Central America South America

panzergator · Post by **panzergator** » Fri Jul 19, 2019 4:09 am

0545? You can't get anything done sleeping in like that! Make that 0300!

7.62 · Post by **7.62** » Fri Jul 19, 2019 5:43 am

Karmanaskis was planing to send a 20 person team to join the next jungle course.
However they are members of the Readiness Battalion which was activated this morning.
It is hoped that the KDF will be able to start sending a steady contingent for jungle training in the near future.

chrisswim · Post by **chrisswim** » Fri Jul 19, 2019 8:28 am

Ft. Randolph, Panama
7.62, that is affirmative, our advisor, PG thinks it a good idea. (Do not tell anyone that we are starting at 0300, let everyone think its 0545).
Each unit should send in their weapons in a unit container for inspection. Ammo deliveries have been received for ROD, Tripoli and CoC, Bulgariadom, Moldovadom, Romaniadom, Serbiadom, Monacodom, CHIdom.

Bulgariadom, Moldovadom, Romaniadom, Serbiadom, Monacodom, CHIdom are each sending 20-25 solders in their National Army. The class is looking to be over 300 members.
The Jungle School is hopeful that all is well in Karmanaskis.

chrisswim · Post by **chrisswim** » Mon Jul 22, 2019 1:26 am

Ft. Randolph, Panama.
At 0300 the NCOs awoke with Sgt Rock as the senior NCO, Command Sgt Major, and then were banging on trash cans in the barracks. They did forget to wake the Colonel. He awoke at 0550. The jungle students already ran 5 miles in boots and cammies. Then to breakfast where they saw the Colonel Stuart walking around the greeting all. Spirits were high despite being extremely tired from waking up 2 1/2 hours early then running.
0715 clean barracks, tidy up. Exercise and training for the next 4 hours, first group swimming laps for 45 minutes in the 25 meter pool. Second group on firing range. The 3rd taking first aid refresher program focusing on issues paramount to Panama. 4th group is split weight training, pushups, stretching, etc. Next group digging in, cutting trees with hatchets, building an underground bunker with sandbag roof and then camo. Over the course of the morning 4 underground bunkers were completely finished, 7 other mostly completed. Medical personnel observing to ensure the safety and well being of the jungle students.
. Relax for 30minutes, to cool down, then to lunch.
. After lunch the student were set up in teams, with the senior ranking person as team lead and 2nd highest as the next. The teams will change personnel and change leaders of the teams daily, sometime a few times in a day.
. Teams were assigned a variety of drills, operational tasks. Some were taking classes on tracking, concealment, communication.
This program will have some repetition over time to ensure all jungle students learn and develop their skills, develop true confidence not loud bull pooh.

chrisswim · Post by **chrisswim** » Wed Jul 24, 2019 2:25 am

Ft. Randolph Jungle Warfare School
Training today
Learning on poisonous animals in the equator belt region of the world. How to identify them. Study guide handed out, which was in 3 major sections. South & Central America, Central Africa, Asia region.
Next several days that will be a class on this for 2 hours each day, including how to utilize the poison for weapon enhancement.
Swamp movement, fighting, concealment, first aid in the swamp for topics. How to conduct heliborne operations in the jungle: deployment, fire support, recon, and withdraw.
15 soldiers join the training class from CHIdom.

chrisswim · Post by **chrisswim** » Fri Jul 26, 2019 1:14 am

Ft. Randolph Jungle Warfare School
The men have been instructed and tested on their knowledge of poisonous animals, symptoms, etc. Into the jungle and swamp to capture our own meals, the teams are lead out each with a trainer NCO or two. Those that were in the swamp yesterday were on land in the jungle today and vise-a-versa.
. A few cases of trench-foot were reported and addressed by the NCO, dry socks ASAP. Those men had an extra 2 miles to run... wait we are a team. Everyone runs two miles.
As the men lining up for a cooked meal... a whistle blew, Sgt yells form in the teams you were on today. Everyone ran two extra miles, then in line for dinner. (rumor that cooks were not finished preparing the evening meal).

