Saturday, 25 June 2011, Camp Aachen, Grafenwöhr.
First the Urban Orienteering Course this morning, followed by brunch. Afterwards, we returned to Camp Normandy for a little down time. (Translation: straighten up the barracks and change from sports clothes to ACUs.) By 1400 we are well on our way to the next event . . . the Drill Competition! We've been practicing for this all week. Each platoon will drill as a platoon, plus one squad from the platoon will drill. The TACs have picked the best cadets to be PLT SGT and SQD LDR . . . they have to give the commands. We're nervous from the start because this will be done in front of everyone else. If we make mistakes, the rest will know it.
The drill site is about 2.5 kilometers from Camp Normandy. The march is a good warm-up exercise . . . all four platoons march in a column. We need a large area clear of cars and other obstacles in order to do the drill properly. Rain is threatening and it's a bit chilly.
The drill competition follows the standard drill procedure for platoon and squad. It's what we use in the classroom and during the spring drill season. Most of us already know the order of commands so it's really a matter of paying attention and executing the movements correctly.
Alpha Company's First Platoon takes the day in both events. We march back to Camp Normandy the long way . . . via the Tank Trail. Now we are ready for dinner and a relaxing evening . . . but we have to check our Class A uniforms first . . . the Formal Uniform Inspection is tomorrow at 0800!!
The drill site is about 2.5 kilometers from Camp Normandy. The march is a good warm-up exercise . . . all four platoons march in a column. We need a large area clear of cars and other obstacles in order to do the drill properly. Rain is threatening and it's a bit chilly.
The drill competition follows the standard drill procedure for platoon and squad. It's what we use in the classroom and during the spring drill season. Most of us already know the order of commands so it's really a matter of paying attention and executing the movements correctly.
Alpha Company's First Platoon takes the day in both events. We march back to Camp Normandy the long way . . . via the Tank Trail. Now we are ready for dinner and a relaxing evening . . . but we have to check our Class A uniforms first . . . the Formal Uniform Inspection is tomorrow at 0800!!
Alpha One prepares for the drill competition.