Evasive Driving Course

In August I was treated to a tour and observation of the Evasive Driving Course.

That's me, getting ready to hop in the car for the demonstration. They waited until after I was strapped in to ask me if I get motion sickness.

I really thought I was getting the star treatment until, without notice, the "bad guys" started shooting at my window with simunition, causing the driver to spin the car around 180 degrees and speed off in the opposite direction. (Simunition is simulated ammunition. It is similar to a paint ball except the "paint" is washable.)

Another maneuver the instructors demonstrated involved evacuating me from a "dead" car to a "live" one. The dead car first had to be pushed

out of harm's way by the live car.

Check out those simunition stains!

Next I rode with an instructor while he demonstrated a ramming technique that is used to move stationary cars out of the roadway.

Because the force of the impact can be stressful on the neck, I wore a protective helmet and neck brace. Safety first!

The devices on these cars are used for training purposes. The rails and auxiliary bumpers allow Evasive Driving trainees to practice moving a car out of the roadway without ruining each car.

Airborne Demonstration Photos

Airborne demonstration

I just got back from witnessing the airborne/parachute demonstration at Gammon Field. It was held at 11:00, just as the Warfighter teams were crossing the finish line of their final event.

I arrived around 10:45 and took a seat and a moment to check things out. It was the most jovial event I’ve witnessed on post so far. The first aspect to catch my eye, or ear, was the band. I’ve seen military bands on television before, wearing elaborate uniforms and standing with impeccable posture holding polished brass instruments, playing formal events. This was different. The 399th Army Band guys were wearing their ACUs (how many of you know this acronym? See my Warfighter post for the answer) and were playing casual, fun, upbeat music. They were great and it really made the event seem like a celebration.

It wasn’t simply a party for everyone there, however. For the competitors, it was the end to a long and tough event. A large digital time clock was set up to record the teams’ time as they crossed the finish line after the 15 mile road march. When I arrived, the clock was ticking away at more than five hours and 45 minutes! I saw a few teams cross the finish line – running- wearing their ACUs and carrying huge backpacks that I’m sure weighed a ton.

Here’s a personal anecdote on this: I’m no athlete, but I once ran a half marathon. Now, that’s 13.1 miles. I was wearing running shoes and some of those sweat-wicking-away shorts and tank top. I trained for the event for months and I was able to run the entire time. By the 12th mile, I swore to myself I’d never run again. It was torture! I was so bored, and so tired, and so ready to stop running. I finished, and I was proud of my accomplishment, but that was enough for me!
Knowing how hard it was for me to run that half marathon, I cannot imagine doing what these guys did, and especially after the three days of events they’d already endured! They are obviously the best of the best.

After all of the teams crossed the finish line and the band finished its set, it was time for the airborne demonstration. The event was narrated over the loud speaker, so all of the spectators learned about the parachutes as the guys were coming down from the air.

In my mind, I think, things are always over-simplified. I went into this thinking that these guys just jumped out of the airplane, like skydivers. You get to a certain point, pull the ‘chute, and land wherever the wind takes you. If you’re smart you might start upwind of where you would prefer to land. Well, I was wrong.

Evidently these guys know how to steer the parachutes to land in their desired location, keeping the wind factor in account. The parachutes can travel up to 20 miles per hour! When they come down, they have a trail of red-clay-colored smoke following them. I was too far away to tell, but I think they had little smoke rockets on their feet. My guess is the smoke makes them more visible while they’re in the air, like reflective clothing while you jog at night. The speaker narrated each individual’s landing, and they all landed on their feet! That is, except the dog.

The tandem jump with the dog was the last to land (to build up excitement, no doubt). The dog’s name is Sergeant Major Fosco, and he was strapped in alongside the Soldier, as calm as a cucumber. That is, until he touched down and was unstrapped. Then the dog took off running towards another Soldier and attacked him! Don’t worry; it was all part of the plan. The other Soldier was wearing a padded training arm for the dog to bite. Good thing, because SGM Fosco did not let go! “You’d better not throw me out of an airplane again!” I heard someone in the audience say as the dog hung on the training arm. But I don’t think SGM Fosco was angry. As soon as he was told to let go, he let his handler hook him onto a leash and trotted obediently away. For SGM Fosco I guess it was just another day at the office.

