AVDRT FTX FEB 2009 AAR

Camp was opened up at 1400 hrs 06Feb2009 and closed up at 1130 hrs 08Feb2009. Only 07Feb2009 was scheduled for training. 06Feb2009 and 08Feb2009 were set aside as social time. Initially the schedule was to be:

07Feb2009:

0400-rise and eat
0500-briefing about next phase
0530-firearm safety training and function check
0630-load up and move to patrol area
0645-patrol briefing
0700-patrol
1130-patrol ends load up and move to base camp
1200-chow
1300-debriefing
1400-logistics
1500-navigation
1600-information gathering
1700-chow
1800-debriefing
1900-end training

15 minutes break between classes were scheduled.


This Event was a real learning experience for me. From the get go I knew it would be tough. I soon found out how tough. I was informed that none of the AVDRT Specialists were going to attend and participate. I was not given a reason so I could not respond. A JRB was conducted and I accepted their resignations. They will be missed. That left me with two Volunteers. Both of these folks were very well known to me and trusted. they however have not achieved the Specialist designation because they need more training.

10 days before the FTX I was notified that one of the Volunteers was not prepared to conduct his duties without a firearm and so they excused themself. That left me with ONE VOLUNTEER. Oh well I will be there so no sweat! Enter Murphy and his whole family!! I was cooling my heels at home when I got the call that I was to immediately transport a priority shipment to a military base. I dutifully jumped in my black beast and drove off to load up and deliver. I arrived in time to get unloaded and reloaded. My beast died at a truck stop. I attempted to resuscitate it and was not successful. I spent another night in a hotel room. At 0000 hrs on 7Feb2009 I was notified that an extraction team was onsite and that my prescence was needed. I caught a cab to my truck, and at 0200 hrs set out for the ftx like a demon possessed. I finally arrived at the ftx at 1300 hrs on 07Feb2009.

In my abscence my lone volunteer had dutifully fulfilled their roles along with mine and the other wuss's. Finally I was given a briefing on what had transpired and took the reigns, for a whole whopping 3 hours. Good grief....

Here is the actual event schedule that took place. Provided by a participant at my request. Remember folks the learning experience goes both ways. Therefore all Participants are asked to provide a one or two page assessment of the ftx. So here is the schedule...

06Feb2009

1700 - Set up camp.
1800 – Cooked a meal over the fire
While the meal was being cooked we discussed some of the way’s to grow a garden. What vegetables not to store next to each other, how to hang dry vegetables, and store them.
1900 – Sat down and ate dinner
2000 – Went to bed

07Feb2009

0645 – Woke up and made breakfast
0730 - Packed up the gear and ate breakfast.
0800 – Went to the firing range and finished sighting in with a scope.
0845 – Left the range and rode to the hiking trail.
0915 – Started hiking
0915 – 1300 – Completed the tracking and trapping portion of the class.
Learned where traps need to be set up. Learned what to look for while tracking the animals (trees bent a certain way, rocks in the shape of arrow’s pointing a certain direction, make sure that you are not disturbing the birds, way’s to find water, and classification of tracks.)
1300 – Went back to camp
1400 – Met up with the S-1 officer and discussed different classifications of trees.
1600 – Departed and went home.


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As you can see it differs from the original. This happens! Really it does. It is actually to be expected. Several factors can affect a schedule, most notably, the amount of Volunteers and Participants. This is why it is so important to have everything written down. Admittedly, I should have taken an extra day off so I could have been there from the start. Initially I had expectations of Three Specialists, and Two Volunteers, as well as myself and the Participants.

I had five individuals rsvp. three dropped out after receiving the Waiver. That left two. Both accepted the Waiver. Only 1! shows up. So now its One Volunteer, an observer(non-participant), and 1 Participant!

What the participant calls hiking is the modified patrol that was carried out. The observer was a minor. Most of you know what a patrol is and how it is supposed to go. Most of you have not conducted a patrol with a non-combatant and initially this was the plan. Everything was set up and walla. One non-combatant. Anyway.

I will have to give some thought as to when and where I will hold AVDRT's next ftx. It seems I am soloing again. At least I have everything written down. Yippee, I am still not done with the re-write of all the material since the salt education I got.

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Folks let this be a warning. Once an AVDRT event is announced. IT WILL NOT BE CANCELLED. Rain or shine, freezing or furnace, it will happen. Disasters do not wait until the weather improves. You need to learn how to be comfortable outside no matter what! The only way I know of doing that is, DO IT!

A great deal of thought and effort has gone into this board. It pains me to see all the members here and know that only a few are going off board to participate in social events and training. Get with it...

"In the summer cottons cool. Yet starting with the first frost, cotton clothes you should toss. Polyester is much better whether knitted, matted, or woven like a sweater. There is one fiber that makes cold weather drool and that my dear friend is merino wool."