Defend the base

Here is a link to a video on our “Defend the Base” scenario we did last week. This will probably be the last video I load from CST. Look for more as I go downrange. I had trouble getting the audio to work on Youtube, but it’s finally up and running. Click here.

Land Nav (with video)

Well, it has been more than a couple days but I just finished the Land Nav video. I was hoping for something a little better, but you get what you pay for … exactly. Anyway, at least it gives you an idea of what we went through.

I left out two parts of the Land Navigation Course. First, we had to navigate to three different points in the woods with only a compass. Second, we had to use a military map and find three points on it with only the help of the map — minus the compass. Lastly, we mounted into a HMMWV and used a military spec GPS to find five different waypoints. Very informative, but like I said before, the course is more aimed towards the females — men don’t get lost.

Click here to view the Land Nav video.

Detaining the Hulk

We have an Airman here that has been affectionately nicknamed, “Hulk.” Basically, if the President needed something taken care of, this is the guy he would call. Two days ago, we learned how to properly search detainees we had captured. After each of us took turns searching each other, (I won’t go into the details of it, but you can imagine), the Army Corporal then asked for a volunteer to “resist.” Well, who better than Hulk. Watch the following video to see not one, but two Soldiers struggle to take down this Airman. Click here. Honestly, I think it would have taken more than that if he had been on his feet.

Urban Combat (With video)

Today was awesome. In fact, awesome can’t begin to describe how it was. So, I made a video about it. Basically, we learned how to move in a four-man squad when under fire. To add to the realism, the instructors had smoke grenades and “mortar shells” that they would let loose at any time. The goal of the training was to understand how to move to cover, check for booby traps and safely get the entire squad to a safe location.

Although I wish the course was a bit longer, overall it was a lot of fun. Sure beats the ‘ol powerpoint slides we’ve been getting. It certainly is a bit different trying to move around with 40 extra pounds of body armor. I have a feeling there are going to be a lot of sore people tomorrow.

In the afternoon we went over to “Camp Balad,” where instructors took us through a course with IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices). They taught us how to identify them, what to do when you find one, and how to safely get around them and secure the perimeter. After everything we had just done in the morning, this was a little mundane, but useful to know when we get downrange.

Tomorrow should be good fun. I think we might get to play with hand grenades and claymores. I have a feeling I’ll keep my camera on me for this one. Enjoy the video; it’s linked through YouTube. I threw it together real quick tonight. Click here.