FTX @ Guernsey

[crewcutkid]

Hello, boys and girls, I'm back from wyoming...
To give all of you a rough idea of where we were, find Cheyenne on a map and go a little ways *north* and you should find it round there. Camp guernsey is a national guard post where all the troops have 'staches and never clean the barracks.
Day 1- Woke up @ UNC and screwed around, ironed uniform, and perpared to depart. Arrived @ ROTC building NLT 14:30 and conducted PCC's. Loaded into vans by 15:20 or so. Arrived @ CSU around 16:00. Assisted ms1's and took issue of shooting glasses, and was issued dog tags. Unfortunately, mine were not made. Departed CSU by 16:20. After a long and boring ride to a MCDonalds (where our company was forced to play waiter to the rest of the BN.) we proceeded to get lost w/ one of the cadre behind the wheel, the same guy that taught our landnav, no less. After a quick u-turn we made it to the post, a lonely little place that sported a few 5ton trucks, antiquated arty pieces, and not much else. Fell into formation and was divvied up into squads. After formation (around 21:30) we proceeded into barracks and grabbed bunks, determined SOP, and grabbed some Z's after cleaning the latrine.
Up @ five the next morning, we dressed and prepped for the rifle range. Marched to breakfast and back by 0700, was issued weapons and formed up outside barracks. Moved out by 0800 to training area. fired 20 rounds @ paper targets and proceeded to grenade and SAW range. Threw "dead" grenades (no, not dummy) and fired 75 rounds on the SAW apiece. Had someone jam up, MSG. Bauman went to free jam, round cooked off next to his hand. Proceeded back to van where we donned rucks and headed out to STX lanes. First lane was a bust, our ambush was terrible, due to poor leadership and planning. As acting bravo team leader, my troops performed as best as possible under the circumstances.
We then proceeded to the scouting lane, where only one of our troops was seen as we pulled security @ the ORP. (I know once is too many times, but not bad for the leader, who I believe was a green MS3) Bauman used me as EPW search example (reply and ask to hear full story) Headed to next STX lane, the deliberate attack, where I was once again Bravo lead. Was executed nearly flawlessly, as my team outflanked the bunker and Alpha took it, effectively taking the OBJ. Last stx was the ambush lane, which was fubared because the ambushers (opfor) broke the rules, in addition to us getting lost. (During this time, MSG Bauman was the eval, BTW) MSG. Bauman got pissed and reamed the OPFOR leader. Proceeded back to camp, fell out to clean weapons. @ 2300, the power went out, and my untrained ass tried disassembling the M-16 in the dark. Turned in weapons and went to bed. Conducted firewatch from 0330 to 0430. Next morning, more of same until 0800, when weapons were once again issued, and cleaning began. Started cursing at the star chamber @ 0900, when push ups were being done by the failed cadets. Concluded cleaning around 1000, picked up MRE's and rucks to goto landnav. Fell out for landnav @ 1300 (ish, it was a long drive from camp to course) and completed day and night landnavs w/ a perfect score. Ate Turkey MRE and lotsa crackers, drank lotsa water. Was back in the rack after numerous AAR's and OPORDS (same as previous day). Folloing morning, prepped to move out after 0500 wakeup. Cleaned barracks, went with company to clean day room. By 0930 loaded vans and proceeded back to UNC. Arrived @ 1230.
Any questions? I can go to specific stories and anecdotes if y'all ask. I have a lot of good 'uns!
-C/Cpl. Black

[Scary]

Now multiply that by 11 and you're close to LDAC.


E.S.

[Grimmy]

Sounds like fair good training event.

Tell all the detailed stories and ancidotes you like. Personally, I enjoy reading your stuff.

[crewcutkid]

Okay, well, I'll start the fun with an anecdote regarding my sqad leader (from my university). This guy is a brand spankin new MSIII. So, on the very first day we form up in da A.M., he is assigned as company commander (it was a rotating post, and I figure it was because he would be doing so little) Firstly, his hair is definitely NOT regulation, and his uniform always looks like crap. Anyhoo, he kinda stumbles/runs to post, and has his weapon in the incorrect position to render present arms, then salutes with his hand instead of the rifle. Then, a voice booms out from behind the formation: "That's a chin strap, not a throat strap!" After adjusting his screw-up, he went ahead to addres the formation with his usual aplomb: (insert bad southern accent here, he is NOT southern, btw) "Awright, guys, this is the FTX, keep it good, blah blah blah (didnt actually say that, but It is what was being said anyway) blah blah blah, guys."

Same shitbird couldnt landav on his own or figure out to leave his wapon outside the dining facility. If I was a IV, I woulda chewed him out good for the latter. Unacceptible. Last day, he calls me outta formation to clean the latrine...
I was helping him out, but considering his problems and lack of respect for experience, and his ignorance of my advice, he is now on his own.

More onna way!
-C/Cpl. Black

[Scary]

Yeah, I'm gonna stick with my earlier comment. It sounds like you had too much fun though. Take some fun out of it all, multiply by 11, and you're there. But remember, how hard was the FTX? I imagine it's about as hard as LDAC, which, if you catch my drift...


E.S.

[Grimmy]

It's kinda sad but the reality is that y'all college folk will learn as much from what goes upside down, sideways or just plain inside out as you will by what goes as planned.

Thinking about the fubar parts and how they should of been can give a better perspective on why somethings should be done "by the book" and how sometimes a bit of creativity is called for.

You seem to have that kind of personality that expects excellence and is able to keep things in a humorous perspective.

Keep your morale up. Stay on target.

[crewcutkid]

Roger dodger- will do.
More on the way!
-C/Cpl. Black

[crewcutkid]

Here's another- One of the NCO's at Guernsey was a roughneck old airborne master Sgt. that goes by the name "Bauman". The guy is a textbook "sarge", and he was running the machine gun range (hadda round cook off next to his hand). He was the eval for the threes in our squad, and he needed to demonstrate EPW searches. So, as the only II in the squad, I was chosen. Having me lay down on my stomach, he proceeded to display his version of "roughing 'em up"- first he put his knee between my legs- pretty unpleasant, as he made sure to demonstrate this point several times. He then showed that I had no grenades underneath me, then he began to rip off- I mean RIP OFF my LBE. Upon tearing a button off of my uniform, he flipped me over, and cleared my pockets, and unbuttoned my BDUs. Long story short, I was looking for my kevlar out in a field, and picking my LBE outta a tree.
I hate being a rag doll.
-C/Cpl. Black

[Grimmy]

but at least you know how to do it proper now

[crewcutkid]

You bet your a$$. Also,m y favorite quote of FTX comes from night landnav- we formed our own landnav groups and set off. In mine, we had two other guys from my company, Im good friends w/ everyone in the company, so it was easy stuff- we just all wanted to be on the same page. As we were looking for a point during night landnav, one of the other guys in my team asks where we are. The other guy replies "In that square" without indicating a specific one on the map. The other guy then says "Which square? There's lots of little squares on there, jackass!"

-C/Cpl. Black

[Grimmy]

I've never been lost, but I've been terrible confused for a week or two.

from The Mountain Men, one of my old favs lol.

I can still remember much of the land nav course at NTA (Northern Training Area) Jungle Warfare School in Okinawa. You could be just a few feet away from the damn target and not see it on a bad night.

Imagin it so dark you have to have one of your men strip off his tee shirt and walk out in front of you waving it in the air so you could see him to move him to the left or right depending on your compass read, then move up to him and do again. Wasnt real secure but it was the only damn way to keep anywhere near on course lol.