1327hrs, 20 Sept 2011:
I've finished the requisite paperwork, packed all of my belongings, signed out with the AMEDD Center & School, enjoyed a final breakfast with some close friends and a final lunch with mom & dad, and am now seated at a computer in the USO at SATX Airport. In roughly 2 hours, I will be airborne headed towards...home. That place where you, "hang your hat," where, "your heart is," where, "you long to be." Nothing could be more true in my case. Home...I love the sound of that. To my beautiful ladies who have soldiered through 70 days of making it without me, I'm coming home to you. See you soon, my angels...I love you dearly and can't wait to hold you in my arms when I arrive!
To mom and dad, my life-long support system: you've never failed to completely support my family and me in any endeavor, through thin or flush. I, we, all love and appreciate you dearly. You have made my time here completely more tolerable and enjoyable. Can't wait to see you at birthday/Halloween time. Thank you, God bless, and I love you.
To the extended family and friends at home, I am eternally grateful for you helping out with the lovely ladies I had to leave behind. I know you did more than I ever heard about, so thank you. In the future, there will certainly be longer periods of time when I will be away. I trust you and rely on you to watch over my family in my absence. Thank you for all you've done and will do...I am eternally grateful.
And, one final time, to my dear new colleagues and friends from BOLC 11-115, especially those from my beloved 6th Platoon/"6-Pack + 1," you are all more dear to me than you will ever know. When so many of you prior service folks told us newbies that you have never gotten so close to a group of fellow soldiers in such as short amount of time, I am convinced that what we shared these past few months was truly unique and special. Ups and downs aside, you all made me feel welcome, successful, proud, and comfortable through every aspect of our training. And in our down time, I can't recall a time in recent memory when I had so much fun! Whether it was a Friday movie, a Tuesday "Wii Glee" episode, a game of hearts or spades at Bullis, or a random Toga party, it was all exceptionally fun and filled with memories. You will all remain in my heart eternally, and I'll see you down-range.
To a few specific people:
Sussman: I will forever be able to "RTFU" because of you; thank you, it means a lot! Peace.
Tomlinson: God be with you in your upcoming journey; I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Peace.
Perkins: Take care of that beautiful little girl; you are a genuinely good man and I am better for having lived with you these many weeks. Peace.
And to my beloved "6 Pack + 1":
Turner: I know how hard it has been and is about to be so soon in your Army career, but if anyone can whether the storm with grace and success, it is you. Be safe down-range; I'll miss you. Peace.
Welch: Keep that magnificent sense of humor and innocence. You are an exceptional person and will make a superb nurse. I miss you already; have fun in Germany ("Ya, mon!"). Peace.
Shep: Holy S#!t! You sir, are the craziest sonnamagun I have ever met, but I love you for your humor, sincerity, guidance, and friendship. These past days have been empty without you. Take care of that beautiful boy when he arrives, and remember that "Matthew Lawrence" is a great name for him! Peace.
Smith: Innocence, chivalry, humor and flatulence: the four great qualities of my dear friend Matticus! Any time I run over an Afghan, I will think of you, my friend. Peace.
Valdivieso: My sweet friend, you have been my guiding hand throughout our time together. Our friendship will remain special to me for years to come. Nothing more can be said that hasn't been said already. Peace.
Simpkins: The founder of the feast, the leader of the clan, the teacher, the instigator, "the man." I am grateful for your friendship and leadership. You will remain the inspiration of my Army efforts for years to come. Be safe down-range; I pray our paths cross again soon. Noah is a lucky boy to have you in his life. Peace.
So, for one final time to 6th Platoon/"6 Pack + 1," I say I love you, I miss you, "I got you (a la Quinn)," and a big ol' Tee Hee HEE!!
Girlies...I'm coming home with open arms. See you soon.
With eternal love, gratitude, and a touch of sadness, I sign off one last time from San Antonio. Take care, God bless, and as always...
Peace.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Choppers and casualties...
At the end of my last post, I made a promise to you to write again "tomorrow" to fill in the rest of the information about our final week in the field. Well, tomorrow turned in to the next day, then the next, etc., so my apologies again for the delay. But hey...here I am now. Let’s get started.
The final week at Camp Bullis was, in fact, my favorite of the three. It lasted only three days, but each day was unique and thrilling. Our task was to put into practice all we had thus learned regarding the first 3 levels of combat casualty care. On Monday, my group was tasked to provide Role 3 care; in essence, to man a combat support hospital. The CSH consists of a village-sized tent system that houses everything from operating rooms and trauma centers to mess halls and barracks. My responsibility this day was to act as RTO (radio officer...never heard what the "T" stands for!). I coordinated the flow of the incoming ambulances and CasEvac trucks...cool stuff. The only problem was that my call sign was "Band Aid 1," not butch enough for my taste!
