A Productive Week

I needed a week like this!  Whenever Patrick leaves, I usually have a few days of doing nothing around the house.  Dishes don't get done, clothes don't get washed, and nothing gets cooked.  After a few days like that, I'm in desperate need for something to shake up the monotony that I created for myself.  This week was perfect for that.

First, I went to church and sat with two ladies that were super nice.  They were about my mom's and grandmother's ages.  They were very interested in me and the new baby.  I will probably seek them out to sit with again.  Then I attended a three day seminar called Army Family Team Building.  These classes were about how to be the most successful in the Army.  We were trained in how to deal with crises, difficult people, how to build dynamic teams, etc.  It was very informative, and I had a great time visiting with other Army wives.  Today, I was motivated to catch up on all of the house work that I had previously been avoiding.  Not only is the house (on it's way to being) clean, but I am doing some baking for my scrap-booking club tomorrow. 

So, this was the perfect week to pick myself up out of the moping hole and say, "Hey, life can still be fun and meaningful while Patrick is gone!"  Now I have plenty of things to write Patrick about in my next letter.  :)

Speaking of Patrick, no news yet, which in Ranger School, is always a good thing.  Please keep praying for him as he continues through this tough school.  Your prayers are working!  He is no longer in A company, but in C company.  This is an excellent change, as this is the company we had been hoping he would be placed in originally.  You all are such an encouragement to us both!

ADDRESS CHANGE!!!

Hello everyone!  I mentioned in the previous blog that Patrick had been placed in A company.  Well I received a letter from him today saying that through God's providence he had been moved out of A company into C company.  This is wonderful news!!!  His address has therefore changed.  Here it is below.

2LT Peake, Patrick P.
ATTN:  Class 10-12, Co. C
10850 Schneider Road
Fort Benning, GA 31905

Aside from being very tired, he seems to be doing well.  Please keep him in your prayers as he continues in Ranger School.

Camp Darby: Week One

Hello, again!  I have Patrick's full address and will post it below.  He would love to get letters from anyone who would like to write him.  I remember when he was away at Basic Training, he talked about how getting letters from friends and family helped him stay connected to the real world.

Patrick has been placed in A comany, which is known for being the toughest of the three companies.  PLEASE be praying that he will be successful in whatever he attempts, and that he will find favor with his instructors.

2LT Peake, Patrick P.
ATTN:  Class 10-12, CO C
10850 Schneider Road
Fort Benning, GA 31905
(**I have edited this address to be current)

Day 8 (Monday):  This will be your first day of cadre-led (instructor-led) patrols.  For cadre-led patrols, the RIs will let the student chain of command make all of the decisions for the patrol and only add in feedback when necessary.  These patrols are not graded and will not count against you.  Nevertheless, this day will be very similar to an actual graded patrol so if possible, be in the student chain of command for extra practice.  The day will begin with the operations order and end with actions on the objective for either an ambush or a recon. 

Day 9-12:  These four days will be your first graded patrols.  These graded patrols are squad sized, 9+ members, and the chain of command will consist of a squad leader, A team leader and B team leader.  These missions will all begin with the Chain of command receiving the order in the morning and end once you link up with your trucks to move back to Camp Darby.  The two missions you will conduct for these patrols will be either a recon or an ambush.  All students should get at least one patrol during this four day period. But depending on the class size, you may get more or less.  These days will have a wake up time of approximately 5:00am and a bed down time of 2:00am.

 Day 12-13:  The primary focus of these two days is recovery of personnel and equipment and transition from squad level patrols to platoon level patrols (made up of four squads).  During these two days, you will receive platoon level classes on a recon, ambush, and patrol base.  On the evening/night of day 12, you will do your first platoon-sized patrol base.  On day 13, you will continue your platoon level classes in the morning.  The rest of the day and night you will conduct an instructor led patrol in which you will occupy a patrol base prior to returning to Camp Darby.

Day 14-16:  These three days will be your platoon level graded patrols.  For these patrols, the chain of command will consist of a platoon leader, platoon sergeant, and four squad leaders.  Additionally, there are 2 new ungraded positions, the RTO (radio man), and the forward observer.  Day 14 will begin with a full operations order and end with the occupation of the patrol base at night.  Days 15 and 16 will start with a fragmentary order in the patrol base and the platoon will move together to the ORP where the squads will either break off to conduct her individual missions or work together as in a platoon sized mission. 

The first week of Ranger School

Hello everyone!  I am pleased to report that Patrick completed RAP week!!!!  This is a huge accomplishment, as most Ranger School recycles occur during this time.  As soon as I receive his mailing address, I will post it, as I am sure he would love to hear from everyone.  Below is the rest of what he did/is doing this first week of Ranger School.  The beginning of this week was posted two blogs earlier, if you missed it and want to check it out.

