Question is will the rocks be there upon their return?
Case Study: Revolution
- Thread starter Marauder06
- Start date
Daedalus
Verified Military
I think those two are going to be in for quite a ride when they come back.
Either that, or Kenny boy is trying to play fuck fuck games. Granted, I put a decent sized rock in my SL's ruck for the first afghanistan deployment and he didn't find it till we came back stateside...
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Even with just one compass, working together made the land nav course much simpler than working alone. Even though it was dark, the two of them were able to maintain enough of a distance between them that even if they were slightly off on their pace count or azimuth, one might see a key terrain feature, or even one of their points, where another might not. The points, Faith found, were large metal signs affixed to poles planted firmly in the ground. These made a loud reverberating noise when slapped with the open hand. This Faith did to alert other candidates in the area who might be looking for the same point. “Just like at Yankee Road back in IOBC,” Faith explained to Shannon.
The land navigation course was not particularly onerous. Working together, Faith and Shannon quickly found three points each, then a fourth, in a little over an hour. “Two more to go!” Faith said cheerfully. While things were going well for them, Faith was getting tired, and he could tell that it was wearing on Shannon as well. Both of them were in great shape, but this was still a physically rigorous exercise.
When they got to the place that Shannon’s fifth point was supposed to be, they couldn’t find it. After spending a few minutes backtracking and then spreading out looking for it, they decided to forego this point and move on to the next one. Thankfully, there were enough road junctions and conspicuous terrain features on the map that they were not dependent upon going point to point in order to stay on track. Shannon was disappointed that they couldn’t find that fifth point, but she had three other chances to get two more points.
However, when they got to the spot where Faith’s fifth point was supposed to be, they couldn’t find that one, either. This time they pulled out flashlights and completely re-plotted the point.
“We’re in the right spot,” Faith said, “Look, here is that stream junction, and over there is where those two roads connect. We are standing on this hilltop,” he used the tip of a pine needle as a pointer, “the point we’re looking for is supposed to be right here where we’re standing. There is no way we missed this point, it is.not.here.” Shannon re-plotted the point as well. “I think you’re right,” she responded dejectedly. Faith paused a moment to think. He was tired, he was frustrated, and he needed to make sure he was taking the time he needed to make good decisions.
The land navigation course was not particularly onerous. Working together, Faith and Shannon quickly found three points each, then a fourth, in a little over an hour. “Two more to go!” Faith said cheerfully. While things were going well for them, Faith was getting tired, and he could tell that it was wearing on Shannon as well. Both of them were in great shape, but this was still a physically rigorous exercise.
When they got to the place that Shannon’s fifth point was supposed to be, they couldn’t find it. After spending a few minutes backtracking and then spreading out looking for it, they decided to forego this point and move on to the next one. Thankfully, there were enough road junctions and conspicuous terrain features on the map that they were not dependent upon going point to point in order to stay on track. Shannon was disappointed that they couldn’t find that fifth point, but she had three other chances to get two more points.
However, when they got to the spot where Faith’s fifth point was supposed to be, they couldn’t find that one, either. This time they pulled out flashlights and completely re-plotted the point.
“We’re in the right spot,” Faith said, “Look, here is that stream junction, and over there is where those two roads connect. We are standing on this hilltop,” he used the tip of a pine needle as a pointer, “the point we’re looking for is supposed to be right here where we’re standing. There is no way we missed this point, it is.not.here.” Shannon re-plotted the point as well. “I think you’re right,” she responded dejectedly. Faith paused a moment to think. He was tired, he was frustrated, and he needed to make sure he was taking the time he needed to make good decisions.
LOL. Leave one of the rocks at each point with Kilroy in sharpie on it. We were here...
Cadre is hiding in the bushes watching their decision making process.
Do they backtrack (doubt) or press forward (confidence in their ability)
or did Ken remove the sign?
Do they backtrack (doubt) or press forward (confidence in their ability)
or did Ken remove the sign?
Um.... the signs are in the trees about 20 feet above the ground, because people look at the ground and are not totally situationally aware.... snipers and OPs are in trees why can't land nav points be there too? Not that I have any experience with a situation similar to this... nor one that involved 10 engineer stakes in a 50 m x 50 m area.... each with a different punch... and yes they were set at exact 10 digit grid coordinates...
“Look,” he said, “These two points that we missed are the furthest ones away from the start point. Let’s forget these points and concentrate on picking up the rest on the way in. No matter how many points we find or don’t find, I think it’s important that we’re back before the time expires.”
