Deployment

Well folks, we deployed on 30 September to Ft. Bragg in order to conduct training for our impending trip to Afghanistan. We had our farewell ceremony at the armory, which was well attended by family members and friends. Congressmen Reynolds and Kuhls attended and spoke as well. Our journey was a little late in departing because one of the buses broke down on the way to Geneseo. This afforded us all a little more time with our families. We travelled to Ft. Drum and left early Sunday morning for what is called "BRAGGISTAN" (Fort Bragg). The company boarded aircraft and travelled to "Braggistan" where it is hot, humid and sticky.

On the pad at Ft. Drum loading the aircraft.

Our Division Commander, Division Command Sergeant Major, Brigade Commander, Brigade CSM, and our Battalion Commander and Battalion CSM all showed up to see us off and give us words of encouragment.

Once we arrived in Braggistan, one week was spent in the barracks conducting briefings, medical screening and of course shots. We were then trucked out to Forward Operating Base (FOB) Patriot for "immersion training." Immersion training is like language immersion except on steroids and heavily armed. For the next few months the Roughnecks will be living in a FOB that is supposed to replicate life in Afghanistan. We will encounter the enemy as well as local nationals. The FOB is periodically attacked by the enemy which keeps us on our toes. In addition to the FOB we are conducting Improvised Explosive Device (IED) training, weapons qualification and even language training.

1st Squad, 2nd Platoon conducting react to fire drills on one of the training lanes. The bad guys even carry AK-47's which truly do "make a distinctive sound when fired at you."

The boys on the M-4 zero range. We zeroed both iron sights and optics.

These are some bad guys we encountered on the lane. The guy up front fired at us with his AK, but pay attention to the "COBS" (civilians on the battlefield) in the back ground. Leaders are faced with difficult shoot, don't shoot scenarios.

As everyone knows the primary means of transportation for a light fighter is the good ole LPC or the leather personnel carrier (Boots). But, we have also been issued VISMOD HMMVs. These HMMVs are made to look like their up armored brethern overseas. The damn thing sure is ugly, but it beats walking.
Ft. Bragg is the home of the 82nd Airborne, here are some guys who jumped out of a perfectly good CH-47 helicopter. HOOAH

I update this puppy, so here I am. So that all of the family and friends can see for themselves that we have all of the protective equipment here is me in full battle rattle. Body armor, side plates, shoulder plates, knee and elbow pads, and ballistic eye protection. By the way, the weather was really hot this day and yes the stuff is HEAVY.