Regimental Week

You have probably heard the term Regimental Week in conjunction with the Warfighter Competition. The two events share a time period and are both sponsored by the Military Police (MPs), but the two events are actually very different.

A couple of weeks ago I had the chance to interview Captain John C. Erickson, who is the project manager for Regimental Week. He helped me distinguish the two events.

I learned that the Warfighter challenge is a celebration of the capabilities of our Soldiers and an event to witness the healthy competition between units. Regimental Week and the Regimental Conference, however, look at the “big picture” of what MPs are doing in support of our Army and includes strategic planning for the future.

Regimental Week takes place September 9 – 26. It’s a yearly senior leader conference for all MPs in the Army. These senior leaders are here for three days. Their intent, in general, is to share their lessons learned from the field and discuss future planning. Guest speakers include other MPs, General Officers and others. Senior leaders attending Regimental week share their lessons learned and participate in strategic discussions. These lessons can include, for example, updates on Iraq, Afghanistan, or other missions that MPs are exciting on our camps and stations.

The event is sponsored by the United States Army Military Police School, or USAMPS. Brigadier General David Phillips is the commandant of USAMPS and the host for the conference. During the event, Brig. Gen. Phillips hosts “working groups”: He provides questions (about the MP mission or the force mission, for example) and asks the groups to put their heads together to discuss the question and possible solutions, outcomes, or other pertinent information. Later, the groups brief BG Phillips on their findings.

This year, Regimental Week is held at the same time as the Warfighter competition to kill two birds with one stone, so to speak. It hasn’t always been this way, but it is this year.

Other events during Regimental Week include dedication of the criminal investigation department forensics building 3209 to the MG Timmerberg Forensic Science Training Facility, inductions into the MP hall of fame, a Gold Star Family (GSF) reunion and memorial, and a 68-mile run. GSF are families that have lost a loved one, and they are honored during Regimental week with a reunion picnic and a memorial for the fallen soldiers the next day. The GSF events are sponsored by the MP Regimental Association (MPRA), which is a group that aims to take care of Soldiers and their families during times of need; and additionally they help support Regimental week in every capacity. It would not be successful without their support.

Regimental week also includes a 68 mile run to mark the 68th anniversary of the US Military Police Corps. The run starts at 6 pm on Wednesday, September 23 and lasts until 8 am the next day. Don’t worry; no single person will likely run all 68 miles. It’s similar to a relay with four people running four miles, and then the next group goes in to pick up miles five through eight, etcetera. On the next day, many people run in the event to finish it off. Regimental week concludes with some lighthearted fun. On Friday, September 25, the Regimental Golf Tournament will take place at 8 am, and the Regimental Ball will be on the evening of September 26. The winners of the Warfighter competition will also be in attendance at the Ball.

CPT Erickson coordinated all of the organizations involved with Regimental Week, including ensuring that there are facilities and land for every meeting. This is his first year as project manager. He began working on this event in May 2009. He has enjoyed the task of preparing for the event because he knows he has a hand in something as important as Regimental Week. He says he did not prepare for the event alone, and he says couldn’t do it without the help of all of the subject matter experts involved, including civilians.

