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ENLARGE
Soldiers from Charlie Company 1st Platoon patrol a dusty road at the Biak Training Center (BTC) near Redmond recently.
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Sgt. 1st Class Matt Holmes of the Oregon Army National Guard is interviewed by News-Review reporter Marissa Harshman during a training exercise on Roseburg Forest Service land west of Green back in February.
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Soldiers from Roseburg's Charlie Company prepare as they leave Roseburg for Redmond, some time after midnight, on a recent Saturday.
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First Platoon Leader and 2nd Lt. David Gauthier communicates with command, while on patrol in a Humvee.
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Illuminated by flashlights, the men of Roseburg’s Charlie Company go over the next day’s mission while gathered around a small mock-up of a village created with empty ammo boxes and string.
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REDMOND — The trip across the dry, desert land seemed like it would never end. The Humvees, in an eight-vehicle convoy, rocked back and forth as the wheels trudged over rocks and dipped into potholes along the dirt road, leaving a hazy wake.
The warm afternoon air filled the Humvees, leaving the soldiers dependent on what water they had stored in their CamelBaks for the four-hour training. Even with the windows closed, the four soldiers inside, and one manning the turret, couldn’t escape the dust clouds. By the end of the day, they would have a thin layer of dirt coating the exposed skin of their faces and hands.
By early afternoon the temperature was steadily climbing toward the day’s high of 79 degrees — a sharp contrast to the frigid air and dark skies that welcomed hundreds of Oregon National Guard soldiers to Redmond that same morning.
<b>An early start</b>
Soldiers from Charlie Company, based in Roseburg, piled into two buses just after midnight on a recent Saturday. By 5 a.m. the buses came to rest at the Redmond Air Center, where the Charlie Company soldiers joined other Guardsmen from around the state for a once-a-month weekend training session.
With temperatures below freezing, the soldiers waited on the buses until daylight. In the meantime, 1st Sgt. Jim Terrel and Sgt. 1st Class Matt Holmes divided the 86 soldiers into groups that would load the Chinook helicopters and be transported from the air center to the nearby Biak Training Center.
Once the ground began to thaw and the skies changed from black to blue, the soldiers exited the bus, divided into two platoons (each with 31 soldiers) and lined up in formation. Each of the soldiers was issued a Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System (MILES) harness and halo — which have sensors and operate similarly to laser tag vest and head gear — and a laser transmitter to attach to his weapon.
The warm afternoon air filled the Humvees, leaving the soldiers dependent on what water they had stored in their CamelBaks for the four-hour training. Even with the windows closed, the four soldiers inside, and one manning the turret, couldn’t escape the dust clouds. By the end of the day, they would have a thin layer of dirt coating the exposed skin of their faces and hands.
By early afternoon the temperature was steadily climbing toward the day’s high of 79 degrees — a sharp contrast to the frigid air and dark skies that welcomed hundreds of Oregon National Guard soldiers to Redmond that same morning.
<b>An early start</b>
Soldiers from Charlie Company, based in Roseburg, piled into two buses just after midnight on a recent Saturday. By 5 a.m. the buses came to rest at the Redmond Air Center, where the Charlie Company soldiers joined other Guardsmen from around the state for a once-a-month weekend training session.
With temperatures below freezing, the soldiers waited on the buses until daylight. In the meantime, 1st Sgt. Jim Terrel and Sgt. 1st Class Matt Holmes divided the 86 soldiers into groups that would load the Chinook helicopters and be transported from the air center to the nearby Biak Training Center.
Once the ground began to thaw and the skies changed from black to blue, the soldiers exited the bus, divided into two platoons (each with 31 soldiers) and lined up in formation. Each of the soldiers was issued a Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System (MILES) harness and halo — which have sensors and operate similarly to laser tag vest and head gear — and a laser transmitter to attach to his weapon.
The soldiers used the MILES throughout the weekend, and a couple of men were also equipped with a “God gun,” which gave them the power to reset the devices if a soldier was “killed” by gun fire.
At 8:30 a.m. the Charlie Company soldiers grabbed their rucksacks and weapons and headed for the helicopters, where they practiced loading their gear and “slinging” their Humvees to the undersides of the choppers.
The helicopters hovered above the few trees that survived the warm desert setting and dropped down a few miles from the air in the middle of the training grounds. As each helicopter lowered to the ground, the dirt beneath it was whipped into the air, smothering the soldiers who manned the landing zone with dust.
After a short trek through the base, the soldiers dropped their bags into the area in which they would camp for the night and passed the time until the entire company arrived at the base. Some took the down time as an opportunity to eat or wipe off the layers of dust. Others used the time to have some fun.
Holmes, along with squad leaders Sgts. Anthony Martin and Farrell Thomey and others from the 1st platoon, stood in the shade and created nicknames for their comrades.
“There’s Giggles, Meat, Country Boy, Booby, Corn Bred, Homer, Marty, Thomey-Jean,” Holmes said, listing the men with nicknames. “Who else?”
As the list of nicknames continued to grow, so did the size of the group making suggestions. Before long, all 30-plus soldiers in the first platoon had a name.