Day 5:  The main event for this day is the Darby Mile and the Malvesti obstacle course.  The Darby Mile is approximately 1.5 miles of light hills and various obstacles that you will have to either jump over, crawl through, or maneuver around.  You will conduct this event with your Ranger Buddy.  After completing the Darby Mile, you will move directly over to the Malvesti Obstacle Course.  The Malvesti Obstacle Course consists of the following events in order:  cargo rope climb and descend, monkey bars, low crawl under barbed wire, and chin-ups.  The Malvesti Obstacle Course is completely in water so you will be wet for the entire course.  In the afternoon, you will receive your first 20 board class on crossing danger areas, formations and order of movement, ambush, and reconnaissance. 

 Day 6:  The main event for this day is the Airborne jump.  If you are not Airborne qualified (Patrick is not), you will assist on the ground.  Following the jump, all students will be loaded onto buses and be transported to Camp Darby.  Once you arrive at Camp Darby, the RIs will give you a short tour of Camp Darby, showing you the bathrooms and planning bays, and giving you the rules of the camp.  At some point in this day, you will receive a shot.  Later that night you will receive classes on Warning Orders, Operational Orders, and Fragmentary Orders.

 Camp Darby

Day 7:  The Darby Queen is the first big test at Camp Darby.  It will be conducted before noon on this day.  The DQ is an obstacle course consisting of 20 obstacles.  This is not a timed event.  You will execute the course in a buddy team, but complete the obstacles individually.  After the DQ, you will likely receive 20-board classes in the afternoon and a practical exercise in which you walk-through actions on the objective for an ambush and a recon.  Later that night you can expect to do a practice Operations Order.

Important Dates

Hello, again!  I know I just posted, but I have discovered some dates for Ranger School that will help us get a good time line of each phase.  Keep in mind that if he is recycled from a phase, he will repeat it before progressing, thus changing his graduation date.

Ranger School:  August 20- October 19
Darby Phase:  August 20-September 8
Mountains Phase:  September 9-September 29
Swamps Phase:  September 30-October 16
Graduation:  October 19 at 10:00am

Back to Ranger School

Patrick left for Ranger School Sunday morning.  He was both excited and nervous to have another opportunity to complete the school.  It is a 61 day course, starting with Day 1.  Day 0 is a paperwork/processing day, so it doesn't count.  My plan is to update the blog once a week with information about what he is completing that week.  This blog will just address RAP week, which is the first and hardest four days of Ranger School.  This is the week that got Patrick last time.  Please be praying that he will pass all of the events with energy to spare!

Ranger School

Phase One:  The Darby Phase

 
RAP Week

Day 0:  This is the day before Ranger School stars.  This day is merely a reporting day, not an actual class day.  By reporting, you are letting Ranger School know that you are intending to report on your scheduled class date.  When you report, yuou must report in ACUs prior to 1300 on the day before your class starts. 

Day 1:  The first day you start will not be like basic training.  The Ranger Instructors (RI) act like professionals and treat you like a professional.  You will typically report at or around 0400 and be sure to bring all of your baggage with you.  The RIs will separate you into three separate companies, doing their best to balance the total numbers as well as the number of enlisted and officers per company.  Once all of the companies are set, you will march over to the PT field and begin the RPFT.  The events of the RPFT in order are:  two minutes of push-ups, two minutes of sit-ups, five mile, run, and chin-ups.  Do not stress the RPFT.  Contrary to what some people may say, RIs are not looking to fail you.  Later that day you will do the Combat Water Survival Assessment (CWSA).  This will consist of thee main events in no particular order:  equipment removal in the water and 15 meter swim, the beam walk and rope drop, and the zip line.  The beam walk consists of walking across a beam that is 35 meters high, then crawling across a rope before dropping into the water below.  The zip line is a 75 foot height that the soldiers zip line down before dropping into the water.  Once your company completes both events, you will dump your bags and have a packing list inspection.  Once the inspection is complete, you will then move into your barracks.  As a final thought, this day will seem like it never ends.

Day 2:  The second day will be your land navigation test.  The test will begin in the morning during the hours of limited visibility.  You will be given five points, or locations, to be plotted and found.  You must find four points in four hours.

Day 3:The main event on the third day is testing your familiarization on the M240B and the M249 machine guns.  First you are tested on your ability to clear, load, fire, and reduce stoppage on both machine guns.  You will be given 30 seconds on each machine gun to accomplish this task.  Secondly, you will also have three minutes to disassemble each machine gun, and three minutes to reassemble each machine gun.  The land navigation retest is in the morning of this day.  Thus it is to your benefit to pass the land navigation test the first time for you will likely get to sleep twice as long as those that will take the land navigation retest.

Day 4:  The main event for this day is the 12 mile road march.  You must have 40 lbs. in your ruck sack dry (not including any drinking water), and it must be completed in  3 hours and 15 minutes.  In the afternoon you will receive a basic engineering demolition class.  This class will consist of making expedient explosives that you will use during your graded patrols.