Round 1 of Training Complete

I completed the last week of pre-deployment training on December 3^rd before returning home on December 5^th. The last week of training was much more fun than the previous 2 weeks. We actually got into basic tactics for MOUT (Military Operations in Urban Terrain, clearing buildings), React to Direct Fire (reacting to ambushes and such), Convoy Operations as well as egressing from a HMMWV (Hummv) rollover or HEAT (HMMWV Egress Assistance Trainer). I had a buddy record this training which we pretty entertaining just click this link to watch it here.
Truth about HMMWVs is that they are no longer allowed off of the FOBs (Forward Operating Bases) because they are so deadly in IED attacks do to the flat bottom design. When hit by an IED they take the full brunt of the explosion and the chances of survival are not good. Over the past several years the military had introduced a series of vehicles called MRAPs or Mine Resistant Ambush Protected. These vehicles are designed to withstand blasts with V shaped hulls to defLect the energy of an IED blast away from the vehicle, ride much higher off the roadway, and are heavily armored. We will get training in these vehicles in January upon our return to Ft. Dix.

Recieving M4 night fire qualificaion instruction.
I am in the foreground.



This is a picture of our night fire with a long exposier.
You can see the tracer rounds in the distance.
One of the guys on the mission is a potographer and
has been taking pictures during the mission.
If you search Task Force Griffon on Facebook you
can see more.

 The past week we also had PMI (Primary Marksmanship Instruction) on area suppression weapons such as the M249 SAW, M240B Machine Gun, MARK 19 Grenade Launcher, and the M2 .50 CAL Machine Gun. We didn’t get to shoot them this time around, but that will come in January. These are loads of fun.

Since then, I have been home for a few days now. Christine and I have been packing like crazy in preparation for the moving trucks arrival on Friday morning. I have seen my chiropractor twice to tune by back up and had a message since getting home as well. We have also had dinner the past two nights with some great friends. It is hard to think that it will be the last time we see everybody for some time. We will be back for visits though upon my return to the states, but we will still miss seeing everyone on a regular basis. We have made some awesome connections here in Washington and we will never forget our time here.

My next post will probably be from the road back to Indiana. It will be an adventure in itself traveling with a dog, cat and a 7 month pregnant wife!