MechCommander · Post by **MechCommander** » Fri Jul 26, 2019 7:46 am

Fort Randolph Panama
While during the Jungle Warfare Training exercises, there was a series of sudden whooshes and then a huge crackle of flames starts rapidly spreading into the Jungle where the solders where training at, they where Improvised Incendiary devices that had been laid there by the Panamanian Rebels sometime ago in a effort to drive off the foreign invaders from the Can-al.

chrisswim · Post by **chrisswim** » Fri Aug 02, 2019 5:55 am

Ft Randolph, Panama
Jungle Warfare Training
The NCOs yelling at the students. Get your swim gear on, fins, googles, etc. Walk in your aqua shoes, to the helos. 17 UH-1 Hueys on the flight line Each Huey has 12 orange life guard belts. A dozen guys board each they all take the strap across the shoulder so the soft buoy trails behind the swimmer. Then the Hueys fly out over the Caribbean 4 miles out and they jump at 20 feet to swim in to the beach. 15 row boats and 7 motor boats along with 12 Jet Skis in the area in the event of a needed rescue.
The UH-1s fly back to Ft. Randolph to for the second wave to take them out 4 miles mirroring the jump into the water for the swim. 15 Hueys land at the heli-port. 2 Hueys remain over the area keeping an eye over the swimmers.
A few swimmers rested on their life belt before continuing on the journey.
On the beach, after fresh fruit and drinks, into uniforms for climbing trees, rappelling from towers.

Lunch: sea food on the barbie.... Then to the cafeteria, Chess boards were set up. Asking the Jungle Students their experience with chess. Play a game, one side slides to the left to change opponents every 15 minutes for 4 hours. Shower & dinner. Then 4 mile hike in the jungle with packs and weapon in groups of 12 people. Guys stumbling, tripping, Sleep in the jungle.
.
In the morning, 0405, gun fire from AK-47 disturbing the sleep of the students. Each of the 24 groups had an NCO firing the gun to check the response of the students. As some students went to grab their rifle it was not there. 3/4 did have their rifles some sleeping with it. The defense of most groups was weak, some groups had every person sleeping. Some had a person serving as a guard. Those groups fared batter in the attack.

redleg · Post by **redleg** » Fri Aug 02, 2019 8:55 pm

The AK-47 makes a very distinctive sound when fired at you! Is Gunny Highway in charge of training?

Great training that the CoC is running...keep it up! The ROD troops are learning a lot!

chrisswim · Post by **chrisswim** » Fri Aug 02, 2019 9:59 pm

Ft. Randolph, Panama
The ROD soldiers are doing well. Some are exceptional in their activities and evaluations. 1 is at the end of the pack with 4-5 others.
So you have heard of our Training Command Sgt Major, Gunny Highway? 38 years and counting. He is treated as a deity. Officers that have rank of Major and below salute Gunny Highway. Some Lt. Colonels salute first.

Today, rescue and recovery of personnel. 4 large groups. In the 50 meter pool, swimming towards other end to rescue distressed swimmer. Bring him back. The helicopter hitting the water, exit safely. Then helicopter hit the water and roll-over then exit. Divers were there to assist, 3 guys needed assistance will work with the next group rotation to develop their ability and skills.
In the adjacent building is the C-130 that lands/hits the water. Small groups initially of 4, then 6, 10. Then roll-over C-130 fuselage. Working up to groups of 24. Divers are in the fuselage on these as well with tanks.
On land, the rescue craw for 200 meters with injured on their back, staying low. Then carry on the back while carrying weapon.
In the jungle, carrying wounded. 2 and 3 man teams. How to build a stretcher, a â€˜dragâ€™ with 1 or 2 dragging with 1 security.
How to make a tiny clearing for helicopter extraction. How to indicate your location so the helicopter identifies your location in the jungle with out radio. How to use M203 to launch a small line and bandana to the top of canopy.
This rotation will take everyone through all the exercises. Each station is at least 1 full day to master and train. Builds mental toughness and loyalty.

