Troop Leading Procedures

It was really interesting. I discovered the other day that Army ROTC has affected more of my life than I thought. Usually, I am most aware of its effects on Monday mornings when I have to get up early, put on an uncomfortable PT uniform, and join my fellow cadets in early-morning PT (Physical Training) before rushing back to Johnny's dorm to shower and then get straight to my 8:45am Statistics class. This is not my favorite thing about the Army. Nor do I particularly appreciate having to give presentations/conduct training for the MSI/IIs (Military Science I and II, the freshmen and sophomores) 3 weeks in a row, last week with less than 4 days notice, on difficult topics to teach such as Map Reading and establishing a Patrol Base. Add to that a ton of FRAGOs (Fragmentary Orders - a nice way of saying that someone higher up didn't think through an OPORD, Operations Order, thoroughly enough before sending it out to his subordinates, or some serious contingencies came up) every week, informing us that yes, we will have training on this date, no, we won't have training then, this is what we will cover, no, actually this is what we will be learning about, wear this, don't wear this, bring that, don't bring that, be here at this time, no, that time, etc. In addition, the Army has a unique way of deciding when to pay you all the money/scholarships they promise you and an equally unique way of making you aware of their timetable. That's another story entirely, though.

The unexpected way in which some of my training has permeated into even the most remotely unrelated aspects of my life is as follows. I was planning a date for my girlfriend and I for Monday night. Usually, there's a UMBC Echo Bible Study on Monday nights which we love to attend. This Monday, however, was chalk-the-walk advertizing for the showing of The Princess Bride at UMBC. As Anna and I both detest this movie (no offense to the millions of fans out there who live for it, CLCers and non-CLCers alike), and as Monday worked best for her schedule for a date night, I made the judgement call that we would go out on Monday instead. I will not divulge the specifics of this date, as this blog is not intimately dedicated to exploring the intricacies and details of my relationship with Anna or the dating process in general, suffice it to say that a lot of planning and preparation went into the occasion. Anyway, to make a long story short, I was shocked to realize that in carefully planning this event for the most special person in my life and myself, I had actually followed all of the eight Troop Leading Procedures!

1. Receive the Mission: Ok, well, I guess this one doesn't count because I didn't really receive it from anyone.
2. Issue the Warning Order: I texted my girlfriend a couple days ahead and suggested we go out on Monday, making sure that that would work for her schedule and would serve her.
3. Make a Tentative Plan: I sketched out the location, timeline, activities, food, transportation options, cost, etc.
4. Start Necessary Movement: I made a couple calls to find out what the hours were for certain places and activities and what food items were available at what locations. Planned some materials and packed some equipment.
5. Reconnoiter/Reconnaissance: Was unable to put eyes and feet on the objective, but did consult aerial reconnaissance in the form of the satellite imagery of the AO (Area of Operations) provided by Google Maps. Planned out distances and routes accordingly.
6. Complete the Plan: Finalized the details and came up with a contingency plan (which we ended up making use of).
7. Issue the Complete Order: I called up Anna and presented her with the finalized plan for the evening.
8. Supervise: I was there.

For those of you interested in remembering the TLP (Troop Leading Procedures), I recommend the following acronymic phrase: Rims Ranger Challenge Is Stupid (which I only say because I am not able to be a part of the Ranger Challenge team this semester and it would be stupid to try to work that into my schedule...I do respect those cadets who are, however).

- CDT Royer

For all of those who are slow on the uptake (i.e. all who haven't posted with their profound excitement and overwhelming exuberance at such an earth-shattering announcement as was provided yesterday), I am providing a more visual representation of my previous comment.

 This is actually from our pre-courtship days...thus, the longer hair, eheh. I'll update with a current photo once I find a camera.

Hello Friends,

The day you have been waiting for, anxiously expecting, and wildly anticipating is upon us. If you know me well, you know what this means, otherwise, don't worry about it.

All right, everybody. I have not posted for awhile so the net-worth of my words should have gone up somewhat since August. This is fortunate as I can now get away with writing less (I don't have a lot of time, tragically)! Therefore, I will leave you with the rough draft of a college trasfer application essay that I have just finished. Your input is appreciated but will not necessarily be implemented. Experience:

"Latissimus dorsi?" "No, too close to my spine." "Rhomboids?" "No, I don't think so, they wouldn't have been used as stabilizers." "How about longissimus thoracis? That runs along the spine." "You know, that may just be it. I probably wrenched it when I leaned back too far." My sister, Evelyn, walks away triumphantly, proud of being able to show off the muscle knowledge she learned from me earlier this year. Knowing that I successfully taught her something eases the pain. I attempt to massage my back against the floor in order to relieve the soreness incurred from a lapse in good form while doing lat pull-downs at the gym I work at. It would not be good for the members at Fitness First to know that the very trainer who showed them how to use the equipment safely this morning is suffering at home from not following his own instructions during an exercise. Their confidence in me would surely be undermined.