Warfighter

Mark your calendars for the Warfighter Challenge!
September 15-18, 2009, Fort Leonard Wood’s U.S. Army Military Police Corps Regiment will sponsor the 13th annual Warfighter Competition. What’s a Warfighter Competition, you ask? It’s a grueling, four-day competition between 34 teams from all over the United States and even a team from overseas, that showcases, challenges, and celebrates the abilities of MPs.
A few weeks ago I sat down with Sergeant First Class Dodson to talk about the upcoming Warfighter Challenge. SFC Dodson is the “Game Master” of it all. He makes sure everything runs smoothly, and that all of the events are doable. He praised the local support of the event and acknowledged all of the many moving parts that contribute to the competition.
Many people spend many hours preparing for the event. Everyone involved exudes professionalism; no one person could arrange this alone. I was lucky that these guys took the time to sit down and talk to me about everything that will happen during those days. Believe me; I had quite a few questions!
I found out that each team can have 3 members and the competitors are the best of the best. The events and challenges are intense and the competition gets harder every year. Competitors aren’t just tested on “cop stuff,” but all five MP functions (police intelligence operations, internment/resettlement, law and order, area security, and maneuver and mobility support). The teams will not know specifics events before the competition, but they know that the emphasis will be on team battle drills, warrior skills, and other events that require teamwork and sound decision making. Every event is timed, graded according to standards, and scored. The best score wins, and winning is a big deal.
The first official event is Physical Fitness, and it starts at 8pm on the 15th. Sounds easy enough, right? It is easy, I’m sure, as long as you can do 3 minutes each of elevated push-ups, sit-ups with a 25 pound plate on your chest, and pull-ups. Then, head out for a 10K run (that’s 6.2 miles) and when you get back, push a Humvee 50-100 meters before you get out your math skills to set up ammo cans for your team. Sure, real easy. And, they do all of this wearing ACUs! (Army Combat Uniforms, or ACUs, include a sand-colored t-shirt, a long sleeve jacket, long pants and boots).
Competitors will perform their tasks under whatever conditions Mother Nature hands us those days. Keep in mind, there are teams coming in from Alaska and Texas and everywhere in between. Some teams may have just come back from Iraq. They’ve been training in the conditions of their home station. They come here to heat and humidity of Fort Leonard Wood on a Sunday, and then on Tuesday they are competing. They don’t have time to acclimatize or to rehearse under these conditions. For safety reasons, some events have been carefully scheduled to avoid the heat, and if it rains, some events may have to be changed. This competition is demanding, but it is safe.
For the next two days, competitors get up at 4 am and start their event at 6 am. They keep going until they complete their tasks. Some teams might finish as early as 6 pm; others might take until 10 pm. During the events, no eating or sleeping is allowed. They are assessed on their overall knowledge and practical application of everything they’ve ever learned since the beginning of their training as an MP. This includes warrior skills and tasks, battle drills and weapons proficiency. Endurance is tested throughout the entire event. SFC Dodson suggests that all the competitors need to be mentally and physically ready because they will be challenged.
In addition to the practical exercises, there is also a written assessment. It includes 50 questions of various skill levels, and each member of the team has a different test. The test topics will include preventative maintenance, training, counseling, MP Corps history, leadership and map reading skills. The test topics are available to the participants before the event, but they won’t know which questions will be asked.
I asked specifically about the map reading skills because I wanted to know how MP map reading skills are different than a civilian’s. (Map reading was one of the things, if not the only thing, on the list that I thought I could do). It may be obvious to some of you out there, but the difference is that when I look at a map, I’m looking at which road will get me to my destination. When these guys look at the map, they have to figure out how to get there without roads. They also have to take terrain and other geographical factors into consideration, among other things. (I had to quickly mark that off my list of potential abilities – the last time I went somewhere without roads I definitely had a tour guide.)
On the last day, teams participate in a road march. SFC Dodson says this year’s road march is really hard – the event should take around three and a half hours—and since it’s the last event they do, the guys are extremely tired by that point.
After the road march, competitors prepare for the awards ceremony that will take place at 7 pm on Friday. Although the teams rehearse for the awards ceremony; the winning team is kept a secret until it is announced. In addition to a whole slew of awesome prizes (SFC Dodson estimates that each member of the first place team will win as much as $5,000 worth), the winners are entitled to bragging rights for the rest of their lives, essentially. Being a part of the winning Warfighter team is an honor and an accomplishment that is highly respected, especially among MPs.
Oh, and one more thing: in addition to the long list of exciting events taking place at the War fighter Competition, at Gammon Field on Friday the 18th at 11:00 the 101st airborne guys with their K-9 Halo team will be jumping in for a parachute demonstration exercise– with a dog! These guys are from Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, and they’re coming to Fort Leonard Wood to jump out of an airplane with a canine. Yes, a dog is going to jump out of an airplane from 10,000 feet.
Do me a favor, now, if you will.
Think of your dog. (I’m thinking of my sweet yellow Labrador, Pablo.)
Now think of your dog jumping out of an airplane. (This one is hard to imagine – is there a bone involved?)
Now think about how much you want to see a dog jump out of an airplane.
It’s open to the public, and you know you want to see it. Come on down. Actually more than half of the competition is open to the public, which is more than any other past competition. These guys would love to have you come out and see what they do. Don’t worry, you won’t be recruited and you won’t have to do any push-ups, but you will have the opportunity to learn a lot about what your Army does. And see a dog jump out of an airplane.

