Day 65

Day 60 of BCT

We got about 4 hours of sleep before waking up at 0700, pulling full security, conducting personal hygiene, and packing up our gear. We had another "delicious" Hot-A breakfast (which I again couldn't stomach much of) before learning that we would be marching about 1.5miles with our rucksacks AND full battle rattle. All together I'm guessing that is between 75-90lbs. Yikes!
We spent quite awhile sitting around and waiting while the commander briefed our Platoon Guide (PG) on the mission for the day. We tried to adjust our assult bags on our ruck sacks as best we could while we waited. Our PG then briefed our squad leaders who then briefed us on the mission. Today would start our 24 hour ops, or basically a big game of Capture the Flag. Once we all knew the plan we loaded up our rucks and stepped off. I had to have someone lift my ruck for me to get it on my back. The march was of course through sand and mostly uphill. That was the hardest 1.5 miles I have ever done! Several people in our platoon fell out along the way, the weight being too much for them in the warm muggy air of late morning. Knowing I had accomplished this huge challenge was quite rewarding though. I was very proud of myself for pushing through. The verse going through my head as we marched was Phillippians 4:14, "I can do ALL things through Christ which strengthens me." So true!
The rest of the morning was spent setting up our AO (with a perimeter of security, of course), setting our flags in their designated locations (we didn't get to choose where they were hid) and getting our team ready for action. The goal was to capture the flags of the other platoons, while keeping our flags from being captured. Each platoon had 3 flags, each in a different location.
After an MRE lunch, my squad set the flags, and then escorted teams to guard them. I ended up spending a couple of hours guarding the first flag until the secruity team arrived. Me and my battle buddy then had a 30min break before our squad moved out again. I ended up then being placed with a different squad to pull security at another flag. Somehow I ended up on one side off by myself and I didn't know what to do when another platoon approached our flag. I assumed the rest of the squad would see them approaching as well and would attack, allowing me to help pick them off from my hidden location, but apparently they were asleep. Our flag was captured, but the DS with them returned it right away, since apparently we were in a "practice" mode yet. I was far enough away from the flag that I couldn't really see what happened, so I didn't feel too much responsiblity for it being captured.
I was so tired I kept falling asleep, but would start awake at each noise. I ate some candy that I had saved from my MRE and that helped. I layed in my spot for over 3 hours. I heard our PG come and talk to the rest of the squad right around dark, but I couldn't hear what was going on. I still was under the impression that we would be continuing operations throughout the night, so I assumed they were switching out security teams and they would come and get me when it was my turn to leave. After awhile I decided they had all left without me and I was actually laying there alone. I knew where I was from my platoon AO, and I could hear 4th platoon in the distance, so I wasn't scared. I knew my squad leader would eventually notice my absence and would come and get me so I just waited rather than venture across the woods alone. About 20 minutes later my PG and squad leader came and got me. I actually found the whole thing rather funny. My squad leader said he would never leave me with another squad again. LOL
Everyone had already eaten their MRE, so I sat and ate mine, got some mail, and then listened as they prepared for a couple of nighttime attack missions. As usual, plans changed though, and instead we were told we had to relocate our AO about 50 meters for the night. And of course another platoon took advantage of us moving and "attacked" us. Our DS wasn't hapy we had to bother moving so he was rather grumpy. We couldn't get situated in a new perimeter fast enough, so he stepped in and got us where he wanted us for the night, which of course was another 10 meters from where we were half way set up already. We had removed our IBA's and knee and elbow pads earlier in the day becuase of the heat, so we had to carry all of those down the hill and with moving twice they were scattered. No one ended up with the same gear after that. The night missions were scrapped and we settled in for the night. I was glad we were actually going to get some sleep rather than staying up all night.
We only had to pull 25% security, and I was lucky enough to have the last shift. It was a beautiful night, with warmer temperatures. I actually didn't mind sleeping under the stars, it was so nice and peaceful. My FG shift was from 0300-0400, so I had about 5 hours of sleep. Which was a lot considering we were in the field!