No 'rude awakening' this time (Stryker Brigade)

The News-Tribune ^ | 8 MAY 06 | Michael Gilbert

[I got the rope]

Awesome post...BTTT.

[Future Snake Eater]

Sorry. TTP is tactic, technique, procedure.

I don't know enough about whether it works just to shoot an IED. I do know there are plenty of other methods of controlling IED detonations that the terrorists don't know about--and they're VERY effective.

[Future Snake Eater]

Thanks. My Soldiers are well-prepared, and my NCOs are absolutely top notch. I'm very confident in this upcoming deployment.

[Chgogal]

Good luck FSE, you, your family and your fellow soldiers will be in our thoughts and prayers.

[GSlob]

"I don't know enough about whether it works just to shoot an IED."
Depends. From my ages ago training in explosives, if one can shoot through a detonator, then yes, even a regular rifle bullet would work. But the probability of hitting the sensitive detonator [especially if the IED is hidden] is zilch. Thus, [just as for an aviation bomb], one is more likely to hit the body of relatively insensitive high explosive. To cause reliable detonation in such a case one needs either a hypervelocity projectile [not available] or a projectile which is itself explosive and would serve as a detonator, i.e. high explosive round- like decent-sized HEAP, if I remember the acronym. If IED is hidden in a pile of bricks, I'd go for 20mm HEAP, no less.

[FreedomPoster]

Ping.

[SLB]

I do know there are plenty of other methods of controlling IED detonations that the terrorists don't know about--and they're VERY effective.

They now know they exist. Careful what you say here, the walls have ears.

[R. Scott]

“I think my greatest fear with this force is that the bond that those guys have, the veterans, is nurtured, while not shutting out the new guys,” said Lt. Col. Barry Huggins, who commands one of 3rd Brigade’s three infantry battalions, the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment. “We’ve got to integrate them, make them part of the team.”

I wish him luck. The Cherry has always been left out by the veterans. I did it myself – and it wasn’t intentional.

[RightOnline]

Bump. Great article, son.

Give 'em Hell.

[Future Snake Eater]

I wish him luck. The Cherry has always been left out by the veterans. I did it myself – and it wasn’t intentional.

Well, the Patriot Battalion has done an exceptional job of integrating newbies like myself and brand new Soldiers out of basic. I said it in the article, and I'll say it here: I have been integrated very well into an experienced, been-there-done-that group of NCOs and officer leadership. I was most nervous around CPT Clemmer at first. I mean the guy's been a PL in Korea, and with the 3rd Ranger BN where, in Afghanistan, he made one of the few combat jumps in Army history! He is an absolutely amazing commander, and I couldn't have been put in a better position to be mentored and trained by him. He doesn't lord it over the PLs or the new Soldiers, but he uses his considerable experience to build us and show us how to "do it smart."

LTC Huggins has made such integration his mission since he took command. He told us from the get-go that we were going right back to Iraq and it was important to get everyone on an even keel as quickly as possible. The training events he has put together for the platoons have been surprisingly realistic, and it can be easy to forget for a moment that it's just an exercise. This particular training event was completely battalion internal. It involved a day of support, a day at Leschi Town being evaluated, and a full day on a range (which was terrific--we got a lot of our own platoon training done that day). My NCOs got to run their guys through some great demolitions, short-range marksmanship, dynamic entry training, and M203 marksmanship. My squad leaders are excellent trainers, and I've learned a lot from them, and I've seen their Soldiers grow very quickly under their supervision. They're tough and demanding, and it pays tremendous dividends; I know I can count on every Soldier due to their diligent training.

Basically, my rant can be summed up by saying we're all ready to go, and even us FNGs can be confident that we can keep up with the vets.

[archy]

Save a lot of trouble: take no prisoners.

Then you get very little intelligence. And lose some excellent opportunities to make some examples, when it's worth the blood fued against Americans that will continue long after we leave Iraq.

[colorado tanker]

Good article. I'm still getting my brain around the 172nd deploying from Alaska to Mosul. Talk about a "rude awakening"!

[archy]

To cause reliable detonation in such a case one needs either a hypervelocity projectile [not available]

Yes it is. Works just fine in 7.62x51mm NATO and .50x99mm Browning-family weapons, other than those with a muzzle break, which unfortunately includes the M107 Barrett semiauto .50 AMR.

But for most explosive charges, the Mk211 Mod 0 .50 Raufoss ammunition will do just fine, and nicely detonates either high explosive or flammible targets, including JP4 and JP8 jet fuel. Shooting old Soviet TM46 and TM57 15-pound antitank mines at a couple of hundred meters with .50 Raufoss is great sport, and spectacular.

[archy]

I wish him luck. The Cherry has always been left out by the veterans. I did it myself – and it wasn’t intentional.

Yep. But it's also true that the old hand showing the rookie the way things are really done is a reality as old as warfare itself. All the prior to in-theater training is really just preparation for what will be learned on the job.

[archy]

I know you guys have seen this, but--

Shameless Self-Promotion Bump!

Nah, it ain't bragging if you're in it up to your neck. But I would offer you a couple of helpful suggestions, the first of which is to read this.

[archy]

My NCOs got to run their guys through some great demolitions, short-range marksmanship, dynamic entry training, and M203 marksmanship. My squad leaders are excellent trainers, and I've learned a lot from them, and I've seen their Soldiers grow very quickly under their supervision. They're tough and demanding, and it pays tremendous dividends; I know I can count on every Soldier due to their diligent training.

Learn those belt-feds. Practice barrel changes and stoppage immediate action drills until your hands hurt. And if you're not the one carrying the Pig, at least be real sure where it is, especially when you're dismounted *and don't need it this time out.*

[R. Scott]

LTC Huggins has made such integration his mission since he took command.

A very smart and aware leader to even recognize it as a potential problem.

[archy]

No 'rude awakening' this time (Stryker Brigade)

Hope not.

[R. Scott]

But it's also true that the old hand showing the rookie the way things are really done is a reality as old as warfare itself.

And hopefully the rookie will listen and heed. Most of the ones I encountered were straight out of school and thought they knew it all.

[91B]

You were in 30th Brigade in 1998?

I was in HHT 1/119th IN from April 1998-September 2001. Drilled in Washington, NC. I transferred to 2/278th ACR when they deployed to the desert in 2004 and did a year at FOB Bernstein in Tuz Khurmatu.

Where in NC are you from? I live in Morganton.