There is much to be learned from this experience. It is important that I model what I tell others to do. No one wants to listen to someone who they couldn't see following their own instructions and carrying out tasks the way they told others to do. A leader and teacher must be a role model and a good example to those he is training. The immediate consequences of faulty application do not compare to the breach of trust and assurance that would occur in my followers. I let my thoughts wander to the future, where, as a Captain in the Army Special Forces, I will be training foreign guerrillas in the art of unconventional warfare. I need to clean up my act and practice what I teach, especially when demonstrating the proper way to demolish a structure using plastic explosives. The physical consequences of bad technique in such a case would far outstrip a pulled back muscle, that's for sure. They would also compromise the rapport that my team established with these freedom fighters and would further complicate the mission.

Another question resulting from this uncomfortable predicament is, how will I respond? I ask myself this while unsuccessfully striving to apply Ben-Gay to the middle of my back. Will I climb onto the couch and spend the rest of the day lying there reading Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus (a relevant book as I wrestle with the mysteries and paradoxes of a romantic relationship), soothing my restless conscience with the words, "You're hurt, you need to rest"? Or will I get up and do the next thing on my to-do list for today: "Meet with Spring semester Professors and tell them you're going to miss the first day of class because you'll be returning from a missions trip to Visakhapatnum, India"? I choose to strike a blow against laziness by jumping up, grabbing my car keys and coat, and setting out to complete the objective, to finish the assignment. This demonstrates determination, perseverance, and a will to overcome little trials while looking at the big picture of life. How can I let myself be taken out of action by something as small as a pulled muscle when later in life I may be forced to contend with shrapnel and bullet wounds as I lead my team to finish the mission? Besides, I've faced worse trials than this, like the time I nearly lost my eye when I was stabbed in the face by my opponent's jukdo in Kumdo (a Korean sword martial art) class. Did I give up then and stop sparring? No, I continued to fight and actually won that match do to superior technique.

As I get into my car I wonder, what other lessons will I learn today? What other nuggets of wisdom can be extracted from the aches and pains of daily life, "the thousand natural shocks that flesh is heir to", as Shakespeare would put it? Perhaps I will find out that the college is actually closed today due to inclement weather and realize that I should have planned ahead by calling first instead of impulsively rushing out of the house. Maybe I will get into a car accident and wake up to the fact that the speed limit is posted there for a reason. My thoughts are interrupted by a growling in my stomach and I turn to consider such imperative questions as, "Did I remember to eat breakfast this morning?"

For those of you that may be leaping for joy at the delicious thought that the author is in an authentic, all-out, hands-down courtship (the term used in this context refers to a romantic relationship officially sanctioned by Covenant Life Church) due to a reference to Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus, I feel compelled to draw your attention to the following verse. "For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform miraculous signs and wonders so as to decieve, if possible, even God's chosen ones" (Mark 13:22). Understand this, when the day comes that I am fortunate enough to be in the glorious position of having a woman to look after, you will know about it. You will know. Until then, "What dainty morsels rumors are--but they sink deep into one's heart" (Proverbs 18:8).

- Freedom Fighter

FISH & CHIPS AND PUNTING

On Wednesday, CJ, Sara, Richard, Tiffanie, Catherine, Justin, and I went punting. For Richard and Catherine and I, it was the second time. The first time, I did not enjoy it very much - it was too slow. But the second time I had the use of a camera, which is always a valid solution to such problems. 

~ Camera, Please? ~

~ This is the Basic Movement ~

~ The View was Spectacular ~

~ A Wooden Bridge, for Instance ~

~ Different Punters had Different Styles ~

There were other things to do besides poking the pole into the water or taking pictures...

~ ...like sitting on the prow, bravely facing the unknown... ~

~ ...or kicking back to relax while others did the wet work. ~

~ Fixing one's hair was a viable option... ~

~ ...as was testing the water, which was very cold. ~

~ And of course, the *Asian Peace Sign* ~

~ The Infamous Fish & Chips (fish and french fries, in reality) ~