chrisswim · Post by **chrisswim** » Sat Aug 10, 2019 6:59 am

Ft. Randolph, Panama
The rescue rotation was a difficult rotation, everyone agreed to that premise. Some needed to go through a particular rotation again to earn their rescue & survive check to the course. The C-130 with 24 onboard seemed to be the most difficult, certainly as they were wearing more equipment. No serious injuries. Few episodes where a guy was strapped and demonstrated some real excitement.
In the morning, weights, stretching, breakfast. 10 mile run with obstacles with small waterway 10-30 feet across, some to wade others to swim. Climb up the concrete embankment, others with earthen embankments. Some rope bridges to cross. Medical personnel were station along the trek, with Helos or Ambulance Hummvs at various locations.
Upon completion rest and hydrate, then lunch. Time to journal their thoughts on the morning sessions, did they observe anything, learn anything, what about encounters with the other soldiers. Did you run in a team or pair. More ran with a partner or in a team. Even if a bit slower, that is the building of a team for team work, working together to solve a problem, complete a mission. The last four came in together. One half way through did need a Hummv ride, ice in a tub for his ride back. He did not like that, but who cares. Rest for him except for classroom work in the afternoon.
.
M203 range, grenade range, clay-more and other mines station. Also weapons from around the world of different types. How to clear a jam, disassemble and re-assemble. Compare and contrast the features and benefits. 12 stations for this.
. Then run to the pool, swim 1/4 mile in clothes, to the showers. Dinner and relax. Journal again... learn, observe. Self evaluation.

chrisswim · Post by **chrisswim** » Wed Aug 14, 2019 8:51 am

Ft Randolph, Panama
The morning had a 10 mile run in uniform and carrying rifle, 2 canteens. Then lunch, rest and then instruction in classroom on the weather, on meteorological applications and techniques.
Jungle Warfare students had teams set up, assigned Zodiacs to motor to a range of 12 miles out to sea starting at 8pm, just before dark. Working to handle the rough waves at night. As it was getting darker it became more difficult to stay dry. Soldiers carrying plastic rifles, knife, normal load for each soldier and the boat. Each boat was to reach one of the 8 Visby at sea prior to the return trip. There were NCO & trainers with medical staff in several larger boats with thermals. These boats had ability to turn on several flood-lights for illumination if needed. There were also 4 Coast Guard patrol boats to help ensure the safety of the training program. Many men did ingest salt-water thus drinking too much of their fresh water on the trip out. Men rotated station on trip out and back to be familiar with each station and primary zone of coverage.
First boats beached after midnight, hauled up and hidden under palm branches. The last boat came in at 1:26. All survived and achieved success in learning, function properly. A few threw up from the roughness of the waves. Then to sleep 100 yards from the beach after being landing on the beach.

chrisswim · Post by **chrisswim** » Fri Aug 16, 2019 7:57 am

Ft. Randolph, Panama
The marines conducted 4 more landings. The system got better, LCUs ran out of fuel. Lost a few 6x6 APCs. The Marines returned to their take off point. The Army were doing the same, resting for the new day.

redleg · Post by **redleg** » Wed Nov 20, 2019 10:52 am

After 6 months in Panama, the RODâ€™s 20th Infantry Battalion is preparing to turn its sector of the Panama Waterway zone over to the Panamanian forces that it has been training for these many months. Joint patrols continue throughout the area and the facilities at Fort Grant are being signed over to the Panamanians. The last Stryker will be loaded onto a ship this week, but the ROD will be leaving a number of HMMWVs, trucks, and crew served weapons behind for their Panamanian allies.

A number of events are planned by the citizens in the area who benefited from the RODâ€™s construction and IT training programs. Many of them are sad to see the ROD go, but the ROD was never invited by the Panamanian government, so now that the waterway is stable and secure, and the local security forces are well trained, the ROD is heading home.

Upon their arrival in the ROD, the 20th Infantry Battalion will be reflagged as 1st Battalion / 20th Infantry.

chrisswim · Post by **chrisswim** » Sat Nov 23, 2019 10:13 am

The CoC is appreciative of the support and help of ROD in the Panama Waterway area. We feel that we benefited by working with the ROD 20th Inf. Hope that we will work together in the future.
Look forward to participate in the base turn over ceremony.