"All kinds of craziness"--something one of my Sergeant Instructors liked to say when I was at Officer Candidate School, and something that certainly applied today. For the past three months, my platoon has been the only platoon in the company based out of Camp Leatherneck; the rest of the company has been based out of a FOB farther south of here. Recently, that changed.
Now, instead of just my platoon plus two additional Marines for company staff, we have most of the company staff, plus another platoon and a half up here, recently arrived by both plane and convoy. So we've essentially tripled the number of people working out of the same 32'x64' office--craziness!
It should be interesting. The company staff and one of the platoons is here to stay; the second platoon is here for a couple missions, and then will probably return to their base. But then they'll be back up for good at some point. Until now my platoon has had the whole building, now the Sergeant's couch they like to relax on is in my office, and the traffic in and out of my office is going to increase exponentially.
I received a question recently asking what sizes platoons and squads were, to better understand what I mean when I say that I only get to send a squad instead of the whole platoon on a mission. The best way to explain it is that the Marine Corps operates (for the most part) on the rule of threes: the optimal number of subordinate units to lead is three. Therefore, a fire team, the smallest maneuver unit, is three Marines plus a fire team leader, for a total of four Marines. Each squad has three fire teams in it, plus a squad leader, for a total of thirteen Marines.
A doctrinal platoon has three squads in it, for a total of thirty-nine Marines. Of course, then you start adding on your platoon staff--doctrinally, a platoon commander, platoon sergeant, and a platoon guide. Your platoon sergeant is your senior enlisted Marine, and handles the day-to-day details of what the platoon does. (Field day tonight, we need two Marines at so-and-so's office for a working party, first squad I need you guys doing X tomorrow, etc.)
Your platoon guide (I have two) is used differently based on what your platoon does. My guides are my construction foreman, responsible for the detailed planning of the missions--these are the construction materials we'll need, the tools we'll need, we're short X and I think we might be able to get it from these people... My last addition to my platoon is our corpsman, aka "doc". So my platoon has a total of 42 enlisted Marines, one sailor, and myself.
Now, in reality, even if I could take the "whole platoon" out on the mission I was talking about in my last post, it would not be the entire platoon. We have out here what we call "camp tax", which basically means that as soon as we got here, I gave up three (recently reduced to two) of my Marines to stand guard on base. I also gave up four Marines to support the company on the southern FOB, and then I have eight Marines that are on an additional security team. When they're not out, technically they belong to me, but I can't do much with them because I have to be ready to give them up at a moment's notice. (For a total of...fourteen Marines that I don't really control.)
So when I say "take the whole platoon out" I really mean only about two squads of Marines. It's a little frustrating to have my platoon reduced so sharply, but I know the guys I've given up for the security team enjoy getting off base, as do the Marines on the FOB down south.
In other notes: (1) I am again reminded of how important communication is. I just spent two days pretty upset over what turned out to be something I heard incorrectly. I'm very glad I finally went and talked to the person. And then: (2) I get to go out again on another recon, or "recce" (pronounced "wreckie"), as the British call it. But, I'll let you in on a little secret. Someone else is the mission commander, so all I have to do is show up and keep my eyes peeled. I don't even have to write the report afterwards. I'll help as much as I can, but...this one will be fun. End of little secret.
Thanks for the e-mails! I hope you are all doing well and look forward to seeing you when I get back.
28 August 2010
23 August 2010
Yes, it's that time again
The time where I load up blogger.com and cringe as I look at the dashboard--has it really been 20 days since I last posted? Yikes! I meant for this blog to be fun to read--frequently updated, interesting topics. Turns out building SWA Huts (SouthWest Asia, basically what we call the ubiquitous 16'x32' [or some multiple of those dimension] wood huts out here) is not all that interesting to write about. Actually, my platoon is almost finished building a 32'x96' SWA Hut, and they've knocked it out of the park.
Other than that, I did another reconnaissance. This one turned out to be more a circus than a reconnaissance--both the Navy's SeaBees and a Sergeant from the Army's Multi-Role Bridge Company came out on the recon, in addition to my Battalion Commander, Battalion Sergeant Major, and Company Commander. Let me just say--when they tell you you're the mission commander, and you're the lowest-ranking officer on the trip (we had an O-5, O-4, O-3, two O-2s, and myself, an O-1 for a few more months)...yeah, it gets a little frustrating.
We did get to hang out with the grunts for a couple of days. We had a squad attached to us that had been patrolling the area for the prior five weeks, and they knew the area quite well. They did an outstanding job holding security for us while we did our reconnaissance, as well as escorting us back and forth to our vehicles. At the third site, I was sitting on top of the ridge, when the Squad Leader excused himself to go bathe. I thought he was joking until I looked over the side of the ridge a few minutes later and saw his squad jumping into the river from the closest rock while a Major and a Navy Lieutenant (an O-3, the equivalent of a Captain in the Marine Corps) held security.
Coming up, I get to send another squad out to do another COP (Combat Outpost) build. These ones are fun--the Marines get off base for a little while, and they get to make life a lot nicer for some Marines that are living in run-down buildings. I wish I could take the whole platoon on this one, but we only get to send a squad.
We're halfway done! It's difficult to believe we're already at this point. Time flies, of course, except when it grinds to a halt. I look back at what I was doing a week and a half ago and am boggled that it's already been a week and a half. And then there are days that don't seem to end regardless of what you do. I'm finally starting to feel like a not-boot Lieutenant, with a tiny little bit of experience under my belt. Not a whole lot, but enough that I don't feel fresh out of school any more. As frustrating as the last recon was, I did learn quite a bit.
