Spring Break
In the field with Hopkins's ROTC Blue Jay Battalion
Issue date: 12/4/08
Armed with real M-16 rifles loaded with blank ammunition, they started down the road in two lines. Cadets had to leave five to 10 meters in between each of them, to minimize casualties in case of a grenade, the blast radius of which is approximately five meters.
As they walked through the darkness, important details about the mission were discussed. Specifically, they determined that my code name would be "Rabbit."
Bushyager also questioned the MS-IVs on their plan of attack.
"Right now you guys have too much testosterone and not enough planning," Bushyager said.
The MS-IVs chose to set up a new patrol base. However, as a few scouts were venturing into the woods to survey the area, Henderson got a phone call from Pomper, head of the Hopkins cadre, cancelling the ambush.
Disappointed, the MS-IVs headed back to the barracks while Bushyager took me to see the MS-III patrol base.
A few flashlights with red filters hung from tree branches provided the only light. Most cadets and cadre members were already in their olive green sleeping bags, gathered together in small clusters. I was shivering, but everyone assured me that the sleeping bags were very warm.
Still, I was glad to head back to the barracks. Once there, I went to the Tactical Operation Control (TOC), where Cadet Major Stephen Dunay, an MS-IV, and Cadet Captain James Robbins told me about the plan for the next day.
Saturday Morning: Navigation Agitation
It was exactly 4:14 a.m. when a cadet knocked on my door. I had spent much of the night half awake since the heater persisted in making sounds like cymbals crashing all night long. At first I had wondered if cadets were communicating in Morse code from the rooms on either side of me.
Cadets started the day with what some described as "the joys of an MRE" (Meal, Ready-to-Eat). MREs come packaged in plastic and cardboard, with a bag that has a chemical reactant that cooks the MRE when water is added.
As they walked through the darkness, important details about the mission were discussed. Specifically, they determined that my code name would be "Rabbit."
Bushyager also questioned the MS-IVs on their plan of attack.
"Right now you guys have too much testosterone and not enough planning," Bushyager said.
The MS-IVs chose to set up a new patrol base. However, as a few scouts were venturing into the woods to survey the area, Henderson got a phone call from Pomper, head of the Hopkins cadre, cancelling the ambush.
Disappointed, the MS-IVs headed back to the barracks while Bushyager took me to see the MS-III patrol base.
A few flashlights with red filters hung from tree branches provided the only light. Most cadets and cadre members were already in their olive green sleeping bags, gathered together in small clusters. I was shivering, but everyone assured me that the sleeping bags were very warm.
Still, I was glad to head back to the barracks. Once there, I went to the Tactical Operation Control (TOC), where Cadet Major Stephen Dunay, an MS-IV, and Cadet Captain James Robbins told me about the plan for the next day.
Saturday Morning: Navigation Agitation
It was exactly 4:14 a.m. when a cadet knocked on my door. I had spent much of the night half awake since the heater persisted in making sounds like cymbals crashing all night long. At first I had wondered if cadets were communicating in Morse code from the rooms on either side of me.
Cadets started the day with what some described as "the joys of an MRE" (Meal, Ready-to-Eat). MREs come packaged in plastic and cardboard, with a bag that has a chemical reactant that cooks the MRE when water is added.
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Penny Jackson
posted 3/07/09 @ 12:12 AM EST
A think this new storie have some mistakes.
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