“OK,” Shannon said. “Let’s switch up jobs on the way back in. I’ll do the compass and you take primary pace count.” Faith didn’t particularly like this idea, but he consented. Faith was impressed by the way that Shannon led the way back through the woods. He notified her when the pace count expired for their next point, but they couldn’t find that one either. Or the next one. Both Faith and Shannon were starting to feel a bit of panic. They had four points each, and the both needed six to pass. But there was only one point left for each of them that they hadn’t already tried—and failed—to find.
“Wait a minute,” Faith said, “What were the instructions they gave us?”
“We have to find six of our points and make it back in two hours,” Shannon answered.
“Was it ‘find six of your points’ or ‘find six points’?”
“What difference does it make?” Shannon responded, probably a bit more testily than she meant.
“Well, if it’s ‘find six points,’ then we already have eight,” Faith said patiently. “But if it was ‘find six of yours…’”
“…then we’re probably screwed,” Shannon finished for him.
“So look, let’s hit these two last points, they’re pretty close to each other, and then head back to the start point,” he suggested. And that’s what they did.
“OK,” Shannon said. “Let’s switch up jobs on the way back in. I’ll do the compass and you take primary pace count.” Faith didn’t particularly like this idea, but he consented. Faith was impressed by the way that Shannon led the way back through the woods. He notified her when the pace count expired for their next point, but they couldn’t find that one either. Or the next one. Both Faith and Shannon were starting to feel a bit of panic. They had four points each, and the both needed six to pass. But there was only one point left for each of them that they hadn’t already tried—and failed—to find.
“Wait a minute,” Faith said, “What were the instructions they gave us?”
“We have to find six of our points and make it back in two hours,” Shannon answered.
“Was it ‘find six of your points’ or ‘find six points’?”
“What difference does it make?” Shannon responded, probably a bit more testily than she meant.
“Well, if it’s ‘find six points,’ then we already have eight,” Faith said patiently. “But if it was ‘find six of yours…’”
“…then we’re probably screwed,” Shannon finished for him.
“So look, let’s hit these two last points, they’re pretty close to each other, and then head back to the start point,” he suggested. And that’s what they did.
Scott and Shannon are very smart cookies.... got their rucks, got extra points, and should have plenty of time to make it back...
ETA: assuming the draw monster and his evil wait-a-minute vine minions don't interfere with the universe.... they're way worse than Vogons, but they don't sing... they make you sing the draw monster song though... it goes like this: WTF, goddamit, shit,mo-ther-fuck-er, Christ on a cross, goddamit again, die you sorry mo-ther-fuck-ing vine from hell, I wouldn't wish this shit on the fucking prisoners in Gitmo, fuck me with a crowbar... goddamit, I only have an l fucking hour left to make it back, and I still have 2 points, mo-ther-fuck-er... I hate fucking vines and goddam draws and roads, fucking roads, what good are they? can't walk on 'em and if you use them to nav, the fucking Tacs think you're walking them, no-good fucking roads and vines... fuck, goddamit, gimme back my ruck and fucking weapon goddamit, motherfucking vines suck...
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Faith and Shannon crouched at the last point and wrote down the numbers on the metal sign. Both of them copied the numbers for all ten of the points they had found together. “I hope we’re right about the instructions,” Shannon whispered. Just then, they heard a thrashing sound as someone moved towards them. Both of them instinctively became still and quiet. The noise got closer and Faith could tell it was a man with a flashlight in one hand and a compass in the other. “Where the hell is that point!?” Faith heard the man ask out loud. He must be talking to himself, because he had no idea Faith and Shannon were only a few feet away. Faith reached up to smack the sign, but Shannon caught his hand. “It’s Ken,” she whispered, “I can tell by his voice.”
“You don’t want me to let him know where the sign is?” Faith whispered back. Shannon shook her head no.
“You don’t think we’re kind of screwing him?” he asked.
“If he finds it on his own, fine, but he’s all out of favors as far as I’m concerned. He’s been a complete dick this whole time, and he’s clearly only in it for himself. Where are the two other guys he started with?” she asked. Good point.
When Ken had moved a short distance away, Faith and Shannon quietly moved back towards the start line. They had about ten minutes left; plenty of time to go back to the place where they dumped the rocks and put them back into their rucksacks before beating the clock back to the start point. They were both kind of surprised to see a number of other candidates already there. Some looked confidently smug, others looked positively ashen. It was easy to tell who had figured out the instructions, and who only figured out five points of the six they were supposed to have. Faith pulled Shannon aside.
