FEX 1 Done

• FEX I - A three day evolution that acts as an introduction into infantry squad level tactics. The first two days are blank fire against smaller sized opposing forces and the last day is the live fire attack with automated targets.
  • Day 1, 2 - Squad attacks and offensive maneuvers using blank ammunition with a new "squad leader" for each separate attack.
  • Day 3 - The students conduct a squad attack at a live fire range. There is a day attack and an illuminated night attack at the range. Artillery simulations are detonated on the range during the conduct of the attack to simulate explosions, artillery, and mortars.
  
  
  So the last week has been an exciting week of hiking through the woods and attacking fake enemies with fake bullets.  We spent the bulk of Monday and Tuesday receiving and order, conducting some enemy anaylsis, and issuing our own order to attack the enemy.  Each day we conducted 4 attacks, so you can conclude how much time it took to prepare for each attack.  Monday we spent the night in the woods, and Tuesday we stayed in the barracks.  Wednesday morning we took our combat lifesaving practical application test(I.E. we fixed combat casualties) I didn't do so well, and I think I will have to do it over again to show that I am not a complete idiot.  Wednesday night we moved out to range 5 and spent the night.  It was suppose to rain all night so I spent some time making a hasty shelter out of my poncho and 550 cord (really strong string) and the it decided NOT to rain.  At least all of my gear was spared the wet condition the dew provided.  Thursday was the day and night portion of range 5 and we spent the night again in the woods.  On Friday we packed up, cleaned the range, and headed back to the barracks for some classes and got off early.
  

I think this place just got a whole lot busier....

So alot has happened in the 10 days between my last post and now.  For some confirmation, last week I did fail my first written test, but was able to pass the retake on the 5th.  I also failed the initial Endurance Course on the 6th by 8 mins. (5 Mile through wood/hills with numerous obstacles along the way) Lucky I wasn't the only one whole failed.  On friday they gave us an order and we had to use the weekend to re-write it so that it would be pertinent to our subordinates. This was just our first of many practices on doing this. 

This past week has been fairly eventful as well.  On Monday we had our Squad Weapons FEX, where we went to the field to throw hand grenades, shoot grenade launchers, rocket launchers, and Machine guns.  This was the part of TBS I was looking forward to.  It was a hot and long day, but just the opportunity to shoot these weapons made it a great day.  On Tuesday, we had classes most of the day on Combat Life-Saving (First-Aid in extreme condition) and in the afternoon practices the techniques we where taught.  However, they need two volunteers for a demonstrations and I happened to be one of them.  This turned out to be the worst part of the week, because they decided to have me lay on the ground and act as a casualty as the other Marine had to apply a tourniquet.  They upped the ante by squirting fake blood on my lower body to simulate an artillery wound.  Amber was not very happen to have to wash that out of my cammies.  On Wednesday, we had our 2nd land nav practice, this time in an area about 6 square miles big.  We had 4 hours to find 6 boxes and had to get at least 4 boxes to pass.  I got 5 boxes, and ran out of time to look for the 6th box.  On Thursday, we had another operation order to write , and practiced delivering it in front of our peers in the morning.  This is really the meat and potatoes of TBS, as it show our tactical ability to execute an operation.  In the afternoon we had another written test, this time I did much better.  Next week we are going to the field all week to conduct squad assaults, so Friday I spent the entire day working on rosters of who would be carrying what weapon to the field.  It was a long day of EXCEL work, but at least I didn't have to perform rehearsals like the rest of the company.  And now I get to enjoy my weekend before we have a long week in the field where the projected weather forecast is rain every day. Did I mention that we don't use tents in the Marine Corps.

Easy Day....

Well, easy in relative terms for the Marine Corps.  The day started with a 3 hour break due to a dedication ceremony practice for a new barracks on base.  Some of our company is in the ceremony so training stopped until they were finished.Then we had about 4 hours of class on the 5 paragraph order (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_paragraph_order) and I accumulated about 8 pages of notes on the subject. Basically this is the format in which we write our operations plans and pretty much the rest of the time we are here, we will be refining our skills at writing these orders.  At around 1500,  we boarded buses and headed to the Marine Corps Memorial in Washington D.C. to watch the Marine Corps Band and Silent Drill team perform the sunset parade.  It is now 2140 and I am waiting to secure for the day, so I can go home a relax after a "LONG" days work....

Maybe I should use the Stars.....

Actually that won't work, because stars are visible at night.  Today was the first of four land navigation test.  We are given 5 points to find and were given 2.5 hours find them.  After plotting my points in the classroom and finguring out a plan of attack, I walked out to the land nav course.  My first point was on the side of a trail, so it was pretty easy to find.  From there I headed toward my second box, but when I got to where I thought it should be, there was no box in sight.  After looking for about 20 mins I headed back to the main road and restarted.  From that point on everything went pretty smooth and I left the course with a 100%.

However, the second part of the day was a written test on reading maps and communications equipment.  Let just say that I might have just failed my first test at TBS.  The map part was pretty easy, but I should have studied more for the Comm part.