This is me advising the Australian detachment's commanding
officer on his unit's disposition
during the last battle between the OPFOR and our forces. My
battalion communications chief
and my commanding officer asked me to assist the 6th battalion (mech) from Brisbane,
Australia
during the
JRTC rotation with communication advice. I showed their signalman, Corporal
Powell
(the one in the center of the photograph) how to set up, operate and troubleshoot our
SINCGARS
radios and explained the process and limitations to the unit's Sargent Major. They're good
mates.
They will deploy on peacekeeping operations in East Timor during summer of 2001.
(The previous year in Hawaii their radio call
sign
was wombat, this time it was kangaroo, which sounded to wimpy for them, so it was switched
to croc.)
You can see the 'lazer tag' equipment on our helmets and bodies. Our mortar guys
stripped down
to their underwear, until the senior observer complained because their
O/C said as long
as
they had their harnesses on he didn't care.
Me hanging out with the OPFOR (1 battalion of the
509th airborne infantry)
at Fort
Polk, Lousiana during preparations for a parachute jump
(you can see the T-10 parachute harness on the ground to the left) As you can see I'd lost
alot of weight by the time it was all over. Granted it's not Ranger school
but between the heat,
missed meals and humping you're going
to lose some body size. I lost about 15lbs,
other guys claimed to have lost 20.