“Look, if we’re right about the points, then we’re going to pass this event,” he said quietly. “If we’re wrong, then we’re probably out of this assessment. The same is probably true for these other guys. Some of them probably didn’t reach the same conclusion we did. I think we should tell them.” Shannon looked unsure. “I’m intel, I’m not competing for the same positions you and the other pilots are,” he admitted. So if you think we should keep this to ourselves…”
“You don’t want me to let him know where the sign is?” Faith whispered back. Shannon shook her head no.
“You don’t think we’re kind of screwing him?” he asked.
“If he finds it on his own, fine, but he’s all out of favors as far as I’m concerned. He’s been a complete dick this whole time, and he’s clearly only in it for himself. Where are the two other guys he started with?” she asked. Good point.
When Ken had moved a short distance away, Faith and Shannon quietly moved back towards the start line. They had about ten minutes left; plenty of time to go back to the place where they dumped the rocks and put them back into their rucksacks before beating the clock back to the start point. They were both kind of surprised to see a number of other candidates already there. Some looked confidently smug, others looked positively ashen. It was easy to tell who had figured out the instructions, and who only figured out five points of the six they were supposed to have. Faith pulled Shannon aside.
“Look, if we’re right about the points, then we’re going to pass this event,” he said quietly. “If we’re wrong, then we’re probably out of this assessment. The same is probably true for these other guys. Some of them probably didn’t reach the same conclusion we did. I think we should tell them.” Shannon looked unsure. “I’m intel, I’m not competing for the same positions you and the other pilots are,” he admitted. So if you think we should keep this to ourselves…”
Faith is being a dumbass, giving test questions/answers is cheating. He needs to learn how to keep his mouth shut (seems like his mouth is killing his career).
“No, not at all,” Shannon said quickly. “If we know something, we should share it with the others. Besides, like I told you before, I’m not competing for a slot in the 16th,” she added. “I just don’t want to tell them something that turns out wrong.”
“Do you think it’s going to make a difference to guys who are already only 5 of the 6 they were supposed to have?”
“Good point,” she conceded.
Faith announced to the rest of the candidates what he and Shannon had deduced about the points. A number of the other candidates looked relieved, but some looked downright pissed. Faith surmised that the latter group was probably the people who had figured out the “trick” of this exercise on their own.
Not surprisingly, Ken and his group were the last ones to trickle in. First came Ken, sweaty and out of breath. “Did anyone find all six of the points on their sheet?” he asked. Faith shook his head no; technically, he hadn’t found six of the points on his sheet, he found five. But he also had five from Shannon. Faith figured that one of the other candidates would tell Ken “the secret” of the course, but to his surprise, no one did. Apparently Ken had made a similar impression on the rest of the candidates as he had to Faith and Shannon.
Faith glanced at his stopwatch- three minutes left. He saw the last two candidates straggling in at the same time the now-familiar black vans were pulling up. The last two candidates, who Faith recognized as team players who had seemed like good dudes throughout the assessment process, were pretty agitated with Ken. “Dude! You left us!” one of them said accusatorially. “Sorry man, I had to try to find my points. You guys were slowing me down,” Ken countered.
“But you had the only compass!” the other man said. “We only found two points.”
“Well I only found five,” said Ken, “so I guess we’re all going home.
Faith now found himself in a dilemma. He could save the two “good” candidates by telling them what he and Shannon had figured out, but if he did, Ken would overhear and be saved too. Should he say something, or just let it go?
“Do you think it’s going to make a difference to guys who are already only 5 of the 6 they were supposed to have?”
“Good point,” she conceded.
Faith announced to the rest of the candidates what he and Shannon had deduced about the points. A number of the other candidates looked relieved, but some looked downright pissed. Faith surmised that the latter group was probably the people who had figured out the “trick” of this exercise on their own.
Not surprisingly, Ken and his group were the last ones to trickle in. First came Ken, sweaty and out of breath. “Did anyone find all six of the points on their sheet?” he asked. Faith shook his head no; technically, he hadn’t found six of the points on his sheet, he found five. But he also had five from Shannon. Faith figured that one of the other candidates would tell Ken “the secret” of the course, but to his surprise, no one did. Apparently Ken had made a similar impression on the rest of the candidates as he had to Faith and Shannon.
