FOB Patriot

Welcome to FOB Patriot in sunny, hot and humid Braggistan. This is where we live when we are not out training. Luckily, we are fighting for God, country and family because if we had to fight for the "FOB" everyone would let the Taliban have it. It guess it is a sick irony that we actually do fight for the FOB everyday in training. Most of the action is centered around the now notorious ECP (Entry control point)2. ECP 2 witnesses VBIED (Vehicle Borne Improvised Explosive Devices), regular IED, AK-47 toting insurgents, and curious COBs.

ECP2 from the interior. Notice clearing barrels on the left.
In the Army we try to be efficient as possible. Here is our combination smoking area/motor pool. So if you are not rotting out your lungs with cigarettes you can rot them out with diesel exhaust. The guy bending over is a squad leader in 1st Platoon. Second from the left is the PSG (Platoon Sergeant) from 1st PLT. We are not sure if he is flashing "peace" or "victory." Third from the left is DOC Pirate, king of the smoking area.We have access to internet in the combo internet cafe/language center. However, I have seen pond water move faster then the FOB internet.

We also have access to wireless internet, here is Crazy Horse and the 1st Platoon PL in the C2 internet cafe at the entrance of the command tent pirating signals. Oh yeah, if you do not have Sprint for your cell you will not have coverage. And that coverage is spotty at best. Just look on the ground for spray paint dots which mark the spots you will get coverage. The paint spots are accurate to the inch every way. Here is the combo steam bath/latrine. If you need to spend more than 5 minutes in here and after days of eating MREs you will, there is a good chance you will be a heat casualty. The medics loiter around the latrines like lawyers at a dangerous intersection, except in this case they are looking to practice their IV techniques.
This is the entrance to the chow hall. Chow, thankfully is provided for by contractors. The soldier on the right is washing his hands with the non-potable water source which usually smells like sewer water. If you plan on eating at the FOB bring hand sanitizer.
This is the dining hall, wait I stand corrected, the dining tent. And yes, in the spirit of theater immersion we stand when we eat. Now I have been overseas as many of us have, and no where did we stand to eat. But I digress.
This is the IED education lane that everybody has to go through when you go to chow. The lane is totally up to date and has examples of the newest in bad guy IED technology. As you can see the army takes this training very serious.
My Mom told me never to go into combat with dirty underwear so I do not wear any. But for those few infantry soldiers that do, here are the laundry facilities.
Believe it or not here is the PX, if the trailer does not have it, well then you did not need it.
This innocous object is the FOB Patriot post office. As the sign implies, it is NOT a drive through facility.
For any aches and pains, you can visit the aid station, it is the newest trend in full spectrum medical care.
Here is the high speed shower facility. The tent on the left is the sink area where we shave and brush our teeth with non-potable water. The showers are pull string operated and do not expect hot water, can I say theater immersion?
Here are the notional bunkers for indirect fire. They are near the living tents, the white thing is the air conditioner/heater for each tent.
This is a shot of the interior of one of the tents, 16 joes to a tent. If you were shy going in, you will not be coming out.
Set against the backdrop of a beautiful Braggistan sunset is the dreaded SPEAKERS. Five times a day regardless of your religous affiliation, you can listen to Muslim prayers. The SPEAKERS are strategically placed next to the living areas so that you can listen to every last note, do I need to say it again? THEATER IMMERSION!
This is one of the towers that run along the FOB perimeter near the berm (look left). They are good for picking off bad guys. Notice the steambath/latrine combo.
If there is a brain center for the FOB this is it, the CP. This is where Crazy Horse (the CO) and I live. No air conditioner or heater, HOOOAAHHH!!!!!

An interior shot of the brain trust and the equipment grenade that apparantly went off in the CP. Here is "Raging Bull" and SSG S the PL (Platoon Leader) and PSG for 3rd Platoon imparting wisdom on the CP while in full battle rattle.

Life on the FOB is down right interesting if not sucky. There is some evil Army shrink somewhere that believes everything is on track according to his evil plans. The Army makes FOB life in the states horrible so that we want to deploy overseas, and deploy with a foul attitude. Until next time, see YA.

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.

9-11

Six years ago A 2-108 Infantry was A 1-108 Infantry. In August of 2001, the company went to JRTC in Fort Polk, Louisiana. We spent 2 years getting ready for what was one of the biggest events in recent NYARNG history. We were promised that things would quiet down a little bit upon returning home. Our Company was supposed to transition over to be a anti-tank company in the coming year. On 8 September, we had our Company party at Conesus Lake. A few days later on 11 September 2001, our lives were collectively changed forever. Few were affected as much as the members of the New York Army National Guard. I strolled into work that morning to a ringing phone which turned out to be my mother. She told me to turn on the T.V., which I did about two minutes before the 2nd plane hit. The next phone call was the First Sergeant. Our unit spent two days in the armory waiting to be sent to New York City, but we were sent home. About two weeks later, our call came. Since then, members of A Company have deployed all over the world to secure our country and fight the War on Terror. Here is a list of the deployments we have participated in.

Operation Noble Eagle I and II
John F. Kennedy Airport 2001-2003
LaGuardia Airport 2001-2003
Nine Mile Point Nuclear Power Plant 2001-current
Ginna Nuclear Power Plant 2001-current
Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant 2001-current
Bridges and Tunnels, New York City 2003
United States Air Force Security Mission 2003-2005
Subway and Train Stations, New York City 2001-2003

Republican National Convention, New York City and Long Island Train Yards 2004

Response to the London Bombings, New York City and Long Island Train Yards, Ferries, Train and Subway Stations 2005

Operation Jump Start, Arizona Border 2006-2007

Members of Company A have also served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

Which brings us to our next mission, Operation Enduring Freedom, Afghanistan for a 1 year deployment. The Roughnecks roll out at the end of September 2007. Stay tuned on the blog, I will do my best to keep it up to date with photos and comments.

Annual Training 2007

The Roughnecks conducted an intensive 3 week AT this year in preparation for future operations. We blew stuff up, shot things and learned how to save our buddies in sunny Fort Drum. We even had briefings that tried the senses, "Death by power point." On the last night at Ft. Drum the CO and the 1SG were unknowingly enlisted to participate in interrogation techniques. Dr. Strangelove led the training...

Rollover drills during driver training



Claymore, claymore, claymore

BOOYAH!

Frag out!!! (Click on photo)

"You throw like a girl."

Bustin' caps with the "nine"

Impromptu call for fire class in the latrine.
Looks like Sgt. M has a good fire mission in the stall.
SPLASH OVER...SPLASH OUT

SFC. A getting ready to stick his buddy.

The CO after the 1SG got done with him in CLS.

The 1SG after the CO returned the favor at CLS.
Who do you want sticking you?

Lt. C, 1SG, SSG. W and the CO after Land Nav.

Reflex fire

The CO (Crazy Horse) having a "Good Army" day at the range.

The FRG showed up in force at both armories
and greeted the troops home with food and drink.

Fort Drum May 07

We went to good ole Ft. Drum where we attempted
with various degrees of success to qualify with our
weapons.

SPC. E is a little ecstatic after a long day on the
range qualifying.

The CO is multi-tasking on the cell phone while
zeroing his weapon.

Conky, our friend from Canada making sight adjustments
on his M4.

Off duty range guards practicing their hooch making techniques.

Birds eye view of the qualification range.

Well boys, after much debate, internet research
and interrogating at least one naturalist, the range
mystery bird is...a raven not a crow. If I am not
mistaken SGT. P. owes SGT. M. a case of beer. I
of course will collect my 10% negotiating fee.