Basic Training week 7

October 2, 2011

Hey All,

Monday I was told by the Drill Sgt. that I had to go to sick call for a rash that I have had for around 3 weeks.  My plan was to wait until after next week because we finish actual training next Thursday but I was told NO that I had to go.  So I sat at sick call for about 2 hours in a hospital on base and got a topical cream and powder to help clear it up.  I hope it works.  After that a few of us had to meet up with the company at FTX2 (Field Training Exercise 2).  We got there met up with our platoon and had to quickly dig our nastic firing holes.  These are basically deep enough to conceal you as you lay down.  After that we had some classes to refresh us on battle drills, reaction to fire near ambush with a flanking attack and a few others.  We then had dinner and were sent back to our sleeping area.  Then during the night we have to do night patrols to make sure that no one infiltrates your area, so I got around 2 hours of sleep. 

Tuesday was running though the battle drills with blanks.  Our squad did pretty well every group was told they suck but we were told that we were the best of the suck.  Not much happened on Tuesday but that stuff took all day and my watch broke so that really sucked. 

Wednesday sucked we marched out to learn about IED’s again but we got hit by a thunder storm and we basically sat around all day waiting for the storm to pass so we pretty much just cleaned all day long which really makes you want to just go to bed.  I have been extremely tired lately.

Thursday was actually really fun we did Urban Ops where you get in a squad of 4 members and you tactically enter the house and search room by room.  They actually give us airsoft guns so we could shoot each other to make the situations more realistic.  My squad was pretty good.   It was crazy how fast pace you have to be and how much you have to remember at such a quick pace.  The first house we did pretty bad we really were not prepared and we got put in a bad spot, we made it out but barely.  We then went into the second house and we dominated it.  We scanned much better and hit our sectors of fire.  The best part is that I was first in and I hit a corner where a drill Sgt. was hiding and I lit him up it was pretty great.  After that we got a class on live buddy team fire for the next day.

Friday we woke up and got to the range way early it was pitch black for about 2 hours waiting for the range to actually open.  When we finally went hot we did a practice round with blanks.  This is when you are on patrol and you get contact (enemy fire) you call out Contact, Distance (50 meters), Description (2 Hostiles), Direction (12:00).  You get behind cover and so does your buddy then you return fire and tactically move together.  So the first guy calls out cover me while I move, guy 2 calls out I got you covered.  Guy 1 calls weapon on safe, looking left looking right, looking at my next firing position, moving then guy 2 moves.  They do this until they have eliminated all hostiles or until you are in a safe area.  After we did it with blanks we switched to live ammo and we had pop up targets to make it more realistic.  It was really fun and I received quite a few compliments on how well I sounded off and how quickly I was able to maneuver on the terrain.

Thursday and Friday were probably the best two training exercises that we have done.  This makes me realize that infantry looks more and more appealing because they would have the ability to really get to use these ops. 

Saturday was a long day we were up early because we had a 12km ruck march.  We had a 60lb ruck, rifle with magazines and full ACU’s it was pretty difficult and (we will have 1 more march next Thursday (this is today 10/6/11) after FTX3 that one will be 15km) after the12k ruck we had combative we learned  a few moves and then we had 3 rounds of 3 minutes each round with a different person.  I went against the 3 best guys around me.  The first was a former LAPD he was pretty good but I got him full mount and that ended the fight.  The next guys was a former all state wrestler, he is way strong but I used his momentum against him and swept him and took the dominant position.  The last guy was smaller so I was able to use my strength to wrap him up and get full control.  After that we changed into PT’s and got a class on the HUMM V. I was so tired that I just could not wait for the class to end.

So, next week (10/3/11-10/8/11) is our last week of training.  We have Monday-Thursday at FTX3 which is going to be crazy.  Then we have our 15km ruck and after that you typically ruck back from the FTX3.  So those four days are going to be crazy hard but we are done after that.  All that is left is recovery week and graduation week so we basically have 4 more work days and then we will be done.

I also want to say thanks again for the letters  Uncle Rich & Aunt Lorie, Uncle Bob, Emmy, Maggie and everyone from Bio-Rad.  Thanks for the card and the gift cards.  Hope you are all doing well.

Patrick

Well folks as I finish typing this blog for Patrick he should have completed his training.  I hope he is resting and recovering. We are so very proud of him.