The Convoy Exercise

Today we had our big convoy exercise where we got to apply nearly everything we've learned here at Fort Jackson. Our mission to drive to a simulated Iraqi town and meet with the mayor/sheik about a recently opened girls school. We had nine HUMVEEs; three for the convoy, three to man an entry control point (ECP) outside the town, and three to act as a quick reaction force (QRF) to come to the aid of any other vehicles that may come under attack.

I was a truck commander for one of the QRF vehicles. I had a turret gunner and rifleman along with a drill sergeant who drove but otherwise did not participate as a player. The QRF stayed behind after the first six vehicles left and we waited to be called into action.

We didn't wait long; we received word via radio the main convoy was hit by an IED at a traffic roundabout. We drove over quickly and assisted in securing the scene. One vehicle was destroyed and one soldier was dead. As we were securing the scene, an insurgent opened fire on us. Luckily, we killed him before he killed anyone else. When we examined the body, we found he was sitting on several pounds of C4 explosive. We left the body alone and called Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD). We then remounted and continued on to the town.

On the way to the town, we were hit with another IED. One vehicle was damaged in the blast but was still drivable. With our turret gunner providing cover, we dismounted and established security. Our forces flushed out another insurgent and killed him. Another solider and I conducted the body search. The insurgent had a command detonator, rifle and ammunition. Luckily, there were no booby traps on this one. We confiscated all and moved onto the town.

The main convoy element, and one of our QRF trucks, went into the town. My vehicle was stuck with rear security. The convoy commander met with the mayor/sheik who told him the school needed pencils and water. He also said there were several suspicious foreigners (i.e., non-Iraqi Arabs) occupying a house in the center of town. A team was sent to clear the house and ended up in a fire fight. We lost one more soldier and another wounded. We killed one insurgent and captured another.

As I've written earlier in this blog, I now have undying respect for the common infantry man. It was very difficult moving around tactically in IBA when dismounted from the vehicles. Even in the vehicle, it was hard to work the radio because of the cramped conditions. Altogether, it was very eye opening experience.

Local Flavor

Here at Ft. Jackson we're all eating cafeteria food which has its ups and downs. For example, it's great if you enjoy scrambled eggs and bacon for breakfast -- every day. We usually eat breakfast and dinner there when we have training in the field (where lunch consists either cold Meals Ready to Eat or sandwiches).

One of the best things about the cafeteria is the "Cuz" guy. He's a local hire who greets everyone in line with the phrase, "How 'bout it, cuz?" or "What'll be, cuz?" in an authentic South Carolina accent. It's the first time I can recall ever being called, cuz. By the end of week one we began answering back, "I'll have some Salisbury Steak with mashed potatoes, cuz." He usually has some snappy comeback, based on your choice of entree. "Aw, those sausages will make you run fast, cuz."

This evening he asked if we were still on schedule to finish our training this week and fly to Kuwait. I said we were. He said, "You be and sure an' tell the Navy folks over there the Cuz Guy says hi." It hit me that nearly every Navy IA in the last five years has had food served to them by this guy. We really like him.

Lunch with ADM Greenert

During our convoy exercises preparations, Admiral Jonathan Greenert, who heads Fleet Forces Command in Norfolk, VA visited Fort Jackson specifically to see hour our program is going. He ate lunch with us in the field and answered questions we had about the Navy's Individual Augmentee (IA) program, which we all were mobilized under regardless whether we are active duty or reserve component.

Although he only took over FFC a month ago, ADM Greenert was very well versed in what we IAs are going through and was keen to learn about any snags in the process of augmenting we experienced. I was fortunate enough to be one of twenty five or so sailors selected to eat lunch with him. It's gratifying to hear a four star admiral so concerned about us.

Convoy Preparations

Today we prepared for our big Convoy operation which takes place tomorrow. It's a sort of final exam which brings together all the training we've received during our time here at Fort Jackson. We will run a convoy operation of ten vehicles from our training area to a fake town on base. The town has buildings and will be populated with role players playing Iraqis. Along the way, we'll have to deal with potential threats to include Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and insurgents (who will be role played by our own drill sergeants).

We took turns by platoon learning HUMVEE operation (yes, we got drive), practiced getting in and out of HUMVEEs with IBA on (harder than it looks), practiced room entry and clearing in groups of four, learned how to man an Entry Control Point (ECP) and otherwise learned about our over all mission during the exercise.

Based on the gleeful anticipation exhibited by the Drill Seargeants, we don't expect to live long during the exercise. Nevertheless, it should be great experience.

Full IBA

For the heavy weapons fire we were instructed to assemble full IBA. That is, we had to affix two additional side strike plates, two underarm pads, a neck guard, two deltoid pads, and the groin pad. All in all, another ten or so pounds. All of the pads are contain a small arms resistant kevlar weave. Two front and two side strike plates contain, to quote GlobalSecurity.org, "a boron carbide ceramic with a spectra shield backing that [is] an extremely hard material. It stops, shatters and catches any fragments up to a [rifle] 7.62 mm round with a muzzle velocity of 2,750 feet per second. It's harder than Kevlar."

You can see more of the side plates and deltoid pads in the movie below of me firing the M240B machine gun. Compare what I'm wearing in the photo above with the earlier version of IBA we wore last week to see the difference.

This kit saves lives in theater, no doubt, but it's heavy. In the barracks, we estimate it weighs 45+ pounds. Add the kevlar helmet, weapons, etc. and you're walking around with 50+ pounds of gear. That's quite an adjustment for a guy who stands 5' 8" but weighs only 140 pounds. My attractive wife says I should just suck it up.

Mk 19 Grenade Launcher

Here is a brief video of the Mk 19 Grenade Launcher. This fires 40mm grenades which explode on contact. Listen for the rounds going downrange followed by the explosions. The targets are old M113 personnel carriers.

M240B Machine Gun

Here is a brief video of me (yes, me) firing the M240B machine gun. It's mounted in a simulated HUMVEE turret.

The M240B replaced the venerable, but long in the tooth, M60 machine gun first used in the Vietnam era.