Land Navigation Training

Below are photos of a Cadet and a Specialist reporting to their company commander after successfully completing a land navigation course in the dense woods on the north end of Fort Indiantown Gap.  They were the first to finish, completing the course in 2 hours.  

While we were waiting for them to finish, I found out that the Warrior Leadership Course no longer includes land navigation and no longer makes the PT Test part of the grade for the course.

The change is recent.  I think it is stupid.  This course is supposed to train enlisted men and junior NCOs to be leaders.  Land Nav combines fitness with calculation and concentration.  The fitness test is an Army standard.  Even if Land Nav is no longer a skill in common use, it surely shows a lot abut the abilities of those who master it.  And the fitness test, leaders should be at the front, not be lagging.

OK  Done bitching like and old guy.

Combat Life Saver Training -- "Victims"

Combat Life Saver training puts a squad of soldiers in a realistic setting with victims both unconscious and screaming for help.  The soldiers have to treat the victims and get them out of harm's way.  Here are some of the "victims" at a CLS training site. 

Soldiers on their first flight

Pictures from my flight two days ago.

New Facebook Page, More Photos

I started a facebook page for my unit.  I am going to be putting photos up and info for soldiers.  Please go here and "Like" the page.  Thanks

http://www.facebook.com/pages/2-104th-GSAB-Army-Aviation/222631574431291

Flying with the New Guys

On Saturday I took a routine flight 30 miles northeast of Fort Indiantown Gap to a remote fuel site set up at the Joe Zerbey Airport near Pottsville PA.  They airport had an open house to let local residents see the army fuel trucks and the Blackhawk helicopter we rode up in.  The flight up was better than I expected.  The pilots took an indirect route through valleys at 100 feet of altitude rather than the normal 500+ feet of level flight.  The doors were open and I was sitting in the seat next to the open door so I had a great view. There were five young soldiers on the aircraft who were getting their first flight on a helicopter.  They had a ball.

None of us knew the flight back would be even better.

After an hour at the airport, we took off fast.  First we flew level gaining speed then went up hard.  When we got to 1000 feet we circled.  I had asked to take aerial photos of the fueling set up.  The pilots gave me a level circle to take the pictures, then they turned the Blackhawk almost completely on its side on the next pass over the field, then flipped it to the other side so the soldiers on both sides could have the experience of looking straight down from the open doors.

We were all laughing like we were on a roller coaster--which we were in a way.

On the 30 mile trip back we climbed, dove down hard and pulled back up turning almost sideways 50 feet above the trees.  At one point we landed briefly then climbed almost straight up to 2000 feet.

Below are the other soldiers on the flight and the two who sat opposite me:

Air Assault Training in VA

Here's photos of air assault training in VA.  Briefing American and German infantrymen before flights.

Flying to Virginia in the Door Gunner's Seat of a Blackhawk

Today I flew to VA on a Blackhawk in the door gunner's seat.  I never had a chance to do that in Iraq because the real door gunner's had to be on the guns.  It was lot's of fun.  I put my feet on the window ledge to stretch.  One of the flight medics in Iraq put his feet out the window on take-off.  I flew over a big quarry and three-mile island.

Getting Ready for the Range

This morning we had a class to get us ready for the range next week.  SFC Lori Burns took this picture because "You are always taking pictures of other people.  I am taking a picture of you." SGT Marc Hall gave a great class on weapon procedures.  CPL Mike Arms helped me to get into kneeling position for firing next week.

Field Kitchen in the Parking Lot

Today Echo Company started field kitchen operation in the parking lot behind the armory.  Went smoothly.  Lines passed through the filed kitchen quickly for the hot food.  Salad and cold food were off to the side.

End of the World in McDonalds Parking Lot

I missed supper tonight so I went to McDonalds at 830 pm.  They have the best internet anywhere near Fort Indiantown Gap so I come here to upload photos and do other tasks that are a pain in the butt with Army internet.

On the way, I tuned my car radio to WKDN Camden NJ, the local station broadcasting Family Radio, the network of Harold Camping, the guy who said the world was going to end May 21 with a worldwide earthquake.  I have checked WKDN every few days since May 21 to see if the station would shut down or what would happen.  Each time I go there they are playing Church music.  But tonight I checked WKDN and Harold was taking calls again, answering your Bible questions.

I did not want to miss this.  The second caller asked Camping what was going on with his prediction.  His answer was priceless!!!!

He said the word Earthquake could be interpreted FIGURATIVELY.  Really???
Camping said his prediction caused a figurative earthquake and caused people around the world to think about the Bible--shaking them up.  So it WAS and earthquake.

Camping would be simply funny, but for most of his 89 years he has said the only way to interpret the Bible is literally.  He said any other interpretation was wrong.  But now when his own credibility is in question, the figurative interpretation is correct.

It was, of course, a coincidence that Congressman Anthony Weiner confessed his sins in public just as Camping pulled a fig leaf over his.  But these very different men are brothers in colossal hubris.

Anyone who doubts we are a free nation should try to name another nation where these two guys would have uninterrupted access to the public airwaves.

Search Amazon.com for harold camping books

Annual Training Begins Today

Yesterday we had a preliminary day--meetings about the coming two weeks of annual training.

I was on a Machine Gun range today.  I went to take pictures and got to fire 300 rounds with an M240B 7.62mm that is the standard weapon for door guns in Blackhawk and Chinook helicopters.  The range has pop-up targets from 300 to 800 meters.  I shot 100 rounds in one rotation and 200 in the 2nd rotation.  Each time I had a chance to hit the 800-meter targets and did not knock them down, just kicked up some dust.  I knocked down the targets at every other distance.  It's a loto of fun to shoot on a range with pop-up targets.

