Cap Stone Week

    The week started really slow. Monday is Team Leader Time, this day was set for table top practices and many what if scenario discussion.  On Tuesday, the Mounted Combat Patrol simulator training. The simulator made me dizzy and feeling sick. In the afternoon, I felt better and enjoyed the video game as I called the simulator.  I engaged on a building and no matter how much I shot at the target I could not kill the enemy.  At the end, we experienced our other team vehicle blow up, and all we could do is watch the flame engulf that vehicle because the vehicle I was in will not start. 

    Wednesday is a fun day, this day is the actual mounted  combat patrol with live fire for the M240 and M2 50 Caliber guns, very loud weapon system. During the engagement of the gunners, I was covering my face to prevent brass hitting my face. I tell you brass were everywhere.  I was able to put my training to use, as the dismount, I cleared a culvert.  Clearing culvert is no fun, I had to travel on grass and ditches. The whole time all I can think of were IEDs or explosives and accidentally stepping on one.  I even had to cross a stream and certain part of the ground were soft.  But needless to say, I did it, I saw the danger under the culvert and channeled the information. The guys gave me praiseworthy comments and boosted my confidence.  Another training put to use is driving a humvee,  I have never driven this type of vehicle until I came to Combat Skill Training.

     In the scenario, I had to drive the other vehicle because the driver and gunner were injured. While driving I was so scared that I did not realize I was speeding. When we arrived at the LZ ( Landing Zone for the helicopter) I had to carry the gunner and the driver to the static helicopters, and I tell you, even with two guys helping me, it took all my energy to get them from the humvee to the helicopter. I was telling both the driver and gunner that starting today they're both going on a diet because I cannot continue carrying them.  Every scenario that requires transporting an injured person, I had to execute it which provided ample hands on training for me.  At the end of this day I was so tired and hungry. 

    Thursday, is pre capstone, a day closer to the real test which is known as the Capstone.  Pre-capstone required a lot of preparation, hopefully my team and I are ready to show off our skills. This day we met with our afghan counter parts and talk about scenario such as 5-o-25s which is basically a means to check your parameters for danger. We also discuss the nine line medivac procedure  and other fundamental we have learned during the training. We tried to finish all the training with the counterpart as much as we can and at the same time prepare our vehicle  with the overlays and set up blue force tracker. I believe the time allotted for us was not enough but we had to make do what was given to us.

     The Capstone day  has arrived and we were schedule to visit three villages. I had to be a gunner this day because one of the member of the class had to go on an emergency leave. I had no clue how to even attach the harness and I even had to learn how to turn the hatch from strong right to left, what embarrassing experience. The first scenario was a total disaster, we did not help the injured afghan army for over 20 minutes. I had to dismount out of the vehicle from the gunner position to conduct a tourniquet on the injured person, which left the vehicle weapon unmanned but I was only following orders from the commander. I know it was not the right thing to do but I had to follow orders. After the injured was placed on the vehicle, I had to run across the field and help transport the injured to the helicopter.  Mesmerized by an actual/real helicopter landing, I almost forgot how to command the transport of the litter. We approached the helicopter and was given instruction to turn back with the injured person which ended that part of the scenario. Wished I was able to go in the helicopter but at the same time I am glad I did not because of the fear in flying. A million butterflies enters my stomach every time I know I was going on a plane and even after 17 years in United States Air Force and requiring to fly frequently, I have not overcome my fear of flying. Majority of the times I sleep on the plane to minimized the fear. At last, as we finished our mission we improved our tactics and the day came to an end. I was so hungry at the end of the day, had no breakfast, lunch and did not eat dinner until 1930 because we had to clean the vehicles. Hooray!!!! Capstone is over, by this  time I had two pieces of pizza and a cold beer and it felt like the best meal I ever had in my entire life. Now, I look forward going to Lake Charles and get away from Fort Polk even if it just over the weekend.

     

Fort Polk (Combat Skill Training)

I cannot believe it, my time at Fort Polk is almost complete. Two months in Loussiana on an Army post was scary thought, I imagined the worst living condition during the training duration, because my last Army accomodations was so horrible I have formed a discrimination against Army installation.  To my surprise Fort Polk was not too bad. I had a room to my self for almost two weeks and I love the fact I have the bottom bunk, heat and air condition in the room.  Even if Fort Polk is found in the middle of nowhere, my team/class found ways to keep us all occupied, from Walmart and PX shopping to hanging out the bowling alley (Where Fort Polk comes to relax).  I found myself content, just chilling at the bowling alley.  I also walked miles and miles because of boredom and later found new hobbies.  I have opened up a face book account and currently exploring the many capabilities of this program.  I have created a blog and loving the idea of being a mock writer.  About the training, I have some complaint but overall I am glad I received training before I head out to the unknown.

