AndrewSimonsen
11-18-2007, 23:01
Just got back from our (LSU Army ROTC) winter FTX, good times. We arrived at Camp Livingston Friday night, went to class and then set up a patrol base. Almost the entirety of Saturday was spent in STics lanes running everything from taking out enemy bunkers to setting up ambushes. The local national guard was kind enough to be Op4 for us. The squad leaders were MS3s while the team leaders were MS2s (this is what I am) or MS3s waiting for their chance to lead the squad MS1s were just joes. For a change of pace, instead of using either rubber ducks or paintball guns as our weapons we were issued M16s (mostly A2s but some A4s and 203s) fitted with blank adapters. I was able to see good examples of leadership from the squad leaders and in some cases very bad examples. All in all though it was a positive experience that I learned from, and it really reinforced in me the importance that I know and understand FM 7-8.
After that we got into night land nav, and then set up a patrol base for the night. Woke up about 3:50 in a very wet very cold (I still have the older type down sleeping bag as opposed to synthetic which stays warm when wet) bag and just took advantage of the situation to pack up early since wake up was only about 20 minutes away and I knew there was no way I would be able to go back to sleep like that in that little time. We then went from there into day land nav and that was it.
After that we got into night land nav, and then set up a patrol base for the night. Woke up about 3:50 in a very wet very cold (I still have the older type down sleeping bag as opposed to synthetic which stays warm when wet) bag and just took advantage of the situation to pack up early since wake up was only about 20 minutes away and I knew there was no way I would be able to go back to sleep like that in that little time. We then went from there into day land nav and that was it.