Headed to Mountains!!!

PATRICK MADE IT!!!  He passed Darby Phase!  He came out of the gate yesterday grinning like a Cheshire cat! :)  We had a really nice pass, but it flew by!  By the time we shopped for his supplies, did laundry and ate, we didn't have much time left.  It was so nice to be able to see him again, though.  We really were able to soak in that last bit of time together before the baby comes. He had to be back at Camp at 5:00 pm, where they ate chow and then loaded the buses to head to Camp Merrill.  This is where he will complete the mountains phase of Ranger School.  Camp Merrill is located in Dahlonega, GA.  Below is a summary of mountains phase from the Ranger School website.  I will continue to write the daily activities blurbs, but this is a great general overview.

Thank you to everyone for their prayers!  Keep it up!

**His new address is coming soon, but I'm still waiting on his squad info to be able to have it completed.  I'll post it as soon as I have it.

MOUNTAINS

During the Mountain Phase at Camp Frank D. Merrill in the North Georgia Mountains, students receive instruction on military mountaineering tasks, mobility training, as well as techniques for employing a platoon for continuous combat patrol operations in a mountainous environment. They further develop their ability to command and control platoon size patrols through planning, preparing, and executing a variety of combat patrol missions. The Ranger student continues to learn how to sustain himself and his subordinates in the adverse conditions of the mountains. The rugged terrain, severe weather, hunger, mental and physical fatigue, and the emotional stress that the student encounters afford him the opportunity to gauge his own capabilities and limitations as well as that of his "Ranger Buddies".

Ranger students receive four days of training on military mountaineering. During the first two days at the Lower Mountaineering Area on Camp Merrill, Ranger students learn about knots, belays, anchor points, rope management and the basic fundamentals of climbing and rappelling. Mountaineering training culminates with a two day exercise at Yonah Mountain applying the skills learned during Lower Mountaineering. Students conduct one day of climbing and rappelling over exposed high angle terrain. The second day squads perform mobility training to move their personnel, equipment, and simulated casualties through severely restrictive terrain using fixed ropes and hauling systems.

Following mountaineering, students conduct four days of combat techniques training. During this training students receive classes and perform practical exercises on Movement to Contact, Patrol Base, Troop Leading Procedures, Operations Orders (OPORD), Combatives, Ambush, and Raid.

Students then perform ten days of patrolling during two field training exercises. Combat patrol missions are directed against a conventionally equipped threat force in a low intensity conflict scenario. These patrol missions are conducted both day and night and include Air Assault Operations and extensive cross country movements through mountainous terrain. The Ranger students execute patrol missions requiring the use of their mountaineering skills. Platoon missions include movements to contact, vehicle and personnel ambushes, and raids on communication and mortar sites. Students also conduct river crossings and scale steeply sloped mountain. The stamina and commitment of the Ranger student is stressed to the maximum. At any time, he may be selected to lead tired, hungry, physically expended students to accomplish yet another combat patrol mission.

At the conclusion of the Mountain Phase, students move by bus or parachute assault into the third and final Phase of Ranger training, conducted at Camp Rudder, near Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.