Tuesday was, far and away, my favorite day! I actually got to do something that, A) I never thought I would be required to do, and B) I never thought I would have the opportunity to do. Tuesday was our turn to man a Role 1 facility, the most forward and austere of organized casualty care. The main purpose of Role 1 is to assess, stabilize, and MedEvac casualties to the appropriate ascending level of care. While this was, in and of itself, exciting enough, we were treated to additional training by having an actual Dustoff Blackhawk on-hand...we just happened to luck out and be the group that got to work with/on it! After setting up our Role 1 location (in a grove of trees in a remote part of Bullis), and treating our "casualties" wounds, the Dustoff made its approach and landed in our LZ. It was my honor to lead one of the litter teams across the open ground and load our stretcher-borne patient onto the idling chopper. Yes it was a simulated situation, but when you have rotor blades blasting past your head, exhaust smell in your nose, an aircrew giving you directions, and an actual human being on your litter, it was as close to real as possible. Truly visceral and totally thrilling, it was the fulfillment of a dream born of watching waaay too many episodes of M*A*S*H! (And on the convoy back, my truck crew experienced what I consider to be the funniest episode of the FTX, but it’s not fit to print here in the blog. If you want to know, speak to me privately! Let’s just say it involves M-16s, smoke grenades, and some of our superiors hiding in the woods!)
The final day was a true challenge. I came into it looking forward to our tasks, but was sorely disappointed one the ball was rolling. Today was Role 2 day; if I am deployed with my unit, the 848th Forward Surgical Team, this is where we will be put to work. When assigning tasks for the day, I promptly volunteered to work with the mock-FST to get some hands-on experience. I was granted to opportunity to do so, and gratefully began the tasks at hand. About 10 minutes into the 3-hour exercise, however, the lead instructor decided to throw a massive monkey wrench into the works and reassign each person to a new position. For me: I went from lowly a FST 70B to the XO (executive officer) of the entire facility. HOLY CRAP! I should be flattered at the massive promotion (still waiting to see the pay increase, though), but the XO, in essence, is in direct control of every operational aspect of the facility. I found myself ass-deep in patient tracking efforts, MedEvac requests, mass cal treatments (apparently the facility got hit by some mysterious artillery fire...never heard it coming, myself!), and resupply needs just to name a few. In three hours, we treated over 60 patients...not too shabby if I may say so myself! The most difficult ones were our psych patients: if not watched by hospital personnel at all times, they were instructed to run amok around the hospital, try to steal our weapons, and cause mayhem whenever possible. One of them tried to attack our command post and erase our patient tracking board, but our security force got him under control...thank goodness!
Later that evening, we gladly boarded the buses and returned to Ft. Sam for the final time. We decompressed for the night, turned in our field equipment on Thursday morning, then in the afternoon rehearsed for our graduation the following week. Friday morning I had the pleasure of flying home to Cincy for a much-needed Labor Day visit home! I loved spending some time with my ladies back home, but the time passed much too quickly. I flew back to Ft. Sam on Monday, participated in our Phase III graduation on Tuesday, and began my job-specific track training on Wednesday. I'll report on those activities next time we speak.
I'm thrilled to report that my class is down to only 5 days left on post. I'll be returning home on the evening of 20 Sept., and I look forward to seeing everyone when I get back. I'll keep working through the remaining challenges, and will have a couple more posts for you before I head out of here. For now, be good to yourselves and each other, check in on the ladies, and I wish all of you...
Peace.
The final week at Camp Bullis was, in fact, my favorite of the three. It lasted only three days, but each day was unique and thrilling. Our task was to put into practice all we had thus learned regarding the first 3 levels of combat casualty care. On Monday, my group was tasked to provide Role 3 care; in essence, to man a combat support hospital. The CSH consists of a village-sized tent system that houses everything from operating rooms and trauma centers to mess halls and barracks. My responsibility this day was to act as RTO (radio officer...never heard what the "T" stands for!). I coordinated the flow of the incoming ambulances and CasEvac trucks...cool stuff. The only problem was that my call sign was "Band Aid 1," not butch enough for my taste!
Tuesday was, far and away, my favorite day! I actually got to do something that, A) I never thought I would be required to do, and B) I never thought I would have the opportunity to do. Tuesday was our turn to man a Role 1 facility, the most forward and austere of organized casualty care. The main purpose of Role 1 is to assess, stabilize, and MedEvac casualties to the appropriate ascending level of care. While this was, in and of itself, exciting enough, we were treated to additional training by having an actual Dustoff Blackhawk on-hand...we just happened to luck out and be the group that got to work with/on it! After setting up our Role 1 location (in a grove of trees in a remote part of Bullis), and treating our "casualties" wounds, the Dustoff made its approach and landed in our LZ. It was my honor to lead one of the litter teams across the open ground and load our stretcher-borne patient onto the idling chopper. Yes it was a simulated situation, but when you have rotor blades blasting past your head, exhaust smell in your nose, an aircrew giving you directions, and an actual human being on your litter, it was as close to real as possible. Truly visceral and totally thrilling, it was the fulfillment of a dream born of watching waaay too many episodes of M*A*S*H! (And on the convoy back, my truck crew experienced what I consider to be the funniest episode of the FTX, but it’s not fit to print here in the blog. If you want to know, speak to me privately! Let’s just say it involves M-16s, smoke grenades, and some of our superiors hiding in the woods!)
