
16 August 2011
Day 59
Wake up at 0530 today and conducted personal hygiene in the dark. Oh well if I missed a few spots because everyone else will too! Duty squad started at 0615 refilling each platoon's necessary items: ice, MREs, etc. 0800 was chow for the whole company. Most of the day the company conducted battle drills: react to contact, react to ambush, bounding drills, etc. In addition, duty squad assembled four mini houses for the platoons to practice clearing. Also, we built three, four feet deep bunkers for protection at the TOC.
All through the night the drill sergeants and their platoon's conducted controlled "attacks" on other platoons using blanks and smoke bombs. We (duty squad) could hear everything over the radios at the TOC, which was really cool. I have TOC watch at 0400-0500, so not much sleep for me tonight!
Matthew
Day 59
Wake up at 0530 today and conducted personal hygiene in the dark. Oh well if I missed a few spots because everyone else will too! Duty squad started at 0615 refilling each platoon's necessary items: ice, MREs, etc. 0800 was chow for the whole company. Most of the day the company conducted battle drills: react to contact, react to ambush, bounding drills, etc. In addition, duty squad assembled four mini houses for the platoons to practice clearing. Also, we built three, four feet deep bunkers for protection at the TOC.
All through the night the drill sergeants and their platoon's conducted controlled "attacks" on other platoons using blanks and smoke bombs. We (duty squad) could hear everything over the radios at the TOC, which was really cool. I have TOC watch at 0400-0500, so not much sleep for me tonight!
Matthew
FTX 3-Day 1
15 August 2011
Day 58
Duty Squad (yes, i'm back on it) woke up today at 03:30 to begin the departure process of our company to FTX 3. Final duties until 0730 then chow at 0800. A lot of "set-up" was completed yesterday, so we basically completed some last minute chores before the company arrived in the field.
The rest of the company arrived in the field around 0930 and the majority of the day was spent setting up patrol bases and the Tactical Operation Center (TOC). Each platoon set up their patrol bases while duty squad was responsible for the TOC. The TOC is made up of two tents (large ones) and holds radio, radio batteries, supplies, ammunition, MREs, and anything else needed by the platoons. It literally took until 1730 to finish the TOC. Dinner chow at 1800 for the whole company.
The evening cap was NIC (Night Infiltration Course). This course was really neat, yet one of the most dangerous courses thus far. Picture a regular soccer field (100 yards long by 75-100 yards wide, I think). Anyway, those dimensions are close. Next, picture barbed wire and concertina wire running the width of the field every 10-15 yards. Also, picture 3' x 3' areas contained by a 2' chain length fence. These areas held several explosives.
The objective was to crawl (either the high crawl or low crawl) around 110 meters, while four 240 Bravo machine guns are firing 5' over your head (live rounds), explosives are going off right next to you, and flares are lighting up the sky. The intent was to simulate battle conditions at night and they did a good job of it! Think about it, if one of us stoop up we could have potential been hit by a 240 round (7.62mm round). The crawl took approximately 20 minutes and we had to crawl with our weapons in hand. I will be honest, it was sort of nerve racking!
The whole company finished the course around 23:00 and duty squad was back at the TOC at 00:00. Duty squad (12 of us) slept at the TOC on top of the ground! Tonight was a cool evening, very low humidity and very clear!
Matthew
Day 58
Duty Squad (yes, i'm back on it) woke up today at 03:30 to begin the departure process of our company to FTX 3. Final duties until 0730 then chow at 0800. A lot of "set-up" was completed yesterday, so we basically completed some last minute chores before the company arrived in the field.
The rest of the company arrived in the field around 0930 and the majority of the day was spent setting up patrol bases and the Tactical Operation Center (TOC). Each platoon set up their patrol bases while duty squad was responsible for the TOC. The TOC is made up of two tents (large ones) and holds radio, radio batteries, supplies, ammunition, MREs, and anything else needed by the platoons. It literally took until 1730 to finish the TOC. Dinner chow at 1800 for the whole company.
The evening cap was NIC (Night Infiltration Course). This course was really neat, yet one of the most dangerous courses thus far. Picture a regular soccer field (100 yards long by 75-100 yards wide, I think). Anyway, those dimensions are close. Next, picture barbed wire and concertina wire running the width of the field every 10-15 yards. Also, picture 3' x 3' areas contained by a 2' chain length fence. These areas held several explosives.
The objective was to crawl (either the high crawl or low crawl) around 110 meters, while four 240 Bravo machine guns are firing 5' over your head (live rounds), explosives are going off right next to you, and flares are lighting up the sky. The intent was to simulate battle conditions at night and they did a good job of it! Think about it, if one of us stoop up we could have potential been hit by a 240 round (7.62mm round). The crawl took approximately 20 minutes and we had to crawl with our weapons in hand. I will be honest, it was sort of nerve racking!
The whole company finished the course around 23:00 and duty squad was back at the TOC at 00:00. Duty squad (12 of us) slept at the TOC on top of the ground! Tonight was a cool evening, very low humidity and very clear!
Matthew
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