(RETRO POSTED - 15 Apr 2008)
The days have been passing quickly and I haven’t written an update since March 2nd. Needless to say, I have been rather busy and have lots to share. The last time I wrote was right before our company went out in the field for a week on the biggest field exercise yet. It was two days in the defense and two days in the offense out in the Quantico Highlands as we affectionately call it. Let me quickly comment that I have never seen another forest so congested with deadfall than the woods around the base. It makes night movements difficult and day movements slow. The field exercise went well and I learned a lot. In the defense we dug chest deep fighting positions (foxholes). My buddy and I were pretty proud of ours. He is only about 5’4” and I am 5’11”, we made the bottom of the hole graduated from one side to the other so both him and I could stand and see over our sandbags. I thought it was engineering genius until the second night a monsoon came through. This made my end considerably more full of water than his end. When morning came everyone’s holes were holding about 2 feet of water.
After FEX III was complete the focus shifted from conventional warfare to the unconventional counterinsurgency war which we find ourselves fighting currently. Some might berate me for using the word “unconventional” to describe counterinsurgency; there have been 278 insurgencies around the world just since 1900. All I mean is that we aren’t as accustomed to fighting this type of fight. Our platoon commander is particularly well versed in counterinsurgency concepts and spent 7 hours outside the classroom time to discuss counterinsurgency with us. I could spew forth a lot what I’ve learned, but I worry that I would lose most of you. If you’re curious let me know. Here are the basics. Both the Counterinsurgents (Us) and the Insurgents (Them) are fighting for the hearts and minds of the people. The people want security; it is at the base of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs subordinate only to physiological needs. I would argue though that not having security makes those physiological needs difficult to fulfill. What it comes down to is whoever can provide that security is who they are going to support and give legitimacy to. So our current fight is twofold: 1) Provide for the populace’s security and 2) 
Train them to provide for their own security. It’s a slow process, but I must submit that it is the prudent and professional approach to set them up for success when we leave. Okay enough about counterinsurgency.
We had another field exercise just last week. It was our MOUT (Military Operations in Urban Terrain) FEX. We spent six days out in these mock urban centers they have built on base. Attached is a picture of one to help you visualize. It’s pretty cool how complex the buildings are. We learned how to clear buildings and shoot n’ move in the urban environment. Then we put one platoon in the town as the defense and then three platoons attacked together as the offense. It was rather realistic because we used modified rifles that shot paint rounds. So you knew when you got hit and when you hit someone else. We had a lot of fun, but clearing the town was definitely hard work. You’re pretty much always on the run. During the week we also did a night attack and night defense with night vision devices. I was the fire team leader during our attack at night and I had the task of clearing the first floor in the first building. There was about 75 meters of open field between the trees where we hid and the building I had to get my fire team into. When the attack started I got my fire team up and started running as fast as possible across that field up to a blind wall (one without windows) on the building. In the process while the platoon was suppressing the building, there was simulated mortar fire called on us. The instructors threw out mortar simulators that make a big bang to simulate artillery fire or mortar fire for training. I was about 50 meters across with my team when the first one went off. The explosive makes a whistle noise at first so you know it’s coming and then they blow up. You’re supposed to get down and take cover. So I hear the whistle and at full speed dive for the ground. Let me pause here and quickly explain that the night vision eyepiece we wear (
a picture is attached) hangs about 4 inches in front of the face. I dive for cover and hit the ground and the eyepiece nails me in the eye and the bridge of my nose. I first thought I had blacked out because the eyepiece turned off when I hit the ground and I couldn’t see a thing, but I got up and kept moving. I kinda forgot about the whole thing as we cleared the building until afterward we were standing around and someone asked me what was on my face. I didn’t know it but I had blood all over my nose and the eyepiece had actually cut my nose. I was rather embarrassed all week as I had to recount the story of why I had a scab on my nose. That’s not all either. I was a squad leader during the offensive attacks and again found myself leading the initial assault. This time it was daylight and I ran out behind my squad from the trees. They were all in line on a wall ready for my signal and watching me as I ran up a little behind them. As I came sprinting up full speed I attempted to stop as I approached the wall. Instead my feet came right out from under me as they slid across mud instead of grass and I ended up sliding into the wall rear-end first as my entire squad saw the whole thing and tried to hold back their laughter as they helped me up. The lesson I learned is that speed and intensity isn’t worth a thing if your brain can’t keep up. Seriously though, I had a great week and learned a lot.
The big news I have to share is that I have the honor of serving as an infantry officer. We received our assignments about three weeks ago and I have been given infantry officer. I’m very excited for where this will lead me. I’m looking forward to the young Marines which I will have to opportunity to mold into fighters and men of discipline and character. What does this mean for me? I will begin Infantry Officer Course on June 30th and finish early Sept. It means about 3 extra months of being in glorious Quantico, VA.
I haven’t written a lot so I won’t go on, but the third picture is of me commanding an AAV (Amphibious Assault Vehicle) during an exercise. I hope you all are doing well and I will write again soon.
Embracing the Passion,
J
Train them to provide for their own security. It’s a slow process, but I must submit that it is the prudent and professional approach to set them up for success when we leave. Okay enough about counterinsurgency.
a picture is attached) hangs about 4 inches in front of the face. I dive for cover and hit the ground and the eyepiece nails me in the eye and the bridge of my nose. I first thought I had blacked out because the eyepiece turned off when I hit the ground and I couldn’t see a thing, but I got up and kept moving. I kinda forgot about the whole thing as we cleared the building until afterward we were standing around and someone asked me what was on my face. I didn’t know it but I had blood all over my nose and the eyepiece had actually cut my nose. I was rather embarrassed all week as I had to recount the story of why I had a scab on my nose. That’s not all either. I was a squad leader during the offensive attacks and again found myself leading the initial assault. This time it was daylight and I ran out behind my squad from the trees. They were all in line on a wall ready for my signal and watching me as I ran up a little behind them. As I came sprinting up full speed I attempted to stop as I approached the wall. Instead my feet came right out from under me as they slid across mud instead of grass and I ended up sliding into the wall rear-end first as my entire squad saw the whole thing and tried to hold back their laughter as they helped me up. The lesson I learned is that speed and intensity isn’t worth a thing if your brain can’t keep up. Seriously though, I had a great week and learned a lot.
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