<b>First mission</b>
At 8:30 a.m. the Charlie Company soldiers grabbed their rucksacks and weapons and headed for the helicopters, where they practiced loading their gear and “slinging” their Humvees to the undersides of the choppers.
The helicopters hovered above the few trees that survived the warm desert setting and dropped down a few miles from the air in the middle of the training grounds. As each helicopter lowered to the ground, the dirt beneath it was whipped into the air, smothering the soldiers who manned the landing zone with dust.
After a short trek through the base, the soldiers dropped their bags into the area in which they would camp for the night and passed the time until the entire company arrived at the base. Some took the down time as an opportunity to eat or wipe off the layers of dust. Others used the time to have some fun.
Holmes, along with squad leaders Sgts. Anthony Martin and Farrell Thomey and others from the 1st platoon, stood in the shade and created nicknames for their comrades.
“There’s Giggles, Meat, Country Boy, Booby, Corn Bred, Homer, Marty, Thomey-Jean,” Holmes said, listing the men with nicknames. “Who else?”
As the list of nicknames continued to grow, so did the size of the group making suggestions. Before long, all 30-plus soldiers in the first platoon had a name.
<b>First mission</b>
<b>What:</b> Charlie Company, based in Roseburg, of the Oregon National Guard.
<b>Who:</b> Consists of 130 soldiers ranging from 17 to 56 years old from around Oregon. <b>Commanding Officer:</b> Capt. Brian Stramel of Portland. <b>Training Routine:</b> One weekend a month, two weeks a year in the summer; sites vary from Coast Range forest to desert sagebrush in central Oregon to Fort Lewis, Wash. <b>DEPLOYMENT:</b> Scheduled for 2009, probably to Iraq; will become active duty with 45 to 60 days of additional training before shipping out. <b>QUOTABLE:</b> “Imagine this but in 140-degree weather,” said Cpl. Reggie Parker, comparing sitting in a Humvee in central Oregon to being in one in Iraq. “Thank you for building my body, sir!” was the mandatory response when Sgt. 1st Class Manny Annear released soldiers from doing pushups. |
Shortly before noon, everyone from the company had made his way to the base and the men were ready to start their first mission of the day. Platoon Leader 2nd Lt. David Gauthier used empty ammunition boxes to represent Humvees and laid out a pattern in the sand of how the eight-vehicle convoy should operate.
The soldiers discussed how to react if their vehicles were approached by opposition forces or if they were hit by an improvised explosive device or a vehicle-borne device. The mission was not to seek and destroy, but to deter the enemy.
“If they advance and you feel threatened, give a warning fire,” instructed Capt. Brian Stramel, the company’s commanding officer. “Then, if they’re still coming, you can light ’em up.”
Convoy training was new to most of the soldiers from Charlie Company, except for the men who have served overseas. The whole battalion faces deployment in 2009, most likely to Iraq, so the soldiers used the weekend training in the desert setting for preparation.
The soldiers discussed how to react if their vehicles were approached by opposition forces or if they were hit by an improvised explosive device or a vehicle-borne device. The mission was not to seek and destroy, but to deter the enemy.
“If they advance and you feel threatened, give a warning fire,” instructed Capt. Brian Stramel, the company’s commanding officer. “Then, if they’re still coming, you can light ’em up.”
Convoy training was new to most of the soldiers from Charlie Company, except for the men who have served overseas. The whole battalion faces deployment in 2009, most likely to Iraq, so the soldiers used the weekend training in the desert setting for preparation.
By 1 p.m., the first platoon had loaded into the Humvees and was driving out of the operating base to begin the mission. At the rear of the convoy, Pvt. 2 Alex Thompson was driving a Humvee off road for the first time. Cpl. Reggie Parker, who went to Iraq in 2003, was Thompson’s co-pilot and talked him through the motions — warning him of rocks, holes and branches in the road and giving him guidance about vehicle spacing and speed.
“(This is) good spacing in general,” Parker told Thompson. “You can still see them, but if an IED goes off it won’t take us both out.”
Squinting to see through the dust clouds, the drivers navigated through dirt roads that all looked the same and tried to stay on the mapped-out course. The soldiers inside the vehicles kept watch for opposition forces — played by other soldiers dressed in civilian or Middle Eastern attire — walking or hiding behind the occasional tree.
After three hours with little action, the convoy got word that the opposition forces who were supposed to come into contact with the convoy had vehicle trouble. The convoy drove to a paved road, turned around and headed toward the disabled vehicle. By then, most of the soldiers were out of water.
“I’m not training my soldiers anymore today,” Holmes said after meeting up with the opposition forces. “They’re tired and out of water and I’m not gonna risk my soldiers’ safety."
“(This is) good spacing in general,” Parker told Thompson. “You can still see them, but if an IED goes off it won’t take us both out.”
Squinting to see through the dust clouds, the drivers navigated through dirt roads that all looked the same and tried to stay on the mapped-out course. The soldiers inside the vehicles kept watch for opposition forces — played by other soldiers dressed in civilian or Middle Eastern attire — walking or hiding behind the occasional tree.
