Republic of Dalmatia Imagi-Nation

[panzergator]

Now, how many of you have actually RIDDEN in one of those cattle trailers? I have - ROTC Camp, Fort Knox, 1970.

[MechCommander]

POP camp at Grunt Week
The NC Squad from the Airborne Regiment. Toasted their victory during their first day of Grunt Week with a case of Crown Royal Canadian Whisky. They cheer on the other POP squads in their part of the competition.

[redleg]

My cattle car experience is the same as yours - ROTC Advanced Camp at Fort Lewis in 1996. Cattle cars are one of those things that you hate at the time but you laugh about it later. Something that is a uniquely military experience. Like mopping the rain or floor buffer rodeos!

[panzergator]

Cattle cars were discontinued at Fort Knox after a rollover.

[redleg]

Cat to cars were discontinued at Fort Knox after a rollover.

Probably a good move. I don't even want to think about a rollover in one of those!

[redleg]

Day 2 of Grunt Week was an action-packed affair. Up bright and early, the attendees had an opportunity to tackle Kurth Barracks’ famous obstacle course – the Widow Maker! We are happy to report that there were no serious injuries, just a few cuts and bruises, maybe a concussion or two. While that was going on, the competition squads hit the land navigation course and sought out cleverly hidden points using only a map and compass. The cadre outdid themselves this year by placing nav points in crevasses and thick brush.

After a hearty lunch, the attendees focused on general field craft to include, camouflage, tactical movement, field sanitation, patrol bases, fighting positions, and first aid. The competitors, on the other hand, took their turn at the Widow Maker, competing for the fastest squad and fasted infantryman. The winners are as follows:

Obstacle Course top squad is ROD Army Chicken Hawks

Obstacle Course top infantryman is NC Canadian Airborne Regiment grunt #3

While the attendees spent the evening in discussions about tactical theory and procurement of next generation weapons, the competitors returned to the land navigation course for Night Land Nav! If you thought it was hard in daylight, try doing it at night with only a red-lens flashlight to assist with visibility! The grunts were up and down the hills; around, over, and through terrain obstacles; and a few that waded through streams to find their points. At the end of a very long night the winners are as follows:

Land Navigation top squad is Morrocodom 167th Infantry Regiment Recon D

Land Navigation top grunt is Morrocodom 14th Trekkers grunt #5

It was a late night, but tomorrow will start at dawn in what will be a very demanding day for the competitors!

[chrisswim]

Whoooop, whoop!
One of the soldiers from the Trekkers broke his leg, May we substitute? He is ready to go for tomorrow’s activities.
Thank you.

[MechCommander]

This has been a glorious start for the NC units here at Grunt Week with Two wins to our name. lets keep this up.

[panzergator]

Those open that barracks are a great idea. Gives the folks an idea of REAL Army!

[redleg]

Whoooop, whoop!
One of the soldiers from the Trekkers broke his leg, May we substitute? He is ready to go for tomorrow’s activities.
Thank you.

Substitutions are allowed. We have very modern medical facilities at Kurth Barracks. They will have his leg set and in a cast in no time, and all the other grunts can sign it, and add obscene drawings to it!

[redleg]

This morning started before dawn for the competitors. The squads formed up with all of their gear according to a precise packing list. Each infantryman in field uniform with helmet, rifle (or machine gun), side arm, and a rucksack with 45 pounds of gear. The machine gun could be rotated through the squad members. All squad members had to finish together.

At the sound of an artillery simulator, all 6 squads begam the 12-mile ruck march out to the bayonet training area. It was an arduous march, and all grunts made maximum effort. But in the end only one squad could be named winner:

Top ruck marching squad: ROD Marines Sea Dogs

Immediately following the ruck march, all competitors did some basic foot care and then hit the bayonet assault course. This demanding course requires the grunts to not only negotiate obstacles carrying a rifle wit a bayonet, but they must also engage tire and wooden-post targets with proper bayonet movements. Scores are based on both time and proficiency with bayonet combat techniques. The winners are as follows:

Best bayonet assault squad: Moroccodom 167th Infantry Regiment Recon D

Best bayonet assault grunt: Moroccodom 14th trekkers, grunt #5. It should be notes that this is the same infantryman that won the land navigation competition!

While all of this marching and stabbing was going on, attendees had an opportunity to visit the ranges. Small arms, crew served weapons – you name it, you can shoot it! Soldiers from the Dalmatian Intelligence Service brought out some of the more exotic weapons in their inventory, and international attendees brought some of their own firearms. The Ma Deuce (M2 .50 caliber machine gun) seemed to be the big crowd pleaser.

