Our final Battle Problem, the convoy exercise, wasn't nearly as exciting as I hoped it would be. As lead vehicle commander for a column of four HMMWVs and two MRAPs, my crew was able to spot each ambush and simulated IED along the 7-mile exercise route, but our driver was one of the instructors who dutifully stuck to the exercise script, so even if we spotted the threats, he'd still ignore the order to stop the truck, inevitably rolling into the hazard for the sake of accomplishing the pre-determined training plan. The day was a long one-my spine felt throughly compressed under the weight of my body armor after spending hours and hours standing around inside a simulated FOB (Forward Operating Base) waiting for the convoy exercise to actually begin. Just as abruptly as it started, the exercise was over.
The following day was spent drifting in and out of sleep through some over-preached and dumbed down legal briefs by an Army JAG. His brief was nearly pointless. Rather giving the latest updates on Rules of Engagement (ROE) or Escalation of [Lethal] Force (EOF), we received nearly three hours of instruction on the UCMJ's rules for searches of US servicemember's personal property and how it relates to the Fourth Amendment. I'm still curious as to whether or not he knew that we were headed to Afghanistan the following week or if he just assumed we were staying at Fort Jackson for the long haul. The rest of the day was dedicated to the through cleaning of personal weapons, the M4's and M9's we've been training with and lugging around in the rain and sand for these last few weeks. Not a single speck of carbon residue from cordite gunpowder, not a grain of sand, nor a single drop of moisture or oil could remain inside the nooks and crannies of the weapons before inspection by the Drill Sergeants. CLP (Cleaner, Lubricant and Protectant) is the standard military issue solvent used to clean and preserve small arms; I learned the smell of it almost ten years ago during Plebe Summer at the Academy and I haven't forgotten it since. CLP is a lightly viscous, light weight machinery grade oil that is slightly yellow in color and has a petroleum odor like that of zippo lighter fluid. For normal operation of a weapon, a light coat should be applied to every moving part, but for inspection, it simply wouldn't do: I put down the CLP and wiped down the inside and outside of my rifle with Windex. Though the rifle looked spotless, without any lubricant, it would make a nice mantle decoration, but fail miserably as a weapon. As soon as I passed inspection (after the third go-around with Staff Sergeant Byford), it immediately was brushed down with CLP again. Inspection passed, check-in-the-box. Move on with life.
Just like that, Navy Individual Augmentee Combat Training was done. No fanfare, speeches, ceremonies, or anything else to mark the occasion. We've been left to ourselves for an evening off and a day of rest to take care of any loose ends before our flight out. I took care of a few financial matters, finished packing my bags, got a hair cut and enjoyed an Arturo Fuente cigar with a classmate of mine followed by a quick phone call home to Amanda.
My class will depart the country shortly and will be split up in the next few days to travel to various part of the Middle East and perform in a wide array of missions. The barracks are now lined with the tell-tale olive drab sea-bags and desert colored uniform items.
"...Anchors aweigh my boys, anchors aweigh, farewell to college joys, we sail at break of day. Through our last night ashore, drink to the foam; until we meet once more here's wishing you a happy voyage home..."
Location:Camp McCrady, Fort Jackson, SC
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