Faith glanced at his stopwatch- three minutes left. He saw the last two candidates straggling in at the same time the now-familiar black vans were pulling up. The last two candidates, who Faith recognized as team players who had seemed like good dudes throughout the assessment process, were pretty agitated with Ken. “Dude! You left us!” one of them said accusatorially. “Sorry man, I had to try to find my points. You guys were slowing me down,” Ken countered.
“But you had the only compass!” the other man said. “We only found two points.”
“Well I only found five,” said Ken, “so I guess we’re all going home.
Faith now found himself in a dilemma. He could save the two “good” candidates by telling them what he and Shannon had figured out, but if he did, Ken would overhear and be saved too. Should he say something, or just let it go?
Kraut783
SOF Support
Ken needs to be hit in the head with one of the rocks in their rucks.....
If it was an individual event maybe, but they've paired and tripled them up into teams, so why not confirm the instructions of the event with the others?
Let's pause for a moment and take stock of where we are in this story. Remember that these case studies are intended to be leadership lessons, not just mildly entertaining quasi-autobiographical war stories. Think back to the beginning of Revolution (the name of this case study). Consider the following:
1)How did Faith get to the point he is at right now?
2)Where has he succeeded (however you define that)? Where has he failed?
3)What is he doing well now? What is he doing poorly, that he should do better?
4)We're getting close to the end of this case study. What do you think is going to happen next?
1)How did Faith get to the point he is at right now?
2)Where has he succeeded (however you define that)? Where has he failed?
3)What is he doing well now? What is he doing poorly, that he should do better?
4)We're getting close to the end of this case study. What do you think is going to happen next?
SpongeBob*24
Verified Military
Faith is taking charge, he is making sound decisions although tired and hungry, he is helping others and being a team player.
I'd bet a crisp single Shannon is a Cadre member......
I'd bet a crisp single Shannon is a Cadre member......
Faith is taking charge, he is making sound decisions although tired and hungry, he is helping others and being a team player.
I'd bet a crisp single Shannon is a Cadre member......
That is a very good guess, and I considered writing in a "trojan horse" cadre member character, but I felt like it would take too long to develop that plot twist. So no, Shannon is not a cadre member. Yet she's in the assessment... but claims she's not assessing for the 16th. That's interesting.
There HAS been an influx of stupids lately
Pretty much.
Let's pause for a moment and take stock of where we are in this story. Remember that these case studies are intended to be leadership lessons, not just mildly entertaining quasi-autobiographical war stories. Think back to the beginning of Revolution (the name of this case study). Consider the following:
1)How did Faith get to the point he is at right now?
In the assessment or this point in life?
2)Where has he succeeded (however you define that)? Where has he failed?
He's stepped into a leadership role a bit but still does things for selfish reasons at times (not helping "Ken" even if he's a douche).
3)What is he doing well now? What is he doing poorly, that he should do better?
My answer is the same for both, thinking outside the box. He got off to a slow start but seems to be picking up the "loopholes" in the instructions.
4)We're getting close to the end of this case study. What do you think is going to happen next?
We will get the conclusion as a Christmas present?
My answers are in blue (and these are just my civi thoughts/observations. Take them for that they are worth.
Daedalus
Verified Military
1) By letting his emotions get the better of him in most cases, especially when dealing with The Dud. He's only at the assessment because his friends and superiors practically pushed him to do it.
2) In his previous commands and in the current one he always seems to have knack for getting the support of his good NCO's and leadership (most of the time). He has failed, as mentioned above, in letting his temper dictate his actions on more than one occasion.
3) At the moment he is doing better and not letting people like Ken throw him over the edge, even when he is sleep derived, hungry, and in poor condition. He might go down a bad path though if he tries to exclude people from his discoveries during the current exercise for either A) doubting is own ability or B) simply not liking them (I.E. Ken).
4) This Case Study is going to have an end?
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Faith is a good officer, who tends to let his self-confidence/temper get him in trouble (letting the Dud change the combo for example).
He took a ride on the pity train, and was booted off (hence his getting into selection).
He's a team player (even when dealing with a-holes like Ken), but sometimes loses sight of the mission (i.e. weeding a-holes like Ken out).
He needs to finish selection, and re-start his career.
He took a ride on the pity train, and was booted off (hence his getting into selection).
He's a team player (even when dealing with a-holes like Ken), but sometimes loses sight of the mission (i.e. weeding a-holes like Ken out).
He needs to finish selection, and re-start his career.
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