I apologize that I don't have a terribly interesting topic tonight. Those SWA Huts, I tell you...fascinating.
Other than that, I did another reconnaissance. This one turned out to be more a circus than a reconnaissance--both the Navy's SeaBees and a Sergeant from the Army's Multi-Role Bridge Company came out on the recon, in addition to my Battalion Commander, Battalion Sergeant Major, and Company Commander. Let me just say--when they tell you you're the mission commander, and you're the lowest-ranking officer on the trip (we had an O-5, O-4, O-3, two O-2s, and myself, an O-1 for a few more months)...yeah, it gets a little frustrating.We did get to hang out with the grunts for a couple of days. We had a squad attached to us that had been patrolling the area for the prior five weeks, and they knew the area quite well. They did an outstanding job holding security for us while we did our reconnaissance, as well as escorting us back and forth to our vehicles. At the third site, I was sitting on top of the ridge, when the Squad Leader excused himself to go bathe. I thought he was joking until I looked over the side of the ridge a few minutes later and saw his squad jumping into the river from the closest rock while a Major and a Navy Lieutenant (an O-3, the equivalent of a Captain in the Marine Corps) held security.
Coming up, I get to send another squad out to do another COP (Combat Outpost) build. These ones are fun--the Marines get off base for a little while, and they get to make life a lot nicer for some Marines that are living in run-down buildings. I wish I could take the whole platoon on this one, but we only get to send a squad.
We're halfway done! It's difficult to believe we're already at this point. Time flies, of course, except when it grinds to a halt. I look back at what I was doing a week and a half ago and am boggled that it's already been a week and a half. And then there are days that don't seem to end regardless of what you do. I'm finally starting to feel like a not-boot Lieutenant, with a tiny little bit of experience under my belt. Not a whole lot, but enough that I don't feel fresh out of school any more. As frustrating as the last recon was, I did learn quite a bit.I apologize that I don't have a terribly interesting topic tonight. Those SWA Huts, I tell you...fascinating.
03 August 2010
Mantathalon
What is a mantathalon? you might ask. Well, in the words of our Communications Officer, it is Mantastic! I'm sure that helps increase your understanding, doesn't it? Our Battalion Commander requests to know if women are allowed to participate in the manthalon and is assured that they are.
Basically it boils down to a running (created?) feud between our communications and supply sections. The powerpoint explains that comm dominated in ultimate football, supply eked out a victory in basketball (slides designed by the comm-o...surprised much?), and that the Oki Panda Mantathalon was inconclusive. Thus, another manthalon must be held in order to determine which section is the true champion.
The mantathalon consisted of seven events over a week, including strength, speed, agility, endurance, intelligence, and skill capped off with a team challenge last Sunday night. The team challenge was a thirty-minute seven-on-seven grappling match, with the winner determined by shop that forced the most taps. Each Marine had a safety observer to ensure they would not be injured and small joint (wrists, ankles, fingers, etc.) manipulations were not permitted. A good number of the officers and staff NCOs in the Battalion turned out to watch the match in addition to the rest of the comm and supply shops.
The Marines started off with a lot of energy but tired quickly. They would grapple, going 2 on 1, 3 on 1, even 4 on 1 when they eliminated their opponents, until one entire side was out. They would gather on their side of the mat and lean heavily on their hands, trying to catch their breath before the next match. The director of the match would point at each side and ask if they were ready, then signal for them to start again.
Thirty minutes is a long time to grapple, but they stuck with it. Spectators would occasionally offer suggestions, but mostly just watched and enjoyed the entertainment. When time was finally called, the Marines collapsed on the mat. Supply had won the grappling match, but comm had the overall lead in the contest, and the XO presented the trophy, a ridiculous-looking belt, to the comm shop.
The match was like a picnic with friends...a short time on a Sunday evening to relax before plowing head-long into the week.
Basically it boils down to a running (created?) feud between our communications and supply sections. The powerpoint explains that comm dominated in ultimate football, supply eked out a victory in basketball (slides designed by the comm-o...surprised much?), and that the Oki Panda Mantathalon was inconclusive. Thus, another manthalon must be held in order to determine which section is the true champion.
The mantathalon consisted of seven events over a week, including strength, speed, agility, endurance, intelligence, and skill capped off with a team challenge last Sunday night. The team challenge was a thirty-minute seven-on-seven grappling match, with the winner determined by shop that forced the most taps. Each Marine had a safety observer to ensure they would not be injured and small joint (wrists, ankles, fingers, etc.) manipulations were not permitted. A good number of the officers and staff NCOs in the Battalion turned out to watch the match in addition to the rest of the comm and supply shops.
The Marines started off with a lot of energy but tired quickly. They would grapple, going 2 on 1, 3 on 1, even 4 on 1 when they eliminated their opponents, until one entire side was out. They would gather on their side of the mat and lean heavily on their hands, trying to catch their breath before the next match. The director of the match would point at each side and ask if they were ready, then signal for them to start again.
Thirty minutes is a long time to grapple, but they stuck with it. Spectators would occasionally offer suggestions, but mostly just watched and enjoyed the entertainment. When time was finally called, the Marines collapsed on the mat. Supply had won the grappling match, but comm had the overall lead in the contest, and the XO presented the trophy, a ridiculous-looking belt, to the comm shop.
The match was like a picnic with friends...a short time on a Sunday evening to relax before plowing head-long into the week.
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