Base Defense 101

Just when I thought it couldn't get any better, today some of us went through a Base Defense live fire exercise.  It was a good time - we had two different exercises, we were up at 0430 to start the morning training and day exercise, then came back in the evening to do a night exercise. 

Getting geared up for another day

Red dot optic scope

 The scenario was similiar to a deployed location, and we were manning the entry control points onto the base, and then we start taking small arms fire and mortars and had to respond.  They had pop up targets, vehicles, mortar pits, and we basically fought over a concrete wall.  First we did a trial run with blank ammo, and then we got two full magazines of live rounds.  I had a fire team of 4, and we also had teams that were set up to respond quickly if we needed backup (Quick Reaction Forces), and also casualty teams who responded to people who got 'injured' in the firefight. 

Our Army SSG was awesome and liked our team by then end of the day and a couple of us got to shoot on the three-round-burst setting of the M4, which you never, ever get to do in the Air Force.  It was pretty great, felt like shooting an automatic weapon.  Of course you lose alot of ammo that way, so you have to be smart about it.  Anyways, I don't have alot of pictures because the Army is pretty controlling when we're out on the range and working with live rounds.  By the end I was able to take a few, but you also don't want to look like a tourist when you're simulating a combat environment.  

Alterating firing procedures

Weapons on the wall - out of ammo signal

CW Fire Teams 1 and 2!

 I have the day off tomorrow, so lots of time to run, lift, eat, and do laundry.  All in a day's work. :)  The next day we are doing MRAP rollover training, good times ahead.  11 days to go...