3/17/2007 Saturday
Good God, did we get smoked today. DS vengeance came swiftly. But as I write this, the platoon banner downstairs still waves a clean white flag. So all is not lost. It makes sense, now that I think of it: the 1st Sgt. is a scary dude. He can hurt people. He can also hurt…the DSs. In time I have learned that the DSs seem to fear the 1st Sgt. almost as much as we do. He oversees their conduct as well as our conduct, and any flaw in our conduct is a reflection on their conduct. So naturally they have incentive to cover some of our more minor screw ups and thus cover themselves. Changing our Phase is a big decision that requires the 1st Sgt.’s final input and approval. So the DSs might threaten us, but I doubt they’ll change uks back for anything other than a total disaster. Of course, I may speak too soon. But for now we’re still in White Phase.
The day started with the entire battalion conducting a 2-2-2 assessment APFT. This is an Army Physical Fitness Test consisting of 2 minutes of maximum push-ups (no resting in down position), 2 minutes of maximum sit-ups (again no down time), and a 2 mile run for time. The 2-2-2 APFT is the standard assessment for al Army personnel and gauges their readiness to serve. And I did just fine, thank you very much. Earned my right to eat cake today.
It wasn’t a score to brag about to the active Army guys, but it was in the top quarter here: 62 push-ups, 65 sit-ups, and the run in 14:37. Safely above graduation requirements. Good, but not great. I aim for 75, 80, and 13:00 by the time I leave. That’ll give me a perfect score. Power to my battle buddy, Mard, though, who completed the run in only 12:06. That is fast.
After our PFT adventure, we grabbed some very quick breakfast and ran over in our full battle-rattle (armor, LCE, helmet, pads, etc.) to a fascinating little simulation right outside our battalion headquarters. The Army has contracted out with a company that has built a computerized marksmanship program. Special M16A2s are hooked up to special magazines, which in turn are hooked up to gigantic computer screens. We lay prone on sandbags and simulate range firing. No safety issues, no ammo expenditures, no range maintenance…it’s an excellent system. Very well done. I spent most of my time there just staring slack-jawed at the technology involved. Good stuff.
The rest of today has been spent cleaning our weapons, our boots, and the Bay. A nice relaxing day. Excepting, of course, the vengeance smoke session we received from DS “M.” That hurt in ways I cannot describe. Just know that for th rest of my life, I will start sweating and looking anxious whenever I see body armor and playing cards in the same place. I won’t describe any further. Just let your imagination soar. Man, did that hurt.
Tomorrow is more cleaning, plus we get to go and see the Fort Benning Air Show. One of the benefits of White Phase: they sometimes let us out of our cage. Only for special occasions. I don’t know much about what will happen tomorrow, but there are rumors that candy might be available for purchase. And coke. And all the other forbidden goodies. So I’ll report on that tomorrow. For now, good night, sweet dreams, and don’t let the 1st Sgt. hear you. Take care.
-Jeremy
The day started with the entire battalion conducting a 2-2-2 assessment APFT. This is an Army Physical Fitness Test consisting of 2 minutes of maximum push-ups (no resting in down position), 2 minutes of maximum sit-ups (again no down time), and a 2 mile run for time. The 2-2-2 APFT is the standard assessment for al Army personnel and gauges their readiness to serve. And I did just fine, thank you very much. Earned my right to eat cake today.
It wasn’t a score to brag about to the active Army guys, but it was in the top quarter here: 62 push-ups, 65 sit-ups, and the run in 14:37. Safely above graduation requirements. Good, but not great. I aim for 75, 80, and 13:00 by the time I leave. That’ll give me a perfect score. Power to my battle buddy, Mard, though, who completed the run in only 12:06. That is fast.
After our PFT adventure, we grabbed some very quick breakfast and ran over in our full battle-rattle (armor, LCE, helmet, pads, etc.) to a fascinating little simulation right outside our battalion headquarters. The Army has contracted out with a company that has built a computerized marksmanship program. Special M16A2s are hooked up to special magazines, which in turn are hooked up to gigantic computer screens. We lay prone on sandbags and simulate range firing. No safety issues, no ammo expenditures, no range maintenance…it’s an excellent system. Very well done. I spent most of my time there just staring slack-jawed at the technology involved. Good stuff.
The rest of today has been spent cleaning our weapons, our boots, and the Bay. A nice relaxing day. Excepting, of course, the vengeance smoke session we received from DS “M.” That hurt in ways I cannot describe. Just know that for th rest of my life, I will start sweating and looking anxious whenever I see body armor and playing cards in the same place. I won’t describe any further. Just let your imagination soar. Man, did that hurt.
Tomorrow is more cleaning, plus we get to go and see the Fort Benning Air Show. One of the benefits of White Phase: they sometimes let us out of our cage. Only for special occasions. I don’t know much about what will happen tomorrow, but there are rumors that candy might be available for purchase. And coke. And all the other forbidden goodies. So I’ll report on that tomorrow. For now, good night, sweet dreams, and don’t let the 1st Sgt. hear you. Take care.
-Jeremy
posted by Jeremy at 5:35 PM
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