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Army training, sir?!?

8/29/2011

5 Comments

 
Picture
Camp Guernesy, Wyoming where I spent 2 weeks for "Army" training.
CAST (Combat Airman Skills Training) or what I call Army training is an attempt for the Air Force to teach Airmen how to be a soldier.  Why? Because  this war is putting members of the Air Force into situations that are usually reserved for the Army and Marines.  Airmen are now expected to drive in convoys, carry weapons, and interact with the locals in ways that they never had to before hence the need for Army training.

CAST consisted of 10 training days that covered skills such as land navigation (how to read a map and work a compass); IED (improvised explosive device) training (how to ID and hopefully avoid setting off an IED while on foot); mounted operations (how to drive in a convoy including avoiding driving over IEDs, assisting passengers in IED damaged vehicles, and vacating vehicles); armored vehicle egress training (how to escape from a rolled over vehicle); urban operations (how to walk down the street in a village and survive); first-aid on the battlefield; how to fire our weapon (yes…I had to shoot a gun again!).

What did I learn at CAST? 
  1. Wearing a flack vest, wearing a helmet, carrying 100 ounces of water, carrying a brick (that’s Army talk for walkie-talkie), and carrying an M-16 rifle everywhere we went is tough. All together it probably weighs over 50 pounds!
  2. How to properly prepare and eat an MRE (Meal Ready to Eat). We ate these every day for lunch.
  3. When you’re hanging upside down in a rolled over vehicle and you unbuckle your seat belt, that heavy helmet really does protect your head when you land on it
  4. I don’t enjoy shooting guns…still.
  5. I have a whole new appreciation for what the Army does.
Peace out
Peace out!

With that said, the most important thing I took away from CAST is basically that I joined the Air Force so I didn’t have to learn, or for that matter do, any of this Army stuff!!! 
 
But all seriousness, CAST was a great crash course on skills that I hopefully will never have to put in practice, but if the situation arises I feel that I am prepared to do what I need to in order to survive and ensure others survive.


Picture
Ready to hit the road.
Picture
Helping transfer a "dead" body from one Humvee to the other. [That's me on the right]
Picture
Typical lunch break. Eating an MRE.
5 Comments
Gary Turnipseed
9/9/2011 01:42:13 pm

i remember when I went to Army Airborne training at Ft Benning everyone called it an Air Force appreciation tour just like you did with your CAST training. Your MRE experience will come in handy on the Pacific Trail. Hopefully you won't have to use any other CAST skills when that time comes.

Did you reach your daily beer limit in K-Stan? Did you exceed it???

Reply
Timmy
9/10/2011 12:50:57 am

Hi Geraldine. Don't forget to send your mailing address as soon as able. Any "gift" ideas yet? I hope these photos/descriptions won't make Hanna/Troy/Zoe want to join the Army.

Reply
Terry
9/11/2011 04:48:19 am

You'll be starting that count down clock before you know it! Between finding out you're going and actually going probably went too fast. This part will go fast too! Your BLOG is fantastic and great pictures. I hope you get to ride in one of "my" MRAPs. Remember, when given a choice to ride a HUMVEE or waitin' for an MRAP to arrive--go with the MRAP everytime!!! The only other advice I can give is know where the back door escape is wherever you go! Good Luck! You'll be fine! Love, Terry

Reply
Cathy
9/12/2011 11:52:25 am

Waiting to hear that you have moved into your new home away from home. We are getting ready to send your first care package so let us know what your address is and if there is any special request from you or your people.

Reply
layla
9/16/2011 02:07:00 am

Missing you. Good luck. Keep in touch

Reply



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    Gerri

    I'm a Major in the Air Force with 18 years of active duty service. I found out that I will be deploying to Afghanistan for 1 year starting Sept 11.

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