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.