EOBC -- A couple of stories
Howdy from Fort Lost-in-the-Woods, Missouri!
Well, week four was pretty interesting. We took the 75 question
exam on CSS (remember beans & bullets), maintenance, and
supply. This time I dropped TWO questions -- both concerning
supply. Sadly, I originally had them both marked correctly.
But after I asked the proctor for clarification, I changed them.
One of the questions read like this:
A Hand Receipt (DA form 2062) is required
a) When issuing expendable items
b) For issue of non-expendable or durable items
c) When issuing items with a CIIC code of "X"
d) For issue of weapons or protective masks
The credited answer is b. Which I had originally marked.
But something bothered me about the answer. A temporary
hand receipt (DA form 3161) may be used to issue non-expendable
or durable items for a period of less that 30 days. Asking
for clarification on the question, I asked, "The way I read
this question is that NO OTHER FORM except DA form 2062 may
be used in the scenarios below?" "Yes, that is correct." I
was told. So I figured that, clearly, since I knew an exception
to that case for answer b. It could not be a correct answer.
That will be the LAST time that I ask for clarification of
a question on an Army exam. When I explained my case at the
test review, I was told that I was "Reading too much into the
question." Obviously so. I wasn't going to press the issue
too much since I scored pretty well -- and one person in the
class failed the exam (got less than 70%). Nobody got 100%
and two people only missed 1 question. So I am tied for 2nd
in the class rankings. Still hanging in there!
"The smoking hot lieutenant"
You know when I said that I had made my last mistake at EOBC.
Yup, you guessed it. I made another one.... but luckily, I
didn't get caught. Here's the story: This particular morning
we had a briefing by the battalion commander early in the
morning so we didn't do Physical Training (PT -- this is
what wakes me up in the morning and gets my brain going.)
At the end of the brief there was some time before our next
formation, so I came back to my room to add on a layer because
it was pretty cold (starting to snow) and we were going to be
outdoors for a portion of the day.
Well, I take off my BDU (camouflage) shirt and put on the
sweater. Then I notice that I have time to make a little
coffee and check my email. The next thing you know it's time
to go so I grab my Gore-Tex (TM) jacket and head out of the door.
So, outside in formation I am looking all hunky-dory not
realizing that I have forgotten to put on my BDU shirt (the
part of the uniform that has your name and rank on it.) Nobody
can tell because it is completely covered up by my jacket.
As soon as we get inside and everyone is taking off their
jackets I have a horrible realization.
... I cannot take off my jacket.
Maybe nobody will notice. "Are you cold? It's warm in here --
maybe you are coming down with something?"
"Uh, yah, I'm a little chilly" I say with sweat running off
my forehead. I really felt like a doof.
Luckily, a buddy who had to go back to the barracks during
the day saved me. I gave him my room key and he picked up
my BDU top. I owe him a big favor now.
This letter is getting long, but I want to tell one more story
before I wrap up.
"Cattle Car Fiasco (MICLIC Live Fire)"
The cadre had told us all week that we were in for a special
treat. We were going to watch a MICLIC do a live fire exercise.
For those that don't know, the MICLIC is a piece of equipment
that is used to clear a path through a minefield. What it does,
is shoots a couple of rockets across the mine field. Attached
to these rockets is a string with C4 explosives all along.
Then, the C4 is detonated to clear out a path. So you can see
why we were all very excited.
We are told to pack a lunch because we will have to go on our
lunch break. So we all pack a lunch and when the time comes
we are all crammed into a cattle car, No kidding a real cattle
car, and are hauled out to the live-fire range. After 20
minutes of being jostled around like a Lotto number ball by an
old New York City cab driver turned beef hauler, we find that
we were two hours too late. Apparently, "Soldier" magazine
showed up early and wanted to take photos right away.
So without exiting the cattle car, we did an about-face and
headed back.
Although disappointing, nobody seemed to be too bothered.
The Army trains you well to "Hurry up and wait."
So Friday morning rolls around and everyone is excited about
having a couple days off. Well, the cadre know this, and
take the opportunity to give you something to remember them
by over the weekend..... Friday PT. I was still sore on
Monday.
Our company commander put us into teams and had us doing
sprint relays. We simulated carrying weapons by carrying
those large orange traffic cones. First 25m, then 50m,
then 100m, then 400m. I almost puked twice. And of course,
in between we are doing push-ups and sit-ups.
By the way, if you are receiving this, and wish to be taken
off of the distribution list. Please send an email to
[email protected] with the subject line "Take me off of
your friggin email list!" - I be sad if I get one.
Well, I had better close. I will leave you with a few
quotes (some taken out of context) from my instructors.
Patriotically yours,
LT Nick Kliewer
"Most of the time you are going to have what you have
on-hand." CW2 Mannin on Maintenance
"It is possible to know too much about your subject."
Mr. McFarland on Briefing to Inform
"Don't let your soldiers do dumb things that are going
to kill them. ... You are going to need them to accomplish
your mission." MAJ Gadson on NBC Warfare
"Many times, as a Lieutenant, in METT-T, the enemy is
knowledge." CPT Read on Terrain Analysis.