Chosen Soldier - Dick Couch [83]
“So you’re ready for Phase II?”
“I suppose so, at least as ready as I’ll ever be.” There’s a flash of an easy smile. “I guess I’m like Grasshopper in the Kung Fu TV series. It’s time for me to go.”
On an overcast Monday morning in early November, 341 souls in starched BDUs file into the large auditorium at the JFK Special Warfare Center and School building at Fort Bragg. The only color on their uniforms are the small American-flag shoulder patches. Collectively, they’re a sober group, each man pulling off his cap as he enters to reveal a military haircut—high and tight. These soldiers—veteran officers and enlisted men, along with a hundred-plus X-Ray candidates—are at the auditorium to begin Phase II. Collectively, they make up Phase II Class 1-05. It’s still calendar year 2004, but fiscal 2005 began on 1 October. They speak quietly among themselves, but it is hushed, careful murmuring. All talking stops when the company first sergeant steps to the front of the room.
“Good morning, men, and welcome to Phase II of Special Forces training. For the next thirty-five days you belong to me and my cadre—every waking hour, and those waking hours will take up most of the day.” First Sergeant Stewart Donnally is a measured, even-tempered master sergeant from 3rd Group. He doesn’t raise his voice, but it easily carries across the quiet auditorium to the back rows of soldiers. “Most of you know what to expect here; Phase II is all about patrolling and small-unit tactics. The phase has standards, and you must meet them. Within the boundaries of those standards, we will keep the guys we want to keep. We make subjective evaluations all the time. The cadre’s here to evaluate you and to help you learn, or to help you out. It’s your choice.” He pauses a long moment before continuing. “Be clear on one thing, people. We are here to train warriors, and we are deadly serious about this. The reputation you established during selection will continue after you leave here. We are still a small force, and reputation is everything.”
First Sergeant Donnally goes through a litany of rules and restrictions that will govern training and their life at Camp Mackall and the Rowe Training Facility during his phase. Then he yields to his company commander, a square-shouldered, solidly built captain with a shock of dark hair across his forehead.
“Good morning, men.”
“GOOD MORNING, SIR!”
“I’m Captain John Block, Charlie Company commander, 1st Battalion, 1st Special Warfare Training Group. Let me echo the first sergeant’s welcome. Let me also emphasize what he said about training warriors. If you don’t want to be a warrior, this is the wrong place for you and you’re wasting our time. If you want to be a warrior, then show us you want to be a warrior—a Special Forces warrior. Like the first sergeant, I’ve been at this a while. I earned my tab back in 1988 as a young staff sergeant. Back then and through most of the nineties, we worked mostly in a foreign-internal-defense environment. Our country is now at war, and you will be asked to do it all—foreign internal defense, direct action, special reconnaissance, and unconventional warfare. Phase II is about patrolling and tactics, the foundation of your warrior skill set. You’ll use and teach these skills for the rest of your Special Forces career. This is not a mini Ranger