After three hours with little action, the convoy got word that the opposition forces who were supposed to come into contact with the convoy had vehicle trouble. The convoy drove to a paved road, turned around and headed toward the disabled vehicle. By then, most of the soldiers were out of water.
“I’m not training my soldiers anymore today,” Holmes said after meeting up with the opposition forces. “They’re tired and out of water and I’m not gonna risk my soldiers’ safety."
With that, the convoy headed back to the operating base. On the way, a vehicle in the middle of the convoy was hit by an explosive device. Holmes used various radios to give order to the soldiers and instructed the convoy to push forward and continue to the base.
The second platoon headed out for the same mission, and within minutes was ambushed by enemy forces. While those soldiers were responding to the attacks, the soldiers of the first platoon rehydrated and relaxed until the barbecue dinner.
<b>Preparing for the next day</b>
After enjoying hot dogs and hamburgers, Holmes, Gauthier, Martin and Thomey discussed the next day’s mission. Both platoons would provide perimeter security, while the Delta Company from Merlin and the Alpha Company from Medford conducted a knock-and-search mission in a small mock village.
Once again the soldiers used empty ammo boxes, along with green and white string, to illustrate their mission and discuss strategy.
The second platoon headed out for the same mission, and within minutes was ambushed by enemy forces. While those soldiers were responding to the attacks, the soldiers of the first platoon rehydrated and relaxed until the barbecue dinner.
<b>Preparing for the next day</b>
After enjoying hot dogs and hamburgers, Holmes, Gauthier, Martin and Thomey discussed the next day’s mission. Both platoons would provide perimeter security, while the Delta Company from Merlin and the Alpha Company from Medford conducted a knock-and-search mission in a small mock village.
Once again the soldiers used empty ammo boxes, along with green and white string, to illustrate their mission and discuss strategy.
As the skies turned darker, some of the soldiers retreated to their sleeping bags and went to sleep for the night. Others stood in the dark talking, using the light from the stars and moon to see.
After Holmes and Thomey sang a duet of “Backpack, Backpack!” from the cartoon “Dora the Explorer,” and a handful of the guys split two bags of beef jerky, everyone headed to their sleeping bags and bunked down for a brisk night under the stars.
<b>Final mission</b>
By 4 a.m., with temperatures still lingering around freezing, the soldiers from both platoons were awaken and given directions to pack up and head to the Humvees. About three hours later, the soldiers from Charlie Company were at various posts around the perimeter of the village. At one post, a tactical checkpoint, soldiers stood outside their Humvees, stopping and questioning other vehicles trying to enter the grounds surrounding the village.
The quiet of the morning was disrupted by loud pops and bangs coming from the village. There, soldiers from Delta and Alpha companies were knocking on doors and talking with “residents” and trying to find out information about any potential enemies in the area — something that soldiers often do overseas.
This mission, though, turned into an exchange of gunfire, which could be because the soldiers went into the training mission aggressively, knowing there would probably be enemy fire, Terrel said. Terrel, who has served in both Iraq and Afghanistan, said 99.9 percent of knock-and-searches turn into meet-and-greets.
The mission wrapped up after about an hour and all of the soldiers headed to a meeting area where they turned in their MILES, returned unused ammo and ate a hot breakfast.
After a four-hour bus ride, which included a showing of “Transformers,” the troops arrived back at the Roseburg armory.
After cleaning their weapons, participating in a debriefing and coming together for their final formation, the soldiers were released from their weekend training duties just before dinner time and returned to their civilian lives — until next month.
• You can reach reporter Marissa Harshman at 957-4202 or by e-mail at mharshman@newsreview.info.
After Holmes and Thomey sang a duet of “Backpack, Backpack!” from the cartoon “Dora the Explorer,” and a handful of the guys split two bags of beef jerky, everyone headed to their sleeping bags and bunked down for a brisk night under the stars.
<b>Final mission</b>
By 4 a.m., with temperatures still lingering around freezing, the soldiers from both platoons were awaken and given directions to pack up and head to the Humvees. About three hours later, the soldiers from Charlie Company were at various posts around the perimeter of the village. At one post, a tactical checkpoint, soldiers stood outside their Humvees, stopping and questioning other vehicles trying to enter the grounds surrounding the village.
The quiet of the morning was disrupted by loud pops and bangs coming from the village. There, soldiers from Delta and Alpha companies were knocking on doors and talking with “residents” and trying to find out information about any potential enemies in the area — something that soldiers often do overseas.
This mission, though, turned into an exchange of gunfire, which could be because the soldiers went into the training mission aggressively, knowing there would probably be enemy fire, Terrel said. Terrel, who has served in both Iraq and Afghanistan, said 99.9 percent of knock-and-searches turn into meet-and-greets.
The mission wrapped up after about an hour and all of the soldiers headed to a meeting area where they turned in their MILES, returned unused ammo and ate a hot breakfast.
After a four-hour bus ride, which included a showing of “Transformers,” the troops arrived back at the Roseburg armory.
After cleaning their weapons, participating in a debriefing and coming together for their final formation, the soldiers were released from their weekend training duties just before dinner time and returned to their civilian lives — until next month.
• You can reach reporter Marissa Harshman at 957-4202 or by e-mail at mharshman@newsreview.info.
