Saturday 0624 hrs
Just got in from our first real ruck march: An 8K with full ruck sacks. We were up this morning by 310, and by 0400 the entire company was formed up out front, ready to roll. Minutes later we split, marching our way in the cool Georgia pre-dawn black.
There is something peaceful, almost serene, about trudging down old tank trails with 160 other guys, moving in complete silence.
Then, (some hours later) Complete Chaos.
We went from the ruck march, straight to an FTX (field training exercise) that crushed our platoon. If sprinting around a half-mile track in 60lbs of full battle rattle (IBA, Kevlar & weapon) every twenty minutes & low crawling at least a mile through Georgia sand wasn’t enough, it came to light that some of my guys had been buying meds off of one of the vamps.
The vamps, or “vampires”, are the company dropouts, quitters, crazies and medical discharges who are waiting to be chaptered out of the Army.
While they wait, they live with the rest of the platoon’s, eating chow with us (though always last in line), cleaning our trash up, and bearing a seemingly endless supply of insults from the Drill Sergeants.
Some of them have medication. One, in particular, has been selling his meds to other soldiers, actually the trainers. Being that this is a federal facility, taking, buying or selling medication that is meant for someone else is a federal offense. I.e., jail time.
Sooo, some of our guys might be going away. Each time we get peeled back, though, 3rd Platoon comes back sronger, at least for awhile. Who knows what’ll happen tomorrow? Rumor is Wednesday we start Blue Phase...but...the rule is “never trust the grapevine, privates don’t know shit.”
We’ll see how this tuns out.
I’m gonna chance a nap.
Rock ‘n mischief
T.
No comments:
Post a Comment