OPERATION: BIRD OF PREY

October 1st, 2005

    Oct 1st, Camp Stasa, Michigan. Operation "Bird of Prey".

    Mr. Kong and I arrived just before nine to find some severely dedicated members of Fire Team "Blood" (name pending) working on their Level 2 qualifications. A three-mile time of 46 minutes showed that they were willing to knock it out in an expedient manner. This, I approve of...

    Agent Smith and Barrett finished their walk, and Barrett went into the "camo self and equipment" portion with a full-blown Ghillie suit. Damn if we didn't get a picture of this. Agent Smith wanted to get his shooting down before doing any of the rest, while Barrett did the first-aid dressing and expedient shelter construction to continue his L2. His gear also more than checked out (these guys got there stuff together, I tellya.) He did the shooting and rushes later in the day, and even did some more camo work.

Above, Agent smith and Barrett on the range.                                                       Barrett with gloves and face paint.

We also did a walk through to identify some of the overwhelming forests of poison ivy that bless the landscape at Camp Stasa. A good basic rule is to NOT TOUCH ANYTHING WITH THREE LEAVES.

Above: "Leaves of three, leave it be!"

We welcomed three more new folks (in addition to young Agent Smith), and worked on getting them sighted in. I think that with just a bit more patience and a few more minutes at the range, and they will be dialed in. Sometimes, newer rifles can be frustrating, but taking the time to get a good, tight group with a dependable rifle can be priceless. Especially something so drool-inducing as this:

There was some more sighting in and stuff, and more of the regular crew filtered in. Soon, we had enough to run two squads in separate patrols. One, with the Pioneers, headed out along the road, and a second squad, with Fire Team Blood and a hastily cobbled-together Hat Team headed into the woods. The second squad got separated heading back from an ORP to conduct an ambush. Well,  that was my bad, and we will work on it. Still, I sat on a log to compose the squad near the intended ambush site, and as soon as Mad Hatter joined me, the log (a big one, too) cracked and I toppled over onto my backside. It would have been really funny....

Chuckwagon hooked us up with some mighty tasty burger action. Worth the trip.

We measured out the range, to verify the hundred-yardliness thereof, and in a fit of inspiration, measured out to 100 meters as well. Folks motivationally inclined to do so counted off their pace counts a time or two for one hundred meters. This makes sense, given that most current maps with which we may need to become familiar are marked off in metrics.

There was a compass class by Bishop. Got to get you a good compass. GPS systems are fun, but you need batteries, and those GPS satellites can be interfered with. Get a compass, and learn how to use it.

Super Six did a nice .45 breakdown demonstration. Some things are like riding a bike to some people. Have to admit that he tends to back up all of his...ummm...discussions with action.

One last quick patrol headed out to look for a friendly "Care Bear", but they were not fortunate enough to encounter such a thing. (Maybe they WERE fortunate...).

After some brief discussions, Six and Tank and Hatter had a pin shoot off. Six cleaned the table off the fastest. (In all fairness, Tank knocked his pins down first, but one remained on the table...)

Good training, good day, good folks, and some new folks. We are like that big wheel that keeps on turning....

Oh, and through much of the day, there was a pair  of large birds of prey circling around the area. They were huge and it was sweet to see. Hence, "Bird of Prey".

Next up: Saturday, Nov 5th. Be there....

-Lee

More pics coming soon.