25 April 2011

            For those of you interested in competing for an airborne slot through TJAGLCS in the future, you chances mostly come down to this week.  The OML week consists of three graded events, which each net you a certain amount of points toward your total score on the OML.  Up to this point, your OML score consists of:

(1) Your diagnostic APFT score from Ft. Lee (you get the same number of points as your APFT score);

(2) Improvement points for scoring better on subsequent APFTs (note that you don’t get the actual score of these APFTs, only a few points added for improving, or a few points subtracted for sliding);

(3) Any points you’ve earned in the “leadership” category.  These are subjective, and the category isn’t defined.  This is done intentionally.  If cadre told you what things netted you points within this category, people wouldn’t be “leading,” they’d be acting like it in an effort to gain points.  Moreover, the airborne instructor will change, starting with the 185^th JAOBC, so this category will likely shift as well.

OML week consists of the following events:

(1) 5-mile timed run on a road course starting at TJAGLCS, and extending out into C-Ville.

(2) A pull-up test (palms facing you) done at TJAGLCS.  This is done the day after the run.

(3) An APFT, done two days after the pull-up test.

     Rather than addressing each event in this post, I’ll discuss my experiences with them as I do them.  Today was the 5-mile run.  Up to this point, we’d only practiced the course once during a PT session.  Given that PT is typically tailored to the group, our long release run practices ended pretty early on, which meant that you’re left to run on your own if you want to do distance.  We transitioned to a number of shorter runs (2-3.5 miles), as well as speed workouts as the sessions rolled on.

      The scoring is based on placing, not on time.  First place gets a set number of points, and the points gradually decrease from there.  The scale changes based on how many are in the group, but 15^th place only got you 2 points (substantially lower than 1^st).  We stepped off at just after 0500, and you’re required to run in PT uniform, and carry your phone (done for safety purposes since it’s a release run).

      The run itself felt like one big horse race.  To say there is a fastest subsection of the group isn’t really true.  The entire airborne PT group is comprised of fast runners, which meant a bunch of people throttling from the very start.  I had it in my mind that I’d be able to gradually build up coming out of the start gate, and work up to top speed, but that wasn’t the case.

(I thought the run was going to be a slow build.  I was incorrect.  Airborne did it's best on-foot simulation of the Indy 500 instead.)

To stay with the front running group of 4 or 5 people, I was running a sub-7 minute pace, which is pretty darn quick for that distance (at least for me, it is).

      Looking back, I really wish I had a picture of the whole thing.  No one was talking to each other (unlike many of our other runs), and we were spread across the entire street and sidewalks as we moved out to the turnaround point.  All that was needed was some engine sound effects added in, and you’d have yourself a bona fide auto race.

     The pace concerned me on the way out, as all I could think of was whether I’d have enough in the tank to keep it up on the way back.  The other thing running through my mind was my relative place on the OML.  I sat 5^th on the OML coming into the run, but there wasn’t much of a margin between me and those right behind me.  That definitely added to the stress as we moved along, because getting passed meant coming one step closer to not getting a slot.  The pace definitely caught up to me on the last mile and a half, as my heart rate was at about 90% of capacity, and I was huffing as hard as I ever have.

      I ended up finishing the run in about 35:30, which was good enough for 7^th place.  Yes, 7^th place. 

(Yes, I did find a 7th place trophy.  I deserve all 5 inches of this thing.)

1^st place came in at around 32 minutes and some change.  I told you we had a fast group.  The “slowest” runner came in at around 41:40, and we were told that we were the fastest overall group he’d had on that event.  The places on the OML didn’t shift substantially from the results, although I’m now tied for my place, and everyone is packed a little closer together.

      As for class, we barreled forward with more of the meat of operational law.  Our first two-hour block was on the rules of engagement.  The entire 184^th JAOBC was treated to a special LT Harper moment during it as well.  The professor had a slide with a number of pictures on it set out to illustrate a teaching point.  On the far right was a picture of the DVD box for the movie “Rules of Engagement.”

      After discussing the slide, the professor offered a piece of candy to the first person to identify “the older gentleman on the left.”  I naturally thought he was referring to the left of the DVD box, so my hand shot up.  I was confused why more people didn’t have their hands immediately up, but I proudly stood up and announced “Sir, it’s Samuel L. Jackson.”  The professor looked incredibly confused, and told me to sit down, as the entire class busted into laughter.  Turns out he meant the far left picture, which was of a man named Picte-who has not been in any movies.  I’m not sure I’ll live that one down, but oh well.

(No picture is needed to understand that humiliation.)

      We wrapped up the classroom portion beginning with an hour of instruction on U.S. national security law, doctrine, and strategy, which was more of an overview informational session than anything.  The last class was on the legal aspects of defense support of civil authorities.  This area, known as Domestic Operations (DOMOPS), was an area I knew absolutely nothing about, but left intrigued and wanting to learn more.  The area essentially covers the boundaries of when the military can assist civilian authorities.  A great example is the Army’s involvement in the Katrina relief effort, and that incident was used as an interesting case study as we navigated the material.

(No funny quip here.  This was the banner photo for DOMOPS- 82nd Airborne on patrol in New Orleans in the aftermath of Katrina.)

Once again, the day ended with a two-hour seminar.  The pull-up test comes tomorrow, and I’m confident it’ll be my weakest event by far.  For now, I have to accept the fact that things work out the way they’re meant to, and all I can do is go out and give it everything I have.