I never really knew much about FIG before I got there, and based on the intel I had heard I was not looking for much when I got there. However I was surprised and pleased when I did get there. FIG offers a lot to any visiting unit. There is a plethora of ranges to handle everything from CAS to 9mm. The ranges are all close, training area is close to get to, the PX and clothing sales are also close to where the soldiers stay. All things that are not possible at Ft. Drum. FIG is a much better base to train at and especially live fire at. The ranges are all mowed (best RETS range I have seen in 18 years of service), they are easy to occupy and clear, and offer much more than shooting areas. There is a Leader Reaction Course, MOUT site, full obstacle course, rappelling tower, etc. The biggest downsides to this post are the commo problems posed by the terrain and the lack of useable LZs. In the recon world there are usually only two way to get where you need to, humping or flying. Of course flying is the most preferred. There was only one real LZ to use, having more would be nice, but the terrain is rough and short of a using a Artillery firing point, I am not sure there are many more places to use. The mountains that form the GAP require a re-trans to be established for any type of comms. Commo is tough and even cell phones are without service except in a few select areas. Overall though the base is great for a unit to deploy to for a MUTA5 – AT timeframe. Oh, the ticks are a major issue too, and everyone freaks out over lyme disease. There is no re-cockaded woodpecker to worry about, but you can bet that a tick can stop or slow training in a second if it is buried into someone.

T

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So this was my unit’s last Annual Training as B co. 1/108th, and even though it was only a small portion of my unit (37 pax) it was a good one. I served as the Commander, XO, and 1SG during this tour, and even one day as the acting CSM while ours was gone back to BDE for a day. Overall it was a great tour. I had a total of two NCOs, SFC Canella as the PSG and me. All the squad leaders were senior specialists. Every soldier performed above the standard. Four of the soldiers received Army Achievement Medals, one has a pending Army Commendation Medal, four more received coins from me, and one received a BN coin from the BN CDR.

The AT was broken down in two phases, ranges and the field STX lanes. During the ranges phase, the 37 members of B co. fired multiple weapon systems, to include, M16s, M9s, M249s, M240Bs, MK-19s, M-2 .50 Cal, AT-4 Subcal and 2 live missles, M203 training and HE, and was the only unit to spend a day firing the M24 Sniper Weapon System. The soldiers also got to experience and utilize the GUARDFIST call for fire simulator, the Engagement Skills Trainer (EST) simulator, the FireArms Skills Trainer (FATS), the newest Beamhit devices, and the Virtual Battlefield Simulator (VBS). All of these edge-cutting simulators are what the Nintendo-aged young men of today’s military have been honed to perfect. Not only were those great real-time feedback training aids, it provided the soldiers with some “cool” fun while at AT, in some of the worst heat we have seen since being in Germany two years ago. During the STX phase I focused the unit on its upcoming mission related to the re-organization that will start Oct. 1. On Oct 1, B co, 1/108th, 27th BDE will become C Troop (Light Recon), 2nd Squadron, 101st RSTA, 27th Brigade Combat Team. We will be THE light recon company for the BCT and therefore needed to concentrate on those tasks that typically were executed by traditional Scout and LRSD units. With 3 squads of privates (E1s) to specialists (E4s) we entered the crawl phase of training and executed an awesome 4 day mission of TLPs, mission planning, preparation, execution and situation reaction. None of them had worked in the world of “snoop-n-poop” and they did a great job not only learning new techniques and tactics, but executing them with a degree of competence faster than I had anticipated.

I have no doubt that the integration of the OIF experienced soldiers with these guys will be easy. Even though most of the 37 have no combat experience, their training tempo has been fast and furious over the last year. Since the recon world will be new to all, the playing field will be mostly even. Bravo Company has ended up with the best mission out of the re-org, and between that mission, the quality of soldiers, the experience of many of the soldiers and the high degree of professionalism that the NCO corps holds, we have all the right ingredients to continue to set the standard in all we do and exceed all expectations.

Troy

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I saw this article today. I had to post it here. It is about time someone finally says publically what many of us have said for years. I have mentioned this before that a lower drinking ago should be allowed for soldiers only.

State Wants Lower Drinking Age
Associated Press
June 1, 2005

MADISON, Wis. – One Wisconsin lawmaker figures if the U.S. military trusts 19-year-olds with a $10 million tank, then the state should trust them with a beer.

State Rep. Mark Pettis, a Republican who served in the Navy, is pushing a bill that would drop the drinking age to 19 for Wisconsin soldiers – but only if the federal government agrees it will not yank an estimated $50 million a year in highway aid.

A federal law ties federal highway dollars to compliance by the states with the required drinking age of 21.

“We’re treating these young men and women as adults when they’re at war. But we treat them like teenagers when they’re here in the states,” he said.

Pettis admits his proposal will be a tough sell unless Wisconsin gets the federal government’s approval – or at least permission to start a pilot program to prove it will not cause more accidents or other problems opponents associate with a younger drinking age.

Wisconsin transportation officials say the federal government has told them there is no process to apply for a waiver from the drinking age requirement, and creating one would likely take an act of Congress.

The bill would create an exemption for 19- and 20-year-old soldiers from Wisconsin – but not for soldiers from out of state. A valid military ID along with a Wisconsin driver’s license or identification card would be required.

A committee is expected to send the bill to the full Assembly for consideration next week, and Gov. Jim Doyle has said he supports it – as long as Wisconsin does not lose any federal highway money.

The Wisconsin chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving has lobbied against the bill. Its executive director, Kari Kinnard, said statistics show there have been fewer highway fatalities, injuries and other problems associated with alcohol since the mandatory minimum went into effect in the 1980s.

She also said research shows the brain has not fully developed until people reach age 21. “It’s for their own protection,” Kinnard said.

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