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Old 10-27-2010, 12:17 PM
dragoon500ly dragoon500ly is offline
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: East Tennessee, USA
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rcaf_777 View Post
I don't understand, I am a Boy Scout Leader and I teach my Scouts map and compass and all my Scout can get us from point A to B and find their spot on the map, and give me the grid. One of the gun-ho boys ask if I could show them how to call in Artillery, which I declined
Think of it this way...you are a green 2nd Lieutenant, riding a tank for your first field exercise. Now tank rides have to be experienced to be believed, they pitch and roll worse than any navy ship, (you have no seat belts and you might have a hand hold), you are wearing a poorly fitted CVC (crew communications helmet) trying to monitor the platoon and company freqs and direct your driver (gee isn't it strange how the command tank always has a new driver?), not to mention the stink and heat of the exhaust washing over you whenever you least expect it. You are trying to fold, unfold, refold your map case, trying to watch for landmarks. All too many times I have witnessed green lieutenants trying to use a compass while sitting on top of a tank (didn't learn about compasses and large masses of metal at West Point,
did we?).

And for added entertainment, your tank platoon is fresh off of gunnery, and the stink of ammonia-based propellent is lingering, and since its day 4 of the FX...the chance to bath, has not been recent...breakfast was an MRE and the lethal combination of BO, diesel exhaust, ammonia, poor food and the rough ride leaves you about to toss your cookies! Nothing gets the ole platoon going like watching the new lieutenant puking his guts out over the side of the ole turret!!!

And sitting right next to you, in his loader's hatch is your evil loader (satanic bastard!) With a mouth full of ole Redman and a plastic bottle that he is spitting in...strapped right there where you can watch it out of the corner of your eye, where you can enjoy the pleasure of watching his "residue", splash around the inside....

Sucks to be a green 2nd Lieutenant...
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