• My Experience at the University of Toledo FTX 2010

  September 21, 2010

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  ftx   Toledo  

  This was my first FTX as an MSIII and I did not know what to expect. I started out the FTX in the PL position for Bravo Platoon, and made sure everyone safely got on the busses. I had a class to go to so I did not ride the bus with the rest of the cadets. I POV'd to Camp Perry a few hours later, and everyone in the barracks already had their beds set up. I got settled in and was immediately issued the OPORD for the following days activities. I broke down the company level OPORD to the platoon level and issued it to my squad leaders to disseminate to their soldiers. Then I got ready for bed. I set up the fireguard list for the night and went to bed. I didn't sleep at all that first night, and was up, shaved and ready by 0400 in the morning. We started out the day with FLRC lanes, one of which I got to lead. Our group worked really well together, but we were unable to complete any of the lanes. We came close a couple times but ran out of time. After chow, we marched over to the land nav sight across the way and I, along with some of the other MSIIIs gave some advice and pointers to the MSIs and IIs as well as taught a compass orientation class. Day time land navigation went smoothly, and I was the first one finished with my lanes. The cadre sent me out to help out a group of MSIs after finishing two lane strips by myself. We had some down time to snack on MREs before the sun went down to start our night land nav. I only hit one out of my four points on night land nav, but was only off by a few yards on two of them as the points were very bunched together. We marched back to the barracks around 2330, and were given a small smoke session for failure to teach the MSIs and IIs the proper conduct when addressing an officer or an NCO. Then at 0100 were sent up to the barracks and I passed out. 0430 we were back up again, received some pretty good cheese danish in first formation, and marched out to the sight for STX lanes. We formed our first 360 security and I made time to eat some of my MRE. The first squad leader pulled us in to deliver our first OPORD, and we ran through some rehearsals before LD'ing. It turned out to be a patrolling lane turned ambush, and we took fire from the woodline. Bravo team swung around behind and assaulted across the area, defeating the insurgent force. The next lane was a bunker knock-out. It went quite well, and the assault team managed to sneak behind the bunker undetected and tossed a grenade in the bunker, eliminating the enemy. The third lane we ran that day was to set up an ambush along the roadside. We set up a linear ambush and laid in waiting along the side of the road, with a claymore set. Two enemy soldiers came down the road on a foot patrol and we waited patiently until they crossed the kill zone, set off the claymore and laid into them. We repeated the two lanes with variables thrown in the second time around. After the STX lanes we had hot chow at the DFAC, a warrior's dinner, steak, and baked potatoes. Hit the spot. Back to the barracks again for an early lights out at 2200. Got a full night's sleep and woke up at 0500 for the "Rocket Challenge" a 5K timed ruck march with 250 pushups and situps thrown in, and a row of hurdles and a balance beam. Did some light stretching then began the challenge. It was fairly challenging, and I felt thoroughly smoked by the end of it. We headed back to the DFAC for ham and eggs, then back to the barracks to clean, and loaded onto the busses for the long ride home. 

  submitted by Cadet Eric Hoy on Sep 21 2010

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