FTX 3 - Day 3
After finishing our last patrol mission, it was time to take on FOB security. We were tasked with keeping this large camp, full of holes in the perimeter (some of which our platoon made), secure. The PLs were tasked with running the FOB security, ensuring that the towers, gate, and perimeter were covered as well as maintaining a quick response team and keeping tabs on the patrols led by the other platoon. It would be difficult to ensure security in daylight with one platoon on the large FOB, but we needed to maintain it with much less than a whole platoon since we needed to have shifts to ensure the platoon stayed rested, and we needed to secure it during the dark hours as well.
Shortly after we started our rotation, the attacks began. It started with some pot shots outside of the perimeter, but it quickly escalated into full assaults. There were even assaults in which our DSs and company commander were specifically targeted for capture or assassination. Each time the assaulting force was successful in overtaking the FOB, just as we and the previous platoon were successful, but with each assault, our platoon got better and better at fending off the assault.
The assaults were actually quite welcome as they made our time on FOB security, and our last night on FTX 3, fly by. Soon it was time for us to leave the FOB and begin preparing for one of our final training events, the night infiltration course (NIC).
Night Infiltration Course
NIC was a great event. The entire company executed the course together. The course was approximately 300 meters long with concertina wire obstacles, simulated mortar rounds, and M-240Bs firing live rounds overhead. According to the range cadre, there have been fatalities during this training event, so it did have some amount of intimidation to it, but we were mostly psyched to execute this much anticipated mission.
Third platoon was assigned as the main assault force. At the end of the course there was a small group of buildings. We were to low crawl the 300m course to cover just in front of the buildings and clear the buildings to complete the mission. First and second platoons crawled the course as well and provided security on the flanks.
When darkness fell on the course, the entire company lined up and got accountability. We moved to the started area which was a 6 ft wall with built in ladders spaced out along the line. We waited for a while as the DSs ensured everything was prepared, then some eerie music came on over the speakers and we were given the green light to start the mission. I was the first one up on my ladder and started towards the objective with a 3-5 second rush for the first 25 yards.
As soon as I hit the first line of concertina wire, the M-240s opened up and I hit the deck. Crawling under the wire was a bit more challenging than I anticipated. We were in full battle rattle with camelbaks on the back of our IBAs as well. I tried low crawling the first line of wire, but my camelbak kept catching the wire. I got through though and face a long crawl to the second line. I didn't imagine the rounds from the 240s would be too close to us, but I looked up just to see and observed a tracer that appeared to be just 10ft above my head. Needless to say, I kept low for the rest of the course.
The majority of the course was on loose sandy soil, but the last 20 yards was compacted into what felt like concrete. Low crawling on concrete is not anyone's idea of fun, but at the end we regrouped and prepared for the assault on the buildings. My fire team rushed forward and laid security as the other team cleared the building assigned to our squad. We moved to the end of the course laying security until all buildings were clear.
In the end, our DS grouped us together and was very pleased with the execution telling us it was one of the quickest executions of the course she or the other cadre had seen. We loaded up on trans and returned to the barracks for the first time in the last several days to get some much needed showers and some rest before our final training event, the 16K ruck march.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
November 15, 2011 Day 60
After some much needed rest and relaxation, decorating for Christmas, and playing catch up at work, I finally have the opportunity to write a bit more about the final days at BCT.
FTX 3 - Day 2
We left off last time with my platoon ending their time on OP4 and transitioning over to Patrol. On the patrol rotation, the platoon's task is to execute missions outside the wire. For those of you not familiar with military jargon, "outside the wire" refers to being outside of the controlled boundaries of the FOB, which are marked with literal concertina (or razor) wire.
The transition to Patrol occurred in the middle of the night immediately following our assault on the FOB. Surprisingly, the DS allowed the night to continue largely uneventful, so we were able to get some moderate amounts of rest. That morning brought about the first mission.
My first mission was a seemingly simple one. I was tasked to lead a group to a location deep in the woods that was believed to be the site of a clandestine terrorist training camp. I took some time planning and preparing the mission before briefing the squad and team leaders. In addition, I got to brief our company commander and several DS who I soon found out would be joining us on the mission. Needless to say it was a bit intimidating to realize that the company commander, XO, the third plt DSs, and the second plt DSs were going to be observing this mission.
The plan was to take two squads through the woods and move to contact. When the point man believed we were close, the first squad would get on line and move in while the second squad got on line to bound in on the position. It seemed to take forever to navigate through the woods while keeping security out, knowing that the enemy could be anywhere and expecting a possible ambush. But we soon heard noise in the distance from the suspected location.
As we moved in on the position, the first squad opened fire, but sustained heavy casualties. The second squad began to move in according to the plan, but also sustained heavy casualties. As we continued the mission, overcoming the camp and beginning our search, more "technical" kills (those inflicted by DS when mistakes are made) occurred until I was left with only myself and two others standing. Needless to say, when the mission was called over, I felt a huge sense of failure, but I didn't let it show.
We regrouped and the "dead" recovered for a march back to the FOB to get some chow and review the mission and what went wrong. When we re-entered the FOB, I took a count to ensure we returned with all personnel and equipment, but to my surprise, three soldiers were missing. After a brief discussion, it became clear what happened. The last man in the formation picked up a soda can he believed was trash that turned out to be an IED. The two men in front of him doubled back to render first aid, but they, nor the man in front of them who continued moving with us, halted the formation. As no one else in the formation knew, we continued moving to the FOB.
