Hello all, im back.

So, I surived my 1 week of simulated deployment out in the sand. The name of the site is "blue thunder" so if I use that term im referring to the deployment training location.

We had mostly fairly good weather. temperatures only in the low 90's, and humidity wasn't as bad until the end of the week. This week we were sent through training in:

M4 rifle familiarization, halting, searching and detaining personnel, how to report on suspicious activity, perform vehicle searches, man or control ECP's (entry control points/base entry gates), constructing and finding good DFP's (Defensive fighting positions/cover and concealment), CBRN(chem, bio, radio, nuclear) training, gas training, MOPP (Measure of Personal Protection/big heavy suits to keep your skin from being affected by biological weapons), IED's (improvised explosive devices), UXO's (unexploded ordinance), troop leading, small unit tactics, land navigation, Self-aid and buddy care (battlefield first aid: tourniquets, splints, fractures, carries, arterial bleeding, head trauma, maintaining breathing etc...).

All of these things are part of a continuing effort to ensure the USAF moves towards its new goal of AEF "Air Expeditionary Forces" skills. USAF personnel are continually being called on to perform army duties that the army simply does not have the personnel to support. We used to call these "ILO's" or In lieu of duties. That's really what they are, getting personnel from other branches to perform duties in lieu of the army personnel that should do it, because they don't have enough people. However, somewhere along the line someone decided that ILO didn't sound so great. Now, they call them JET taskings (Joint Expeditionary Taskings (yes, technically saying "JET taskings" is like saying joint expeditionary taskings taskings but thats what everyone calls them)). JET taskings, decidedly, sounds much more... joint, a team effort, instead of "filling in".

So, last week i lived in a tent with 13 other people. I had my own cot and about 6 square feet of floor space to store all my things. Not bad, especially for a week, but it does get old quick. If I had to be out there for too long I would start chopping down my own trees and building my own hut in my free time, or at least a hut so a few of my "closest friends" could move out.

Anyway, I did a lot of rolling around in the sand, water, mud and grass (read: ant hills) out there and its nice to be back in my own room.

Below i'll write in more detail about what we did out there for lessons and what I did each day, if you're interested in such excruciating detail, read on. Otherwise, see you next time.


Monday:

Monday was the first "real" day of ASBC. So I suppose that in some ways it was my first day in the "real" air force. Though, i believe that as long as im under AETC (Air education and training command) where the usaf does all of its teaching and training, largely of rotc, ots, academy and junior Lt's... I won't quite be in the real AF.

Monday began at 0545 when I woke up. The first meeting of the day was at 0645. A series of introductions, meetings, and meetings about introductions ensued until about 2:00. Most of these briefings cover things like safety, alcohol abuse, the buddy system, sexual harassment, sexual assault, chaplain services, etc. All very important, but also covered seemingsly monthly. Sometimes the AF puts the "du(h)" in reDUndant.

by 3:30 the entire ASBC class (some 350 lt's) had packed up 5 days worth of field gear into a dufel bag and met at a deployment line. We were then issued a second duffel bag with a poncho, conteen, sleeping bag, kevlar vest, kevlar helmet and M4 rifle. But not a real rifle... this one needs to be taken apart and cleaned regularly (they told us) despite the fact that it does not fire. We field stripped them regularly and cleaned them. Conspicuously missing was the firing pin. Then, we marched about a mile or so with allour gear to blue thunder, a tent city. once here we ate MRE's then got briefed on the basics of operating our fake M4's.

That was about it. the day ended at about 8:00... lots of free time.

Tuesday:

Woke up at 0600 this morning to the sound of reveille... still makes my heart skip a beat and my adrenaline rockets. Still makes me jump straight up... it was what woke me up every day of Field training a full 2 years ago now. after breakfast (grits and sausage...) we geared up and headed down for a full day of instruction on Integrated Base Defense. Much of the course was taught by Technical Sergeant Kearney. Someone with considerable experience as a deployed security forces NCO. Significantly, this is the first time the Air Force has allowed enlisted personnel to "officially" instruct even the most junior officers. It's about time. The NCO's we encountered during the past week were experts in their fields, and had several expeditionary deployments under their belts. They are pro's and expert's. In the Marine Corps, all new Lt's go to a 6 month training course called the basic course where a squad of new Lt's is run/mentored/molded by a senior NCO. I think they're doing it right. Anyway, TSgt Kearney, SSgt Torres and TSgt Hobbes gave us a full day of instruction on Integrated Base Defense including handling personnel, searching, vehicle searching, entry control points etc... We were dont be 4:30 with no where to go... boredom set in by 6:00 after a shower and dinner. to escape boredom, we threw pebbles at small metal signs that marked the tents, or we played poker and used rocks and chips. I often read, but burned through my 1 book by the second day.

Wednesday

Today we had CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological and Nuclear) training. though it sounds foreboding, or intense, it turned into one of our easier days. we bussed to a building back on the main base. the building must have been air conditioned to at least 75 degrees, which felt heavenly. Like sticking your head into the freezer when its 110 outside. we got to take off our kevlar, and even our outer camouflage jackets.

We were in this room from 8:00 to about 1:00... lots of power point. we got briefed on chem, bio, nerve agents, radiation, MOPP levels, fallout, contamination, decontamination, detection, gas masks, IED's, UXO's etc...

After breaking for an MRE lunch we were bussed to a lonely little building out in a field. Yup, a gas chamber. So we got into groups and entered the chamber, where we did jumping jacks to accelerate our heart rate and breathing. Then, we removed our masks and enjoyed the full spectrum of sensations that C.S. gas gives... a little burning, little watering of the eyes... it fades quickly as long as you don't rub it and don't put water on it.

After that we had another lesson back at blue thunder on troop leading. Again we were done by 4:30 and we were left to twittle our thumbs for 4 or 5 hours.


Thursday:

Thursday we were instructed on small unit tactics and land navigation. Again, taught by TSgt Jones, an expert and a pro. He has experience from several deployments, including deploying on a JET tasking (see: ILO duty) with the Army Rangers as an augmentee. (He wouldn't tell us that, he's modest and shy, he also wouldn't tell us that he turned down a purple heart that he had earned, but word gets around). This was definitely our dirtiest day. it poured. it thundered. Then, we walked around in it. Then we rolled around in it. We low crawled through the mud that used to be sand. We lay prone in the swampy grassy fields setting up fields of fire. I found an angry ant pile and decided that was where I wanted to lay... only a few bites. Once we were thoroughly wet and dirty, we walked around doing land navigation. It was a good day, and I took more than my fair share of the hot water that night.

Friday:

Self-aid and buddy care. Combat medicine, battlefield care, whatever you want to call it. Again, taught by TSgt Linde and SSgt Nored, both with several deployments as field medics. This was by far the best class I had ever had on this subject, though I had similar classes twice before. They covered a lot:
burns, arterial bleeding, interior/exterior fractures, eviscerated abdomens, facial trauma, head trauma, neck/back injury, chest wounds, sucking chest wounds, breathing, dragging, supporting the head, carrying, splinting, medicating, feeding, tourniquets.... then we did it. we broke out the supplies and bandaged eachother up like mummies. We provided care to simulated injuries under "simulated stress" and carried our patients back to safety. It was a good class.

Once done, we cleaned up our tents/camp and headed home... still in the rain. we turned in our M4's and kevlar and walked back to the dorms where I immediately started laundry to rid myself of my stink and took a shower. I don't remember what time I fell asleep, but without fail my body woke itself up at 0600... because thats what ive been doing for a week now.

Anyway, that was my week. Not sure what im doing this weekend.