Mid-Performance Update

[regexcellent]

Hah, the enemy forces section is actually filled out. Cause it's not for weekly pt i.e. an excuse to give juniors practice in how to write them.

That looks pretty neat and is obviously way cooler than the dumb **** I've done on STX lanes.

[Al B. Sure!]

Hah, the enemy forces section is actually filled out. Cause it's not for weekly pt i.e. an excuse to give juniors practice in how to write them.

That looks pretty neat and is obviously way cooler than the dumb **** I've done on STX lanes.

You then make a terrain model with the route, tactical control measures, fire support targets, terrain, etc. and brief that entire order preferably without constantly looking at your notes to your subordinates.

What's difficult is the execution. My squad was exhausted from the third day on the FEX and next to no sleep following the previous night patrol and posting security at out patrol base. Everyone was lethargic in execution, didn't have their heads on a swivel, would doze off in the prone during halts, and weren't paying attention to hand/arm signals. My security team leader botched one of the linear danger crossings by failing to post far side security to cover the movement of the rear side flankers. As a response, I moved the assault team up to the front to mix it up and wake people up. Also the radio was on the fritz the whole time so I didn't have comms with higher.

When we took IDF, everyone moved quickly to a different position but then we were slow to move on from there. I sprinted up and down the formation, signalling for dispersion and for everyone to get going, then nearly ran with the Nav man and assault team up some hills along our route, leaving half the patrol way back trying to catch up. We stopped in some heavy brush for concealment and let them catch up. I asked my evaluator afterward how to deal with the human factors of everyone being tired, stating all I was thinking was to conspicuously demonstrate that I was willing to move fast (ductus exemplo) and challenge the squad to keep up with me. He said it might be a good idea to take a long halt to let guys get it together but we were already very time constrained, moving only about 500-600m/hour. Yes, that sounds slow as hell but doctrine patrolling is 1km/hr and Quantico terrain is far from doctrine. The other problem is when you're trying to keep up, you're looking down, not having your head on a swivel looking for the enemy.

We didn't make contact with enemy squads and I ended up developing an alternate alternate route en route to expedite getting to the LZ for our extract. En route, we gathered intel on the condition of a trail, the depth of a creek, and discovered a heavily concealed trail running parallel to a hardball road and taking us to our LZ. I wanted to get some intel for higher since I didn't get to hit any of the briefed checkpoints. I then called for helo extract and popped green smoke for the helo and prepared for the night ambush.


It's fun but super exhausting.

[Al B. Sure!]

The Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, Sergeant Major Barrett spoke to us today.

He told us a story about a female Army captain who emailed him. She went to our Expeditionary Warfare School and was impressed by the professionalism of Marines. She returned to her unit and came out of the PX where she walked past a group of Army soldiers who did not acknowledge her. She continued on her way to a group of Marines undergoing airborne training with the Army. As she approached, the Marines, who were eating, put down their chow and stood at attention uncovered while the sergeant in the group, covered, rendered a salute. She told the group, 'thank you'. 'For what, ma'am?' the sergeant asked. 'For saluting. Did you see that group of soldiers down there?' 'Yes, we did, ma'am,' the Marines responded. 'I wish my service was like yours,' she said, to which the sergeant replied, 'It can be. Go back there and correct them, ma'am,' which she did.

oorah

[Pax]

anecdotal story. If she wanted her service to be like the marines she should have joined the marines. I have been around all branches of service and honestly they all have plusses and minuses. It's possible that the soldiers did not see her or it was an isolated event or some other explanation. This female captain sounds weak. Why does someone have to tell her to correct a problem she sees. In fact, I would not want a leader who wishes instead of taking action. But what is the protocol for saluting and coming to attention while eating? I don't think you have too stop eating come to attention every time a senior officer approaches. A little googling suggests that in work, eating and athletic activites the most senior officer should basically be acknowledged but you don't have too stop eating and come to attention.
Even though they are from a different era, I would recommend reading Philip Caputos' A Rumor of War and Soldier by Lt. Col Anthony Herbert.

[Pax]

This is a customer review from amazon.com on Soldier
When I was a young Marine I was given a copy of this book by one of the Soldiers who served under Lt. Col. Herbert. He was mother-in-law boyfriend at the time. Well, as a young Marine I did not think much of it at the time, until I was over seas and read it. I could not stop reading it. I must have spent every minute I had free reading it. It was simply an OUTSTANDING book. I know I would have loved to serve in his Army. That's pretty hard to say being a Marine an all.