The final day was a true challenge. I came into it looking forward to our tasks, but was sorely disappointed one the ball was rolling. Today was Role 2 day; if I am deployed with my unit, the 848th Forward Surgical Team, this is where we will be put to work. When assigning tasks for the day, I promptly volunteered to work with the mock-FST to get some hands-on experience. I was granted to opportunity to do so, and gratefully began the tasks at hand. About 10 minutes into the 3-hour exercise, however, the lead instructor decided to throw a massive monkey wrench into the works and reassign each person to a new position. For me: I went from lowly a FST 70B to the XO (executive officer) of the entire facility. HOLY CRAP! I should be flattered at the massive promotion (still waiting to see the pay increase, though), but the XO, in essence, is in direct control of every operational aspect of the facility. I found myself ass-deep in patient tracking efforts, MedEvac requests, mass cal treatments (apparently the facility got hit by some mysterious artillery fire...never heard it coming, myself!), and resupply needs just to name a few. In three hours, we treated over 60 patients...not too shabby if I may say so myself! The most difficult ones were our psych patients: if not watched by hospital personnel at all times, they were instructed to run amok around the hospital, try to steal our weapons, and cause mayhem whenever possible. One of them tried to attack our command post and erase our patient tracking board, but our security force got him under control...thank goodness!
Later that evening, we gladly boarded the buses and returned to Ft. Sam for the final time. We decompressed for the night, turned in our field equipment on Thursday morning, then in the afternoon rehearsed for our graduation the following week. Friday morning I had the pleasure of flying home to Cincy for a much-needed Labor Day visit home! I loved spending some time with my ladies back home, but the time passed much too quickly. I flew back to Ft. Sam on Monday, participated in our Phase III graduation on Tuesday, and began my job-specific track training on Wednesday. I'll report on those activities next time we speak.
I'm thrilled to report that my class is down to only 5 days left on post. I'll be returning home on the evening of 20 Sept., and I look forward to seeing everyone when I get back. I'll keep working through the remaining challenges, and will have a couple more posts for you before I head out of here. For now, be good to yourselves and each other, check in on the ladies, and I wish all of you...
Peace.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
A sweeping summary...
Due to one set of circumstances or another, it has been nearly two weeks since my previous post. We have been extremely busy with our FTX tasks and, as of today, outprocessing and Phase 3 graduation, so forgive my tardiness! I'll do my best to summarize the past weeks as vividly and succinctly as possible.
Week 2 of our FTX promised to be, for me at least, the busiest and most stressful week. You see, as part of our training we had to participate in a simulated combat convoy...and I was given the job of convoy commander. So, while also completing the other tasks required of us this week (land navigation, warrior leader tasks, 9mm pistol qualification, etc.), I spent countless hours picking the brains of my dear friends and comrades as to what to expect on the convoy, how to organize our available personnel, and what nuggets of wisdom were necessary to a successful convoy operation. When the day of the convoy rolled around, we were informed that our team would roll out of the FOB at 1230hrs. In the morning, we would participate in HEAT and VCCT training. HEAT is, without embellishment, a mock-up of a HMMWV (that's a Hummer in regular-speak) placed on a large rotisserie. Four students strap into the seats, and are rolled over 4-6 times (depending upon how demonic the instructor is feeling at that particular time). The body ends up either upside down or on its side, and it is now your responsibility to escape from the "wreckage" as quickly and safely as possible. For me, being 75" tall and about as limber as an oak tree, this was a challenge. I somehow managed to get out of my seat belt and flip myself upright, but unfortunately got my helmet stuck between my seat and the radio stack!! With a few good pushes from my battle buddies, I dislodged myself and opened the door to emerge shortly thereafter. The moral of the story is this: for a man that no longer likes to go on upside-down roller coasters, this was not the best way to start such a stressful day...a mammoth headache ensued for the remainder of the week!
VCCT is the Virtual Combat Convoy Trainer, and it is exactly as it sounds: a computer-based convoy simulator complete with vehicles, weapons, and computerized enemies. Most of this training went very well, except for when I told my turret gunner to fire on four vehicles that came driving straight for our truck. He "lit up" all four, but we were promptly informed by the controller that these were harmless civilian vehicles and we could now expect fierce resistance for the remainder of the exercise. Oops...my bad. Lesson learned. However, I must give big props to our truck driver, whom we call "Matticus": when confronted by an insurgent on our 12 o'clock and no more ammo in the turret, Matticus took matters into his own hands and simply ran over our attacker (this action was confirmed to us when the truck simulator made a satisfying "bump-bump" as we drove over him!! Priceless!).
