Posted on 02/29/2016 7:47:18 PM PST by pboyington
During a training exercise at Fort Bliss, I made a mistake on the location of "Franklin's nose." Damn that was embarrassing.
I was great with land navigation in Germany. So many landmarks to get one reoriented. When all else failed, I simply headed for the Mosel River and a bottle of wine...lol.
My last 18 months, I was Battalion S-4, and I knew our area of operations like the back of my hand, even though it was at least 1200 square miles (air base defense, 3 air bases, Bitburg, Hahn, Spangdahlem). As I was a bachelor, I spent what little free time I had driving around. Came in handy during ARTEPs, the evaluators knew I was an expert on the best gasthauses, backereis, and vineyards. We didn't stop at the wineries, I just gave them name and location.
Over my last 18 months, every Hail & Farewell was within a 10 minute drive of my apartment. No surprise, there...there were dozens of restaurants with a view of the Mosel, very few that were stationed at Hahn & Spangdahlem knew about these places, while I drove by them on my way to and from work every day.
My last ARTEP was hilarious. The "old man" demanded imagination, and I gave it to him. I used my knowledge of logistics and the local area to put together alternate "supply points" for all of our units. As I was giving my briefing, the chief evaluator, an LTC, is getting very agitated...my battalion commander was laughing his a$$ off, he thought it was great.
When asked by the evaluator, "where the hell did you get this $hit?", I simply replied that, in the event of an actual conflict, we would have to be imaginative and flexible regarding resupply. I explained to him that over the course of my four years in the battalion, I had developed relationships with dozens of local merchants, to the point where I had been invited to sit at the stammtisch of my neighborhood gasthaus.
The LTC said "bull$shit", I've never heard of an American being allowed at a stammtisch, whereupon the Headquarters Battery Commander, said "Colonel, that's true, I've seen it." When he joined me, we spoke nothing but German. He was fluent, and I was conversational. He fell in love with a German girl shortly upon arriving (they're still married, 35 years later), while I was the character from Warren Zevon's song, Lawyers, Guns, & Money).
Game...set...match. Shortly after, a couple of the supply evaluators and I went to an "alternate supply point" for dinner. lol
I'd like to think I did my share to help turn that battalion from a C-3 to a C-1. Nothing but fond memories from that time in Germany, even for the bad times. I may not die a rich man, but I was blessed to have had the experiences I had during that tour. I could bore people for hours with my stories, and have done so...lol.
“will end this foolishness”
Nope- they are currently:
1. going to have women on submarine patrol
2. ALL- YES all special forces groups-(seals,recon,parajumper) HAVE to integrate Women
3. Must integrate - transgender,homosexuals and lesbians
into ALL units.
4. one thing this congress will not allow..??
A CHRISTIAN CHAPLAIN
This has ALREADY been signed off by the Demonrats and GOPe
ah, i’m just being pragmatic at this point. I went through my stages of grief over Cruz
the guy is gonna be the nominee and I will vote for him in November and hope for the best.
the polls have been accurate to within 6 points and he’s up by a lot more than 6 points
I heard women got showers every three days.
Garryowen!
On an unrelated note, I take it you're a 7th Cav type? Outstanding...I was 1/7 in 91-93. Thank you for your service.
Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!
4-7 CAV, 1989-1991 Desert Storm and Germany and then we became 1-1 CAV.
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