Army Update

[Major Matt Lewis]

Well,

It's been a while.  I reported to Fort Sill on May 9th for Basic Officer Leadership Course II (BOLC 2).  This course, is from my understanding the Army's version of Marine TBS.  It is basically 7 weeks of Infantry training.  It is something that every officer should have a grasp on in todays assemetrical battle space.  I have had my ups and downs here.  This course was designed to take a 22 year old West Point Graduate to task, physically and mentally, say nothing to somebody who has been out of the service for 16 years and is a bit long in the tooth.  One of the downs are actually funny, in retrospect. 

We had a land navigation course that was to be completed in both night and day.  The course ran about 6400 meters over some VERY rough terrain.  I was 1500 meters into my first point and took off my patrol cap to wipe my brow....and realized both of my hands were free!!!!  Very bad as I was supposed to be carrying my map and grade sheet on a clip board.  So there in the dark wilderness of Ft. Sill, I tried, unsuccessfully to look for my map and sheet.....Nothing....I was a No Go.  I had bought a Mapcase to wear around my neck for the next attempt and got it no problem, even had almost an hour to spare....

I had to qualify with the M4 Carbine with the CCO Holodot Scope.  Now that was VERY cool, until when I was trying to qualify and my helmet kept falling over my right eye   I only shot Marksman.....

I scored well in all of my leadership posts.  Last week was hell week.  We were at the FOB conducting 24 hour combat operations and averaged 40 minutes of sleep a day.  That was really not to bad.  I guess being older and wiser helped me deal with the stress.  We had a 10 mile ruck march on the way back.  I was deamed a heat casualty at mile 8.  I was VERY upset that the cadre did not let me finish the march.  It did take 4 of them to stop me though.  They told me after, that they thought I could finish, but they were not prepaired to take the medical risk.  I took 4 bags of IV fluid.  I don't care what anybody says, I could have finished....So, I will be doing it again on Thursday. 

PT has been alright.  I do have my challenges keeping up with the 22 year old OCS and ROTC kids and the humidity hear in Oklahoma is a bear.  I added a full minute to my time from when I was training in Kansas to come here.  Took me a couple of weeks to aclimatize.  Friday I leave here and go to Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri for Military Police Branch Training.  I will be there until Septermber 18th. 

A note on the Cadre Staff here.  They are Awesome, plain and simple.  They push us hard and give us excellent knowledge.  Luckily for us, we got the Company and Platoon that everyone said "Don't Get Bravo 5th Platoon."  The one thing that I have had to adjust too, is that the Marines wanted what seems to be more violent action than the Army does when it comes to urban operations.  So, they don't want us to lead off with grenades and hosing down rooms.  That's different than what I remember, but maybe the Marines have become more politically correct too.

Anyway, that's about it...Got another 4 or 5 days here at beautiful Ft. Sill and then we wrap up here.

[Dalton Masterson]

Watch out for a Lt. Peeler at Leonard Wood in the next few months. Thats my brother in law, and he just graduated OCS. He heads back to Benning for a brief time, then on to Missouri for a bit. I think his duty station will be Ft. Sill.

Glad you are making it thru alright Major Matt! Show them young ones how to do it!
DM

[Frenchie]

So, they don't want us to lead off with grenades and hosing down rooms.  That's different than what I remember, but maybe the Marines have become more politically correct too.

When the Marines become politically correct, the End Days will have arrived at last. 

Glad to hear you're doing so well, Richard. Stay healthy and keep in touch.

[Silver Creek Slim]

Good ta hear from ya, Major Matt.
My dad spent 2 weeks per summer for 6 six years at Ft. Sill. He didn't enjoy the chiggers.

Slim

[Texas Lawdog]

I can vouch for those chiggers. Fort Sill was where I got introduced to chiggers. Summertime at "Camp Eagle" at Fort Sill!

[Dr. Bob]

Howdy Maj. Matt,

Glad to hear that you are doing well in your training!  Keep up the great attitude and work.

Ft. L. Wood will be a lot like Ft. Sill.  The Army puts it;s bases where nobody else wants the land!   I spent quite a bit of time on the KD range at FLW when I was young [NO, after the dinosaurs! ] and into competitive rifle shooting.  One spring match it was raining and the sand was blowing in my face at the same time.  That was just after we had snow flakes so big that you couldn't see the targets at 200 yards.   I'll bet that y'all will be wanting some of those snow flakes in July!!

Be careful out there!

[Pony Racer]

Major Matt, keep it up buddy!!

Sounds like you are doing just fine with them youngsters.

I have been thinking about my age too recently - remember being a young 20 something Ensign and looking at the CDR/O-5 level Commanding Officers and thinking - man they are old!!

Watch that heat, drink lots of fluids.

I hear you on the ruck March - I refused to be pulled out of the pool when we did an endurance swim while I was in training.  I had helped about 4-5 shipmates pass and was staying in water to help others when the cadre told me for last time to get out and two safety swimmers promptly escorted me out of the pool.

Stay Safe, and get some rest!!

PR

[Pitspitr]

Keep after it old man, but take care of yourself too.  Glad to hear it's going well for you!

Though our situations are different, I can relate to what you're saying about keeping up with the young guys. Everytime my college athlete son comes home and we work together, he's just a little harder to stay ahead of. If we were to run there's no way I could keep up, but he still can't lift what I can