Been here at CAST training since Monday night. Lots of great information given here. I have marksmanship tomorrow…pretty excited about that.
Tuesday and Wednesday were just general knowledge/team building information. I have a great team here and we have done really well together. I think the training that we have received will come in very handy some day. I have really enjoyed getting to know a lot of the people who I will be deploying with. The course does a lot to get you to know everyone in your squad/flight better on a personal level.
Thursdays Urban Ops training was one of the most fun things that I have done in a long time. Definitely one of the most fun and intense I have had in the military. We learned how to work as a four man squad. Then how multiple squads work together as a unit in an urban combat situation. The part of the instruction where we move through the streets and come under fire helped me realize how crazy things can get when you recieve enemy contact. I have a lot greater appreciation for the Army and Marines that do that as their job. We trained on clearing rooms/buildings. They constantly train that speed and surprise are your best tactics in that environment. Its crazy to kick in a door not knowing what could be in the room you are entering.
Our instructor was a former Marine Force Recon Sgt. and Blackwater CQC (Close Quarter Combat) trainer. He received two Purple Hearts in 4 days in Fallujah, Iraq. One was given to him after receiving a gunshot wound while trying to retrieve his best friends body after he was killed clearing around a corner. He was shot by a 13-year-old Iraqi boy with an AK-47. His friend hesitated to engage for just a few seconds and lost his life because he wasn’t mentally prepared. He was a very intense instructor and I hope that his training will help me to make quick decisions if needed. He asked us the question “How long will you have to regret the decisions you make on the battlefield?”…the answer was”Hopefully the rest of your life”.
I pray that I am never put into a situation where I would need to make a decision like that. But hope that with good training I will be more mentally prepared to make quick decisions.
Have you rec’t the Chickfilet’s yet? I ran over them and put them in a UPS overnight envelope (3) They should still be warm?
Hey mat miss you man. Good to here from you on your blog, I will be keeping up with it. It’s interesting read. Ps about the chick fil a you will just have to think it’s sunday every day of a week. Take care man .