Once we realized what happened, I immediately assembled a team for a rescue mission. But as the two squads moved out, we realized quickly that the OP4 team used the time wisely to setup a massive ambush on the road. As I was calling in support, I was "killed" and laid on the road listening while the rest of the event unfolded. I was carried back to the FOB with the rest of the casualties and the mission that started in mid-morning was finally over right before dinner chow. It did not go quite how I expected.
That night, I had the opportunity to talk to one of our DS about the mission. I was not upset about messing up so much as I was upset that I was unable to see where I made a major mistake. Yes there were little things I realized I could have done better, but nothing I could see that would lead to the decimation of my squads on a seemingly simple mission. He explained to me that the reason I was left with only three after the assault was not so much my leadership or plan, but was the squads movements, collapsing in on themselves instead of holding a line.
The last patrol mission brought us all back up. The entire platoon was tasked with a mission to meet the mayor of the local town and gather information on the terrorist activity while also checking the town for signs of terrorist activity. During the initial greeting, weapons were discovered and the platoon discretely pulled out to assess the situation. We decided to assault the town in order to secure the weapons and clear the town of any OP4. Apparently this was another mission that was intended to fail. Instead, the smoke and frag grenades went off and the 240s opened up as two squads rushed and overtook the town. When the smoke cleared, we walked away having successfully cleared the town and ceased all the weapons. The DSs were quite pleased with the mission's success and our rotation on patrol ended well after the very bad start.
FTX 3 - Day 2
We left off last time with my platoon ending their time on OP4 and transitioning over to Patrol. On the patrol rotation, the platoon's task is to execute missions outside the wire. For those of you not familiar with military jargon, "outside the wire" refers to being outside of the controlled boundaries of the FOB, which are marked with literal concertina (or razor) wire.
The transition to Patrol occurred in the middle of the night immediately following our assault on the FOB. Surprisingly, the DS allowed the night to continue largely uneventful, so we were able to get some moderate amounts of rest. That morning brought about the first mission.
My first mission was a seemingly simple one. I was tasked to lead a group to a location deep in the woods that was believed to be the site of a clandestine terrorist training camp. I took some time planning and preparing the mission before briefing the squad and team leaders. In addition, I got to brief our company commander and several DS who I soon found out would be joining us on the mission. Needless to say it was a bit intimidating to realize that the company commander, XO, the third plt DSs, and the second plt DSs were going to be observing this mission.
The plan was to take two squads through the woods and move to contact. When the point man believed we were close, the first squad would get on line and move in while the second squad got on line to bound in on the position. It seemed to take forever to navigate through the woods while keeping security out, knowing that the enemy could be anywhere and expecting a possible ambush. But we soon heard noise in the distance from the suspected location.
As we moved in on the position, the first squad opened fire, but sustained heavy casualties. The second squad began to move in according to the plan, but also sustained heavy casualties. As we continued the mission, overcoming the camp and beginning our search, more "technical" kills (those inflicted by DS when mistakes are made) occurred until I was left with only myself and two others standing. Needless to say, when the mission was called over, I felt a huge sense of failure, but I didn't let it show.
We regrouped and the "dead" recovered for a march back to the FOB to get some chow and review the mission and what went wrong. When we re-entered the FOB, I took a count to ensure we returned with all personnel and equipment, but to my surprise, three soldiers were missing. After a brief discussion, it became clear what happened. The last man in the formation picked up a soda can he believed was trash that turned out to be an IED. The two men in front of him doubled back to render first aid, but they, nor the man in front of them who continued moving with us, halted the formation. As no one else in the formation knew, we continued moving to the FOB.
Once we realized what happened, I immediately assembled a team for a rescue mission. But as the two squads moved out, we realized quickly that the OP4 team used the time wisely to setup a massive ambush on the road. As I was calling in support, I was "killed" and laid on the road listening while the rest of the event unfolded. I was carried back to the FOB with the rest of the casualties and the mission that started in mid-morning was finally over right before dinner chow. It did not go quite how I expected.
That night, I had the opportunity to talk to one of our DS about the mission. I was not upset about messing up so much as I was upset that I was unable to see where I made a major mistake. Yes there were little things I realized I could have done better, but nothing I could see that would lead to the decimation of my squads on a seemingly simple mission. He explained to me that the reason I was left with only three after the assault was not so much my leadership or plan, but was the squads movements, collapsing in on themselves instead of holding a line.
The last patrol mission brought us all back up. The entire platoon was tasked with a mission to meet the mayor of the local town and gather information on the terrorist activity while also checking the town for signs of terrorist activity. During the initial greeting, weapons were discovered and the platoon discretely pulled out to assess the situation. We decided to assault the town in order to secure the weapons and clear the town of any OP4. Apparently this was another mission that was intended to fail. Instead, the smoke and frag grenades went off and the 240s opened up as two squads rushed and overtook the town. When the smoke cleared, we walked away having successfully cleared the town and ceased all the weapons. The DSs were quite pleased with the mission's success and our rotation on patrol ended well after the very bad start.
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