After our ride back to the FOB and a very hasty lunch, our team armed up and mounted the vehicles for our live-fire convoy. We experienced IEDs, mortar fire, ambushes, casualties, disabled vehicles, broken communications, and MEDEVAC and LZ tasks...all "simulated," of course. But the tangible and tactile nature of the exercise made it quite real to me in the commander's seat. I learned a big lesson in managing personnel, trusting your teammates, and following your gut instinct. While we did not emerge from the exercise unscathed (we had one disabled truck and 7 casualties), we were greatly complimented by the instructors on our communication and teamwork...the essence of the lesson to be learned. And, to my great satisfaction, I was considered to be an, "excellent convoy commander," by our lead instructor. What a terrifying, edifying, and electrifying experience...it will not be soon forgotten!
This particular edition of the Bugle has gone on long enough. I will take my leave for now, as there are a few homework assignments that need my attention. I will be back with you tomorrow to wrap up the story of FTX with a Week 3 edition. For now, I ask for your continued vigilance over my lovely ladies back at home. I truly miss them, and am counting the remaining 14 days before my return home. I love them dearly, as I do all of you. Take care, God bless, and, as always...
Peace.
Week 2 of our FTX promised to be, for me at least, the busiest and most stressful week. You see, as part of our training we had to participate in a simulated combat convoy...and I was given the job of convoy commander. So, while also completing the other tasks required of us this week (land navigation, warrior leader tasks, 9mm pistol qualification, etc.), I spent countless hours picking the brains of my dear friends and comrades as to what to expect on the convoy, how to organize our available personnel, and what nuggets of wisdom were necessary to a successful convoy operation. When the day of the convoy rolled around, we were informed that our team would roll out of the FOB at 1230hrs. In the morning, we would participate in HEAT and VCCT training. HEAT is, without embellishment, a mock-up of a HMMWV (that's a Hummer in regular-speak) placed on a large rotisserie. Four students strap into the seats, and are rolled over 4-6 times (depending upon how demonic the instructor is feeling at that particular time). The body ends up either upside down or on its side, and it is now your responsibility to escape from the "wreckage" as quickly and safely as possible. For me, being 75" tall and about as limber as an oak tree, this was a challenge. I somehow managed to get out of my seat belt and flip myself upright, but unfortunately got my helmet stuck between my seat and the radio stack!! With a few good pushes from my battle buddies, I dislodged myself and opened the door to emerge shortly thereafter. The moral of the story is this: for a man that no longer likes to go on upside-down roller coasters, this was not the best way to start such a stressful day...a mammoth headache ensued for the remainder of the week!
VCCT is the Virtual Combat Convoy Trainer, and it is exactly as it sounds: a computer-based convoy simulator complete with vehicles, weapons, and computerized enemies. Most of this training went very well, except for when I told my turret gunner to fire on four vehicles that came driving straight for our truck. He "lit up" all four, but we were promptly informed by the controller that these were harmless civilian vehicles and we could now expect fierce resistance for the remainder of the exercise. Oops...my bad. Lesson learned. However, I must give big props to our truck driver, whom we call "Matticus": when confronted by an insurgent on our 12 o'clock and no more ammo in the turret, Matticus took matters into his own hands and simply ran over our attacker (this action was confirmed to us when the truck simulator made a satisfying "bump-bump" as we drove over him!! Priceless!).
After our ride back to the FOB and a very hasty lunch, our team armed up and mounted the vehicles for our live-fire convoy. We experienced IEDs, mortar fire, ambushes, casualties, disabled vehicles, broken communications, and MEDEVAC and LZ tasks...all "simulated," of course. But the tangible and tactile nature of the exercise made it quite real to me in the commander's seat. I learned a big lesson in managing personnel, trusting your teammates, and following your gut instinct. While we did not emerge from the exercise unscathed (we had one disabled truck and 7 casualties), we were greatly complimented by the instructors on our communication and teamwork...the essence of the lesson to be learned. And, to my great satisfaction, I was considered to be an, "excellent convoy commander," by our lead instructor. What a terrifying, edifying, and electrifying experience...it will not be soon forgotten!
This particular edition of the Bugle has gone on long enough. I will take my leave for now, as there are a few homework assignments that need my attention. I will be back with you tomorrow to wrap up the story of FTX with a Week 3 edition. For now, I ask for your continued vigilance over my lovely ladies back at home. I truly miss them, and am counting the remaining 14 days before my return home. I love them dearly, as I do all of you. Take care, God bless, and, as always...
Peace.
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