Humpin in the Boonies

[ASU-DR]

see we all have to go to PT where I'm at - everybody goes, regardless of MS level or contract status, 3 days a week. actually we just finished the semester. Our IIs do a lot. you're most definitely a team leader unless you're a scuzz ball, some even get to be PLs. we (Is) have already done TLPs, PB ops, & combat and recon patrols to name a few. the IIs learned OPORDs amoung, I think, actions on the OBJ. they put you to work here. I'm a member of the Sun Devil BN, but I don't go to ASU, I go to GCU (Grand Canyon U). we're still a part of the BN, and we have the same instructors, but we still do things a little different. Then if you're a DR you also learn stuff that MS IIIs are learning.

[Scary]

Yeah the I's and II's learn everything that the III's know during the MSI year. Just certain years focus on certain aspects. I's are there to be exposed to everything... and I mean everything. II's start the LDP and learn what III's do. III's are in the LDP, go into depth on all topics that were introduced the MSI year, and basically run the whole show. MSII do not get leadership spots as a general rule because MSIII's are being geared up for LDAC. I can't give you much guidance as to what happens as a IV because I'm still working towards that. There's always the obvious job of TAC staff and overall planning for the BN.


E.S.

[ASU-DR]

that's pretty much how it works here. I know they revamped the curriculum last semester, so the Is and IIs are learning a lot that the IIIs are just now going over. I know that because so many IIIs commented on it after seeing our training schedule.

[Scary]

Well I'll leave you guys with a few stories to ponder:

Before I joined ROTC, I guess someone found a meth lab on one of our FTX's. It's now built into the safety briefing for all major training events.

I watched an MSII shoot a wounded EPW after taking the objective. He couldn't take the weapon away (slung across his back) so he shot the guy. After being asked why he shot the guy, the II replied "oh no one was looking." Yeah, I was his squad leader - that was a fun AAR. Similarly, I have seen EPWs shot for raising their hands to surrender after being told to "shoot him if he moves."

In contrast, I have been within 30m of armed OPFOR with no one firing a shot wondering what the ROE was.

I have lead a squad during patrolling over a minefield that was reconed and identified as such over two hours prior to that assault. The PL who told me to move across it was the person who ID'd the minefield earlier. I had no clue it was there. The PL's defense was that he didn't know the missions built on each other.

You guys might try this at your units: Send an MSI for chem light batteries or compass batteries; a box of grid squares; bucket of elbow grease; etc... the list goes on. This even works on IV's. I know from watching the S4 scramble for a box of grid squares.

I know an MSI who crossed the OBJ with his pants around his ankles. His belt broke and he didn't know what to do... so he kept running while losing his pants. He didn't pull them up for while after they were on the OBJ.

One of my buddies sat on a grenade simulator... not the training shell, but the explosive simulator. He didn't get hurt, but he said it was loud.

I have two training related stories. The first being the crazy dream caused by the fire alarm. Our fire alarm talks before the siren (Attention please, this is a fire alarm, please move calmly to the nearest exit to exit the building, *SIREN*). Well this happened shortly after an FTX. I heard in my sleep "Attention, this is an air raid, you have two minutes to exit the building before you die." Needless to say I was the first one out of bed and in the hall. It took me almost the length of the hallway to realize that I was in my boxers and shower shoes trying to run into the 20 degree weather at 3AM.

The second story is me hitting the deck after a car backfired the day after we got out of the field. I swear it sounded like a grenade simulator. And then I found $20.

I'll talk more at you guys after LDAC.



E.S.

[crewcutkid]

It'sa funnie!

My god, a meth lab? Crimony, where are you training, fort Nosecurity? Oh, a good one is to tell the rto to call in for a can of slack. But grid squares, that's a good 'un. At our FTX's they use dummy grenades that are packed chalk full of the explosive crud, so you get more of a pop than anything else. Kinda neat tho.

A good story that I have is from my first day of playing MSI, I walked up to the ROTC building, and I was feeling EXTREMELY nervous. I knock, am admitted, and I recieve the "penmanship" award. (See "stupid cadets" for translation) The wierd part of that story is that I had had a weird ass dream about that happening like 3 months before.

-C/PFC. (Hope to be a 2-striper soon) Black

[ASU-DR]

that's pretty good. roflol.

[crewcutkid]

I'n not sure why I put down that i "mouthed off ass an I". That musta been a late nite.
Flargh blargen.