After dinner, the competition wasn’t over. Competition squads had to report to the rifle range for night marksmanship. Fire that rifle in the dark, then with flashing lights, and finally at MOPP 4! This completed the marksmanship competition. Scores from tonight were added to marksmanship scores from Monday to determine the winners:

Top shooting squad: NC Squad A from Princess Patricia’s Light Infantry

Top shooting grunt: ROD Marines Sea Dog #9 (Lance Corporal Mallet)

Tomorrow is in your face day! The squads will conduct combatives competition while the attendees tackle the bayonet assault course. In the afternoon, the attendees will conduct combatives training and the squads will start their lanes, followed by night patrolling. Get some sleep tonight grunts, it may be the last real sleep you get for a few days!

[chrisswim]

Learning, resting our endurance and teamwork. No sleeping pills needed. Being exhausted is more than enough.
Only one Flying Keg has flown in, a 737 from Balzac Republic.

We appreciate your, ROD, gracious hospitality hosting these events. Most kind of you.

[MechCommander]

The Princess Patrica's are toasting their victory at the POP barracks with Crown Royal. This is going very well for NC.

[redleg]

Here is last night's update:

You thought the past few days were challenging? Today the hard stuff started!

Attendees had an opportunity to tackle the vaunted bayonet assault course this morning. The challenging obstacles with bayonet dummies sprinkled in is always a real crowd-pleaser, though it is also a very dangerous undertaking. Those bayonets are sharp, and it is easy to suffer lacerations or puncture wounds while climbing / jumping / crawling with one attached to the end of your rifle! Thankfully, no serious injuries were reported, and an aid station was set up onsite with plenty of suturing supplies.

In the afternoon, attendees hit the sawdust pits for combatives training. Hand-to-hand combat instructors from the ROD Infantry School put the grunts through their paces, even though the pits were still a bit torn up from the morning.

This morning the squads arrived at he combatives pits at 0500 to start a rigorous hand-to-hand course. All 6 squads participated, and then they began competing against each other. Scores were based on combatives proficiency, but a winner has been named yet – there is still more combatives competition to come!

After a brief lunch, the squads rucked up and headed into the woods for squad lanes. The squads will be operating independently to complete a series of missions against a live opposing force using MILES equipment. The missions range from raids to attacks to reconnaissance. The grunts will be performing night patrols as well! Sleep? What sleep? Patrol base activities!

Don’t be surprised if you hear gunfire or explosions throughout the night as you sleep in the open-bay barracks!

[redleg]

After a long night of patrolling and patrol base activities, the squads marched back to the saw dust pits for more combatives! It’s hard enough when you are well rested, but the grunts were operating on little sleep and that made the hand-to-hand event all the more challenging. The competition continued for several hours until one infantryman stood alone…undefeated and deserving of the title “King of the Pit”.

King of the Pit for 2024 is ROD Marines Sea Dog #4 (SSgt Isom)!

The celebrations did not last long though – the squads rucked up and moved back into the woods for more squad missions until 1500 local time. At that point the squads linked up into platoons and they began conducting platoon missions. These missions will continue around the clock, to include more night patrolling and patrol base activities, until the final mission tomorrow morning.

For the attendees it was by no means an easy day. The morning began with airborne refresher training and then paratroopers went up throughout the day for a jump into Drop Zone Musket. The C-130s were working all day and some grunts made 3 or 4 drops. For those hearty infantrymen who wanted to attempt it, the ROD Infantry School cadre conducted the ROD Expert Warrior Badge Qualification. This is not easy and it requires a full day of evaluation. Those grunts, from any nation, who could successfully complete all Expert Warrior Tasks were presented with the Expert Warrior Badge. If you were really cool you asked an instructor to nail it to your chest during the awards ceremony!

The day finally wrapped up with a helicopter insertion for the attendees. The pilots promised to make it an enjoyable ride around Kurth Barracks, and then the grunts were dropped off 15 kilometers from the barracks for a relaxing road march back.

Expert Warrior Badge:


Expert Warrior Tasks:

Fitness
Physical Fitness Test
12-Mile Road March
Water Survival Skills test

Fight
Weapons Qualification – Pistol
Weapons Qualification – Rifle
Weapons Qualification – Machine Gun
Proficiency in Bayonet Combat
Proficiency in Hand-to-Hand Combat
Employ Night Vision Devices

Weapons Proficiency
Load, unload, functions check, correct malfunction, engage target:
-Pistol
-Rifle
-Machine Gun
-Grenade Launcher
-Heavy Weapons
-Anti-Tank
-Claymore Mine
-Hand Grenade

Maneuver
Land Navigation – Day Course
Land Navigation – Night Course
Patrolling

Communicate
Employ Tactical Radio with encryption
Communicate using SOI / CEOI
Conduct Call For Fire with Tactical Radio
Send 9-Line MEDEVAC Request with Tactical Radio

First Aid
Evaluate a Casualty
Perform First Aid

Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Warfare
React to NBC Attack
Decontaminate Yourself and Your Equipment