Chosen Soldier - Dick Couch [93]
Between targets, 811 rucks up and patrols to the new target location. They move carefully to a location four to five hundred yards from the target and set up a security position in a shallow draw, well hidden from view. The men dump their rucks, break out MREs, reload, and refit for the next raid. Depending on the timeline, they may or may not get a few hours sleep before the recon teams go out.
“So how’s it going?” I ask Aaron Dunn as I slide my MRE, a beef stew this time, into its heater pouch. He’s preparing a chicken entrée. It’s early December, and evening temperatures head for the mid-thirties.
“Better, I think,” Sergeant Dunn replies. “There’s so much to learn, and when the raid or the ambush is initiated, you have to move and react. At first, I was very intimidated when I was a team leader, but I’m starting to feel better. I’m scheduled to be the A-team leader for this raid. The A-team leader has a lot of responsibility. The success of the assault is with him—with me.”
Seated nearby, loading M4 magazines, is Tim Baker. “It’s challenging all right, and you have to be thinking all the time, even when patrolling—where to step, what may happen next. You have to scan your area of responsibility, but you also have to know where the other guys are and keep alert for hand signals. During an assault, you have to do it all—move, think, react, and shoot. When we first learned this back in the preparation course and we did everything at a walk, it seemed so easy. Moving at full speed and at night, it takes all your concentration. I never thought I’d be able to do this so fast—especially when we’re averaging about four hours’ sleep.”
“You have the C-team for this target, right?”
“That’s right, sir. And I have the experience. I have Captain Santos on one SAW and Sergeant Hall on the other. Dolemont will be on the gun. Imagine me telling those guys what to do.” The M240 machine gun is referred to simply as “the gun.” The 240 fires a heavier-caliber bullet than the other squad weapons. Eight-one-one is quickly learning that their tactical success often comes down to getting the 240 in the most effective and advantageous position. It’s the big dog in a small-unit action, both in the Q-Course and often down range in the real world.
As ODA 811 works its way through the raid and recon portion of the fieldwork, the four Rangers are very seldom put in leadership positions. Sergeant Janss has seen enough of them, in their briefing skills as well as their tactical leadership, that he is satisfied. Now he wants to see the less-experienced men in leadership roles. Often, he will isolate the 811 Rangers so as to force the team leaders to direct other members of the squad who may be as inexperienced as themselves.
On the last evening, I catch Captain Matt Anderson during a quiet moment waiting for darkness to fall. We are down in yet another draw—well concealed, but it is cold and wet.
“How does this training compare with what you did in Ranger School?” I ask.
Anderson considers this. “In some ways, we’re learning a lot more here because we go quickly from scenario to scenario. Every day there are multiple opportunities for tactical execution as a team. In Ranger School, we covered much more ground between missions