Ok… I should have some time now..

Lets see… I just went through what is called BC3, or Basic Combat Convoy Training course. It is run by special forces instuctors, and they teach us everything from weaponry to land navigation. However, since I’m a nobody who will prob be with most the convoys, I became a combat lifesaver, so I missed all the really big weapon systems and instead was taught how to stop bleeding and splint legs.

Anyways, during the three week training, it went like this:
First week: Stayed in billiting (on base hotel) and had classes. It wasn’t the standard AF classes where you stare at a wall and take a test, it’s Army classes. We don’t even get the Air Force credits. We were treated as army as well. I’m not a flight in a squadron, now I’m First Platoon, 3rd squad, Bravo fire team. I’m almost ready to call myself a private instead of an airman. During these classes we were taught how to use the M-4 (a short version of the M-16) and went through basic leadership and convoy classes. We also did some cool shit like night vision shooting and pop-up targets. Also, we were taught on the SAW or the basic machine gun. This was all boring but at least I got to stay in billiting. The five mile runs in the middle of a 95 degree day as a ‘platoon’ sucked ass as well. We had a few heat injuries because of that. (But of course, that was there fault for not staying fit and shit..)

Second and Third week we were in the field. We stayed in tents with no air conditioning, showered and brushed our teeth in non-potable(non-drinkable) water, and using porta-potties to do your business. Oh yea, and you had to go EVERYWHERE with a buddy. Food was MRE’s and water was always warm and from a big metal container that sat in the sun all day. We had to take our M-4 with us everywhere we went with at least five magazines full of blank ammunition. (We could be attacked at any time.) For the first week we had big weapon training, including the 50 cal and the M2 (big bullet granades). This would have been cool but instead I was doing Combat Lifesaving courses. I learned how to stop bleeding and move people around. The only pluses to this is I don’t drive and I stay in the middle of the convoy, away from the highly targeted areas. The bad part is that if someone gets shot, I need to go get them. Third week was actually driving convoys, shooting back at people and pretending to save people. It sucked.

This is also where I sprained my ankle. On our LAST convoy, we stopped at around 3am in the middle of a tall grassy field. When I jumped out of the 5ton truck, I hit a rock and rolled on it. I almost passed out and stuff. I couldn’t walk for a little bit, just wobble around as if I was drunk and I couldn’t do anything about it. Anyways, it looks really nasty but it doesn’t hurt too much unless I bend it too much. Can’t run or stuff. (They forced me to get x-rays since it looked so bad.)

Anyways, now I’m back at lackland staying in the 319th training squadron building. For those who don’t know, this is where all the mental and medical holdovers from basic training stay. We are forced to wear our uniform or PT gear, so we look like basic trainees too. (Well, in pt gear, the dcu’s make us stand out..) We’re still being abused, since our leadership is so power hungry and with the army structure, they’re really abusing it. Push-ups and yelling galore. We’re finished with training but still treated like kids. Curfew is 8pm, and lights out is 9pm. We have to wake up at 3am for PT. (I can’t do pt because of my ankle but I still need to go stand there…) Tomorrow I get my smallpox and second anthrax shot. Blah. I just hate this stuff. I just did my basic training dorm clean-up. double-blah.

Anyways… when I get out to Iraq, things will be better… At least that’s what I keep telling myself. I hope it’s right.

Anyways, I’m going to go to sleep and stuff now. I have an early wake-up ahead of me.

Matt

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Filed under: Uncategorized - @ July 18, 2004 10:22 pm