Snap Shots

Looking back at the last five weeks the 1133 and 1168 have been busy. Our training started out by qualifying with our M16 rifles under day time, night time, and while wearing our NBC protective masks (see glossary).








During the down time in our rifle qualification to re-familiarize ourselves with the Browning M-2 .50 calibre machine gun, and the Mk19 40mm automatic grenade launcher. Both are heavy weapons usually found on our security element vehicles, and sometimes used for defense of our bases/camps.






Along with the heavy weapons, we also brushed up on our hand grenade techniques. I might not always throw it the best, but like they say "close only counts in horse shoes and hand grenades". ;)









A couple weeks into our training we went to Harold, the urban training area for Camp Dodge. There we learned basic Infantry tactics like how to do a patrol, react to contact/snipers, and later in the training how to enter and clear buildings. For 99% of us it was brand new training, for 100% of us it was educational and actually fun.




MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) were our standard food source for lunch throughout our training. Some of us warm them up in the provided heater, some of us eat them cold, and some of us just eat the good parts (usually with some cereal snagged at breakfast).







Rain became common the last week or so of our training and it was not uncommon to find us training in our platoon bays. Lunch at these times was a chance for further bonding and story sharing among the various platoon members on these days.








Along with our other training we found time for the various platoons to have a chance for hands-on training on our new HET (see glossary) vehicles. The training was thorough and everyone learned something. Once we get to Texas we'll have more in-depth training on the new big trucks. Personally, I miss my air-ride seat adjustments and fully adjustable steering wheel already.



On a return trip to Harold we were visited by KIMT's Jaime Copley and David Pint. The media were with us at lunch time and both enjoyed an MRE.














During our final week we spent time refreshing our First Aid skills. Many things have changed in how we administer First Aid since many of us went through Basic Training but our Combat Life Savers (CLS) are quite knowledgeable on the subject and everyone became confident in how to quickly treat a wide variety of injuries that could be encountered in combat.




One of the many changes in treating wounds is the new style tourniquet. Once a sign that a limb would be lost, a tourniquet can now be used to not only save a limb, but a life as well. This is only one of the many improvements in medical equipment we will receive before heading overseas.






As expected, PT (Physical Training) is a constant part of our day...in fact it usually starts our day. Despite the occasional grumbles, I for one enjoy starting the day off with some exercise and conditioning. It wakes me up, lets me see a beautiful sunrise (when it isn't raining), and aids in keeping my healthy...and to think, some people have to pay to get into a club for the results I get for free while being paid. Isn't the Army wonderful?

Over all its been a good five weeks or so, and I look forward to what lies ahead. Morale is high, motivation is high, professionalism is high, and the esprit de corps is strong. I have no doubt that what we have been told during training is true: we are the best soldiers in Iowa...and I'd even go as far as to say some of the best at what we do anywhere.

~~~