Next week we will have aerial gunnery.  Don't know if I will have a chance to shoot a door gun from a helicopter, but should get good pictures.

Soldiers on Motorcycles

A dozen soldiers in my unit had a special session of the weekend-long Motorcycle Safety course at the Pennsylvania State Police high-speed driving school near Fort Indiantown Gap.  Of the twelve, 10 were on bikes that could be categorized as Cruisers--long wheelbase Harleys and similar Hog-like bikes.

Watching those bikes on a cone course was like watching dancing elephants in a circus.  They are amazing to look at.  Graceful for their size.  The instructors rode a small 250 Honda for demonstrations and looked very fast by comparison.

Soldier Dies After Deployment

On Sunday Jim Dao wrote a story in the NY Times about all the dangers that face soldiers coming home from deployment from car accidents, drugs, alcohol and all the other temptations that face young men especially.

This morning my Army email included a link to the funeral service being held tomorrow for on of the soldiers I served with in Iraq.  SPC Steven Lenois was 21 when we got on the plane for Iraq.  He was a bright, optimistic, confident guy.  He had the kind of confidence that could have led to great success.  But we will never know.

Steven Wayne Lenois, 23, passed away Friday (May 20, 2011) from injuries sustained in a Motor Vehicle accident. Steven was a proud soldier of the Army National Guard and had just recently returned from Iraq. He is survived by his parents Teresa Lenois and Thomas J. Lenois; his siblings, James F. Toczko and his fiancé Dawn, Timmy Toczko, Michael Roy and his wife Lisa, and Kimberly Lenois, his foster family Carol and Norman Dove, Jesse Drown, Zackry Drown, Lucas Dove and Cassandra Dove, and many aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. 

New Blog on Raising Kids, Saving Money

My wife started a blog a week ago called Miser Mom.  It is about being frugal and raising kids.

It has nothing to do with the Army, except for the fact that she has to deal with everything that happens while I am off playing Army on weekends and at summer camp.

The first blog post is her philosophy.  I support what she does, but in a way, we both are reliving our fathers' lives in the things we do.  Annalisa's Dad saw the blog yesterday and said, "I taught you that." referring to being frugal.  My Dad loved the Army, stayed till he was a very old soldier and did not get a retirement.  He also liked nice clothes, powerful cars and telling stories.  Neither of those apples fell far from the tree.

Almost Summer Camp

In three short days I will be sharing a room with 39 of my closest friends for 15 days.  Army summer camp starts Friday at 0730.  During the two weeks I am hoping to fly in a Chinook helicopter to Fort Dix NJ for aerial gunnery and to Fort Knox in a Blackhawk helicopter for training there.  In between will be ranges, soldier skills, the fitness test, and lots of Army food.

I will post pictures as soon as I can.

Blog Post at My Day Job

http://chemicalheritage.org/community/periodic-tabloid/2011-05-27-study-80-of-baby-products-are-toxic.aspx

On the connection (or not) between Fox News headlines and medical reality.

Water Bucket Training--Fire Fighting with Blackhawk Helicopters

On Saturday morning at the beginning of drill weekend, I watched Blackhawk helicopters practice filling and emptying fire-fighting a water bucket hanging beneath their birds.  Here are the pictures:

Account Off Line

I will post some pictures from last weekend later this evening.  My blog got spammed and I could not access it since Sunday.  Did not know what was wrong at first.  Should be fixed now.  Pictures soon.

Neil

Rode to NYC (Almost)

After several days of rain delay I took the day off and rode to New York City from Lancaster--at least as far as I could get.  I rode 145 miles, stopping at 640pm at Metropark Train Station in Edison NJ, 145 miles from home.  I might have made it farther, but I slept late--till 7am!! And I did not leave until 8am!
10.5 hours later I still felt pretty good, but I wanted to actually go to NYC.  I got to NYC at 720 pm and still had time for a 5-mile ride to get me to 150 miles before I got something to eat.

Blogging About Bicycling

The following is today's post at my day job:

National Bike to Work Week has been a difficult one this year: rain all over the northeast has stopped all but the most addicted riders from a two-wheeled commute. But even if you spend today groaning over the weather, the sun will be out next week. In the meantime, you might consider how bicycling is the most chemistry (and chemical) friendly ride in the world.

Any serious cycler knows what their frame, fork, seat, handlebars and even drink bottle cages is made from. If you think it doesn’t make a difference, pop into a bike shop and witness the array of parts of sale. The staff will be happy to educate you – if you have an hour to spare. Because weight is so critical on bikes, even small components are made of different materials. Over the years I’ve ridden bikes made from steel, titanium, aluminum, titanium and carbon, and just carbon. When different grades of steel were common, I – like many riders – knew which type I had; in the 80s and early 90s top racers rode frames of Reynolds 531, a manganese-molybdenum alloy steel, while riders with less cash settled for a 4130 ChroMoly.

In 2004 Cannondale introduced a carbon-aluminum bike called Six13. What could be cooler for the chemist on wheels than a bike with atomic numbers for a name? There’s also the Trek Carbon and LeMond Titanium, for anyone who wants their favorite elements front and center.

So ride a bike and join a very big fraternity of chemistry geeks. Carbon frames or no, biking reduces your own carbon footprint. It also improves your health, saves your wallet, and – as long as it’s not raining – makes even Monday morning something to look forward to.