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Thread: Winter FTX
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11-18-2007, 23:01 #1Moderator
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- Andrew Simonsen
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Winter FTX
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.“Our task of creating a socialist America can only succeed when those who would resist us have been totally disarmed.”
-Sara Brady
From my cold, dead, hands.
Truth
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11-19-2007, 06:27 #2Assistant Dictator
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- Jeff Cook
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Sounds great Andrew! Those type of FTXs are fun. Have they let you play around with NODs yet (NVGs)? The local National Guard unit can probably hand-receipt those to you guys the next time you go out in the woods. It is very handy to train-up with NODs, not only for night foot patrols and recon, but especially for driving.
Jeff Cook"Beware of entrance to a quarrel but being in, bear't that the opposed may beware of thee." - Polonius
De inimico non loquaris sed cogites.
Do not wish ill for your enemy....plan it.
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11-20-2007, 01:16 #3Moderator
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Haven't had a chance to train with them yet, considering that there are some cadets who can barely be trusted not to lose their kevlar handing them something that expensive is probably not a good idea.
Originally Posted by Jeff C.
“Our task of creating a socialist America can only succeed when those who would resist us have been totally disarmed.”
-Sara Brady
From my cold, dead, hands.
Truth
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11-20-2007, 05:13 #4Assistant Dictator
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- Jeff Cook
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- Sarasota, FL, USA
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Ah, gotchya. I thought some of you more senior guys might get extra training?
Jeff Cook"Beware of entrance to a quarrel but being in, bear't that the opposed may beware of thee." - Polonius
De inimico non loquaris sed cogites.
Do not wish ill for your enemy....plan it.
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11-20-2007, 13:21 #5Moderator
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- Andrew Simonsen
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The threes might get extra training that involves NVGs but I don't really know. I'm just a lowly two.
“Our task of creating a socialist America can only succeed when those who would resist us have been totally disarmed.”
-Sara Brady
From my cold, dead, hands.
Truth
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11-20-2007, 13:28 #6Moderator
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- Erik Michaels
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I loved ROTC. By far a better education than anything I learned in college. No question about it.
Has anyone started seeing things from not sleeping for 3-5 days yet?
I saw King Arthur and Sir Lancelot riding in a valley a mile below our ORP one night 15 years ago...
I also found that those old wool sweaters fit well between my green undershirt and my BDU blouse. They kept me warm but couldn't be removed and repacked quickly with the web gear on. Better than the field jacket. Just standing around in the a.m. when it was freezing in the Mojave was really cold. Didn't realize the desert got that cold.
I realize you think you understand what you thought I said, but what I am not so sure about is whether what you think you heard is what I think I meant.
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