IED Battle Drill

Well, I just finished another covoy security mission. This particular mission was different for me, because I went with a team from one of our line companies. Usually when I go on missions, I go with the Task Force Commander's Personal Security Detatchment, or PSD. This time; however, I went with a team from 2 Platoon Alpha Company. This was a good thing, because I once was the Executive Officer (XO) for Alpha Company. It was good to go on a mission with them again. After it was all over, I learned a lot from a combat experienced team and what the battlefield is like on a particular route.

BOOM!
One word describes what it is like when an IED strikes your convoy. I was lucky in this instance, because I was at the front of the convoy. The IED struck the middle, but caused little damage. Small Arms Fire (SAF) followed after the IED detonated. Immediately, the middle gun truck returned fire to suppress the enemy as the convoy increased speed to get out of the kill zone. It has become a battle drill for our convoys. Little has to be said over the radio other than checking to see if everyone is alright. The convoy security team I was with are experienced veterans , in sync, needing very little instruction for what to do in this situation. As soon as I told my driver, SPC Williams, that the middle gun truck was hit by an IED, he immediately pressed down on the accelerator to guide the convoy out of the kill zone. SSG Bullwinkle, the convoy commander, was in the trail. His main concern was the soldiers in the middle gun truck. He shouted over the radio, "Oh my God, White One, are you OK?" Once "White One", SSG Vareen, said all was OK with no apparent damage to the truck, the convoy continued. A few kilometers down the road, one of the empty fuel tankers slowed down due to three flat tires. SSG Bullwinkle did not hesitate. He ordered the driver and assistant driver to load onto another truck and leave the damaged fuel truck on the side of the road to be recovered later. SSG Bullwinkle knew there was no time to fix the truck, because the convoy was engaged by enemy small arms fire. He wanted to get the convoy out of the danger area as fast as possible and leaving the damaged fuel truck was the best way to get everyone out safely. Keep in mind, all of this occured in less than five minutes. It all ocured like clockwork. Experience was driving force that lead the convoy to safety. Again, everyone executed like a well syncronized clock.

COMBAT HUMOR
NCOs have some "sick" sense of humor. After the convoy got hit by the IED and all went back to normal on the MSR, the convoy halted at a small base in southern Iraq. The purpose of the halt was to refuel the gun trucks. SSG Vareen immediately took the opportunity to say, "SSG Bullwinkle does not want to admit it, but he was crying on the radio when he thought I was hit." SSG Bullwinle immediately responded in defense, "I cried for joy because I thought you were gone and I would not have to put up with your sh#!t anymore."

There is a lot of love on the battlefield!

Time for Grad School

I think it is time for me to consider grad school. The thought crossed my mind when I started writing the history report for Task Force 2-121 Infantry. I recall a 120mm mortar round that had my name and many others on it. The round missed me, but caused eleven other casualties that hot day in August. One of the eleven did not make it. As I think about the value of life, I think it is time I stop "dragging my feet" and start working towards long-term goals I have set for myself. One goal is to earn a Masters degree in Information Systems. I mean, why not? What is so hard about school? It really is not that hard. What is hard is wondering what it is like instead of knowing what it is like. Just like the old Nike slogan says, "Just Do It".

I GOT SELECTED!
I recently found out I was finally selected to be promoted to Captain. It is a year (heck two years to be exact) over-due, but that is my fault. In the Army National Guard, you are not automatically promoted like in the Regular Army. You have to be in a position that warrants a promotion to a higher rank and you have to submit a packet. My position, Battalion S3 Air, is a Captain position; however, I did not prepare and submit a packet on time for the promotion board. I "dragged my feet". It all goes back to when I was a traditional student at Georgia Southern University. I left my senior year (reason is another story) and did not complete my degree until several years later. If I had been more focused, I would have graduated on time with less stress in the years following. The good news is my time spent at Georgia Southern was not wasted. Aside from the good friends I made, I took what I learned in English, Math, Business, and Computer Programming and made a good career with IBM. The credits I earned stayed with me when I finally finished my Bachelor degree at Charter Oak State College in New Britain, Connecticut. That is right. My degree is from a College in the Northeast. A "Yankee" College. My loyalty is still with Georgia Southern, but I am proud to be an Alumni of Charter Oak State College. Now I have aired that out, back to my story of late promotion. I did not submit my promotion packet on time and had to wait a year to finally get promoted. It is an example of not doing a task on time. When you have a goal, it is more that declaring the goal, it is actually doing what is necessary to complete the goal. You must go on and tackle the tasks at hand for you do not know what the future will bring. I look at the posted picture and remind myself of that. There is nothing like the present to begin your journey. I still have six more weeks before the Federal Recognition Board grants my promotion and I can wear the rank. When that happens, I will have accomplished another goal to build on, not rest on.