     The training schedule requires a lot of work, who ever has set up this program needs to tailor the schedule to the size of the classes because one size does not fit all.  If brilliant minds or involved echelons, just come together, discuss what a Combat Advisor will really need in theater, taylor it to the size of the classes and implement improvements, I have no doubt this training can become effective tool to prepare Combat Advisors for the mission and would eliminate a lot of the chaos.  Besides training  confusion,  there is one thing I am very thankful, I am very fortunate to have met a good team to spend my training here at Fort Polk.   I want to describe each everyone of them but I have promised not to mention their names.

    My "boyz" common referred to all the guys in my team,  took really good care of me.  I am proud to say they are my "Kuyas"-older brothers, who helped build my confidence during the training classes.  I can always remember being nervous around guns but now I can hold my weapons without shaking.  The first person I would like to mention is "Jagran" ____ ast,  the person who always made the team laugh.  If I was having a bad day, all it took to cheer me up is talk to him.  I can count on finding a bottle of mountain dew filled with rocks and water in my bag pack because he thought it will make me smile and that plan did work.  He was considered the village elder as we describe him, and his wisdom is very admirable. 

     Second person is "To run- to run" who looks so intimidating but his all fun, sometimes I think he is serious but then he is never serious, the big teddy bear of the group.  Then there is"Jagran" Apps who is the high-tech guru and music provider for the convoys.  I really like his people skills,  he cared about the well being of others and has a big heart. He always entertained my questions and never hesitated to help me.  I appreciate his efforts in teaching me about the computer.  Another person in my team is Senior, the historian, has a vast knowledge about history, who has learned to give hugs to another man. 

     Then my "SISTA" who hates that name but my day is never complete if I did not give him a difficult time.  He portrays himself as a tough guy who will not take "sh!t" from another woman but all of that is a mask.  There are days I over heard his conversations with his honey pooh and sometimes I want to puke, too sweet he is.   Another big brother of mine is my Pt "wing man", Lt Col, who will walk or run with me during Pt.  Of course I cannot forget to mention Col, who tried to engage the challenges our team is faced with.  Major laugh is another person in my team, if you heard a little kid laughing automatically it is him.  Then our lone soldier, the only Army person in our team.  I will never let him forget that an Army personnel shot me in the elbow.  These guys are awesome and I consider my self the luckiest woman in the class, oh I forgot am the only girl in the class. But kidding aside, I will never forget class 92, my family during this training. But every journey comes to an end, and its almost time to say good bye, a military way of life, so I bid farewell to all of you. I hope someday our paths will meet again and good luck to my new found friends. 

Inspired by a Stranger

      A personal diary with all my private thoughts, experiences and feelings for the world to see have not crossed my mind until I have read a blog of a complete stranger.  To create a blog and post it for everyone to read is a very nerve wrecking idea but at the same token I realized the many benefits I can gain in writing even if my thought processes did not make any sense.  I gained some courage to start a blog from this stranger and like he said, "Wanting to improve my writing skills." I found myself relating to him.  I think creating a blog is a good way to practice my writing and at the same time, a good way to share my thoughts and experiences to others.  How amazing is it to have all my memories in the tip of my finger tips without the clutter of journals or notebooks?  I think the idea is a great way to organize events in my life. Intimidated in the advancement of technology, I find myself willing to face the challenges of overcoming my fear in technology and writing.  Mastering the English grammar is very difficult for me and having someone read my writing could be very embarrassing, but I will be brave.  I will take any criticism or negative feed back as a means of improvements.

     From here I will dedicate an entry on my e-journal at least once a week and add any memorable events I deemed important in my life.  I have to set limits of the type of information to post because of the OPSEC requirement in my life.

     Thank you stranger, I owe you many thanks for the inspiration.  I found a new hobby that I can take with me in my travels.  I can write about everything and anything while improving my skills in writing and maybe someday inspire others to write just like the influence you have passed to me .  I enjoyed very much reading your blog and what I really liked about your blog is the positive twist you wrote about Fort Polk.  I am very excited to go to Afghanistan and now I can make sure my memories will be remembered.