Saturday October 4th 2003
Operation: Polka time
I arrived at Camp Stasa as
usual at a undetermined random time for maximum stealthiness (I was late). This
was a bad thing because I learned that Lee was called into work, which meant that
I might be called upon to lead an exercise or answer the proverbial "what do we
do now?" question. Having printed out the training schedule we had devised at our
weekly staff meeting, I felt properly equipped.
Once I actually got back to the range, I found a goodly number of Wayne county militia members engaged in a "FUN" looking activity. Why, it reminded me of the times as a child my good old Uncle Lech would pull out his accordion and we would POLKA the night away....YEAH RIGHT! We had the lumber fairies visit our range and "gift" us with HUGE tree segments. Some were three feet in diameter and ten feet long.
Luckily, one team member had
recently replaced his big bad Ford 4x4 with a Bigger Badder GMC 4x4 equipped
with a winch. YEAH team!!! This made the work of moving the lumber fairies
droppings much more easy. There was another new feature to the range, a yagi
directional 2 meter antenna. This is great! We have already heard that it is
capable of sending directional broadcasts through multiple counties with only a
hand held walkie talkie. GREAT!!! However, I doubt the antenna is capable of
stopping many rifle rounds. I have heard that it too has been designated for
relocation. Well at least its a whole lot lighter than the trees.
After the POLKA fest, the team assembled for a tactical march. They only stayed on the trail for a short time once they had made it to the far side of the field. They patrolled the tree lined perimeter of the area we call the back 40. This was done in a bounding manner and took nearly two hours due to the large area covered.
When the team finally
made it back it was chow time. Once again the menu was the traditional
Militia-Que (Burgers, Beans with garlic yummy!) After digesting there meals Mark
began a class in reacting to an ambush. After some chalk board time and
many questions (many started with "what if") it was time to run thru it a few
times to get a feel for what Mark was saying before we added the "what if's"
Although our scenario was patrolling thru heavy woods, we ran the exercise on
the range which is of course clear. I tell you this in hopes of avoiding emails
that will ask why the team is so close together. It really took several
times thru before what Mark had said made sense the main point was that there
are 2 reactions to an ambush you either charge thru it and KILL KILL KILL or you
peel out and rally at a minimum "safe" distance.
Peeling out is some thing you need to practice cause with team members moving in front of your position while you are all dumping rounds into the enemies location you need to have your wits about you so as not to shoot your team members. Because while his being shot will not cause you immediate pain the fact that you team has now suffer a loss of firepower will lessen your chance of surviving. Army of one marketing aside team work/superior fire power wins firefights.
The team would move out
single file close quarters (remember simulated heavy wooded terrain in low
light) At a random point I (playing the enemy armed with my outside voice) would
call out "contact" and give them a direction. Soon after this Mark, the team
leader would call out either "fall back" or "advance". We ran thru "fall
back" more than "advance", due to the whole don't shoot your teammate being so
darned important a skill to master. The drills went really well once the "what
if" demons were vanquished. People came up with informed, important questions
that Mark answered and changes to the drill were incorporated.
After this believe it or not we actually ran another drill though not right away people needed a little time to re-hydrate and recuperate. Plus we had a late arrival from Ottawa county. The next drill was the four pin everyone that wanted too, ran it.
Afterwards people gathered down range for some pistol shooting. Another in the ever expanding list of great reasons to come out to training is the camaraderie. I shot several other peoples weapons while down range. Everyone is friendly and willing to let you have a try with there pistol, rifle or shotgun. Heck you may be the next owner of their weapon so why not. You might like the Glock 17 so much after firing your buddies gun. That you go out and get one yourself. Or now that you fired a "whatever" you know you don't want one. Your buddy just saved you some time and money. So why not come out and save yourself some money ? Or find out what pistol, rifle or shotgun is your next "gotta have gun"
A few gung-ho team members stayed the night and were joined by Lee and others who were held hostage by there jobs on Saturday. Lee will have a report on day 2 of Operation: Polka Time so stay tuned...............................................
-F.J. LoPiccolo Jr.