Special Reaction Teams

On Wednesday, August 19, I had the opportunity to observe some Military Police training at Fort Leonard Wood. I reported at 0730 (that’s 7:30 am, folks) to Parker Hall. The location was described to me as “oh, it’s right there, you can’t miss it!”

Well, I missed it. Luckily I came well-equipped with sufficient technology to find my way. I was greeted by SGT Davis, who is working on certification to become a Special Reaction Teams (SRT) Instructor. I also met Mr. Mike Terry, USAMPS Special Tactics Training Division.
I was briefed on what my day would entail, allowed to lift up the 40 lbs of body armor I’ll wear next week (“it’s really quite comfortable”), and sent on my way alongside SGT Davis.

After a quick stop at the Shopette (“you’ll really want to keep hydrated unless you’re used to sweating all day”), we drove to the shothouse where the SRTs, train.
SRTs are like the SWAT team of the MPs. They respond when regular law enforcement cannot: hostage situations, response to terrorist incidents, and other threats. Phase I of this training is ten days long (very long, like 3 weeks packed into 10 days long) and teaches the guys various things, like how to plan for entering a building, how to actually enter the building, how to clear a building. They get to use various explosive devices for breaching doors and learn how to move and work as a team.

Their motto is “Speed, Surprise and Aggressive Action.” Meaning, when they go into a situation, they need to do it quickly. These aren’t routine traffic stops! They also need to be able to maintain the element of surprise to do their tasks effectively. They learn how to get the surprise back if the “bad guys” know that they’re coming. Finally, everything they do must be done with Aggressive Action. No beating around the bush here!

One thing I found to be reassuring was the ratio of instructors to students. In the group that I observed, there were five students and two instructors. Each Soldier was able to practice each skill multiple times and receive individualized feedback each time. These guys train for competence, not completion. They don’t go home when the clock strikes five; if they don’t ‘get it’, they stay until they do.

As I observed the training, I heard an instructor ask a Soldier, “Are you nervous?”
I tried to put myself in their shoes (or boots). How would I react? Would I be nervous? I decided that I could handle going through the motions in training, receiving instruction and modifying my actions accordingly, but if I were in an actual, real-life situation, I don’t know if I would be able to keep my cool.

Imagine you get a call that you need to go take care of a situation. You get with your team and make a plan and you go into this building. But this isn’t a test. It’s real. There’s a person in there that is a threat to your life and to other people. Maybe they have a hostage. Maybe they’re hiding behind the door, or in a closet, or anywhere. You don’t know where they are, who they are, or how many of them there are. It’s dark. You can’t exactly use a flashlight and issue the standard “Hello? Anybody home?” line. How do you fish through your head for logic when there’s so much adrenaline clouding your thoughts?

I asked SGT Davis if they teach any type of mental preparation for “keeping their cool.” Evidently there’s something called Combat Lamaze. Now, if you’re like me, the only association you have with the word Lamaze has to do with pregnant women and babies. The combination of the words ‘combat’ and ‘Lamaze’ seemed so odd. But, he explained it as a simple breathing exercise that can help control your heart rate. By the time they get to SRT, they’ve already learned the concept. Imagine that. Combat Lamaze.

Another resource, Mr. Langley told me, is a book called On Killing by Dave Grossman. Mr. Langley is an SRT instructor. He suggests that this book should be required reading for any law enforcement official. The closest thing I’ve ever read to On Killing would be To Kill a Mockingbird, and I don’t think that compares. The title did, however, pique my interest. As it turns out, the book discusses the psychology behind killing, including humans’ natural reluctance to kill their own kind, the various ways in which they are trained to overcome that reluctance, and the effect it has on post traumatic stress disorders among veterans and the implications it has on other phenomena in our society and abroad. Wow. These guys think of everything. Now I think I might actually head down to the library to check it out.