Monday-Thursday- Our platoon departed to the field on Monday for the week. I didn't mention before how pain staking it can be to go to the field. Before you can go you have to do a full pack out (because as Lt's in the Army, we still cannot remember to bring everything on the packing list), followed by weapons draw, all within a one or two hour period, to hurry up and wait. A little bit of advice, be squared away and you wont be known as "that guy" who screws up the platoons departure time. Ok back on track, the first part of the week was dedicated to the training of squad level tactics. It included things like LDA crossings, Clearing a trench, near ambush, and battle drill #1. Most of this should be a refresher for you but if you have forgotten its a good way to relearn. If you have good platoon trainers they will do everything they can to get you up to par on all the drills. Another thing that your platoon trainers bring to the table is real life experience in employing these tactics, and better ways to do them than what doctrine dictates. I learned new things and added to my knowledge of basic battle drills.
Friday- Live Fire
The live fire range was set up so that you move along a route, receive contact, then you react to that contact appropriately. This means you will have to execute battle drill #1 or a flanking movement, and this can be a little nerve recking if you allow yourself to think about the consequences if your buddy is not paying attention. To midegate risk, each squad has to be validated on a blank firing run. During the blank run you do everything the sam as if you were shooting live ammunition.
A brief look into the conditions for the day, 102 degree temperature, wearing IBA, ACH, FLC (like the LBV) and carrying a combat load of ammunition, oh and I forgot to mention I was given a 249 machine gun right before to use. Our blank run was a little rough but still good enough to be validated, and although we were good to go, our squad continued to conduct rehersals ( it made a huge difference in the end). We were the first up for the live fire portion, and we acctually were the first IBOLC class/ squad to run through the new live fire course. With us being the guinea pigs yet again, it brought some attention, like the post commander, a two star general. The general wanted to come out and see our training, so he came out in full kit and walked the lane with us (I thought this was a good example a leadership, that he was coming down to our level just to see what we were doing, it really wasn't intrusive as you might think).So withe the whole C Co. staff, the General and his aid and a few other observers, we began our live fire exercise. All in all it went really well, we had great intensity and we were all impressed with our squad leader.
Notes: I learned a few things about being a leader in a combat/ or just in a live fire lane situation. You do not need to be the best shot or the fastest guy, because as a leader you do not shoot, you are there to lead and direct your subordinates.
I also realized that in the real army there are many ways to complete one task and none of them are wrong. Different units have different ways of doing things, like clearing out a trench, even though they might be different doesn't mean they are wrong. If you have a basic grasp on the tactics then you will be able to adapt to the units SOP.
Its a fast paced week and you will learn and refine your understanding on battle drills. Come to the course with a basic understanding of all the drills and be ready to learn new and better ways to conduct them. And have fun because they are paying you to run around in the woods with live ammo and shoot at stuff with your buddies, so your going to like it.
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