End of Week 8: FTX Complete

We finally wrapped up the FTX and had to say goodbye to Camp Bullis. Everybody was so sad to leave :-)

Here is a wrap up of our last week at Bullis.

Monday
I found out I am the PSG for the week for my platoon.   If you are given this role it is all about accountability of your people.  Know where they are and you are fine.  We had PT in the morning and then began role II simulations.  We all had a specific job inside of role II.  I was given the job as XO.   Avoid being a litter bearer.  It is hot and you don't get much of a break.  Being a casualty is pretty nice.  You get to be carried and kept inside AC tents.

Tuesday
We had PT in the morning and then began role III simulations.  It was pretty neat to see a cache setup.  I was given the job of a lab tech since we didn't have one.  After the simulation, you had to put up a tent outside.  This was a real waste of time.  It was just a time killer for the cadre.

Wednesday
No PT in the morning.  We did role I simulations.  You go out in two groups.  One for the MAS (Main Aid Station) and one for the FAS (Forward Aid Station) and setup your BAS (Battalion Aid Station).  Here is where you want to be a casualty.  If you are, you get a chance to fly on a Blackhawk.  I was a casualty, but unfortunately I was only a priority and not urgent.   That meant I was a ground transfer.  I was so close to riding on the bird.  The ones that went said it was really cool.

After the exercise we had night land nav.  A lot of people failed this exercise.  You have to get 3 out of 4 points. My team got 3 points with 1 1/2 hours left and just headed back to the FOB.  No point getting 4 since 3 is a GO (unless you are high speed and don't care about sleep).  Plus you get to go to bed early. If you stay out the entire time you are only getting about 2 hours of sleep before you have to get up for Thursday.  It was really humid that night.  I never had my ACU's so soaked in sweat.

Thursday
Final day at Camp Bullis!  After getting 2 to 3 hours of sleep, if you failed day land nav you had to retake it this morning.  The rest just cleaned up the FOB.  The buses were going to pick us up at 1200, but a big thunderstorm came around 1000.  This forced all land nav people to come back to the FOB.  This allowed us to leave early and head back to FSH at 1100.

Back at FSH you turn in your M16.  Everybody was excited to turn this in.  Then we got dropped off back at our hotel on FSH.

Friday
We started the day with a ASU inspection.  After the inspection you were in your classrooms signing the AER (academic evaluation report).  Then we had a AAR of the entire course in the afternoon at 1400.  After the AAR we had graduation rehearsal.  Graduation will be in our ACU, instead of our ASU's.  The LTC said this was because of the heat in San Antonio.  For example, we were outside for just 1 hour for graduation rehearsal and we had 3 people fall out as heat casualties.  Remember hydrate all of the time and don't lock your knees at the position of attention.

Next week we have graduation on Monday and CIF turn in.  We also meet with our track advisors.  Then on Tuesday we finally get to start the 70B track.  Less than 2 weeks left.