B_candidate2016
Verified Military
I really don't know where to begin... I'll try to be quick and simple even though I don't think it's as easy as that sounds. August 2012 I found myself leaning up against a mud wall in some goat herders back yard in Afghanistan after volunteering to be flown out on a Blackhawk to a site where the RCP company I volunteered to go to war with, was now trapped. I spent 4 days wondering if I was ever gonna go home again, trying to stay awake, sharing a 16oz water bottle with a team leader, pulling 50/50 guard at night which always ended up being 100/100, and trying to devise a plan with my Platoon Sgt. during the day, whom at the time was also dealing with a thousand other issues to include the denial of external help from RC commanders (Battle space, go figure). We were trapped on the outskirts of a village between Bala Murghab and Turkmenistan and I remember seeing the glaring lights from the border of Turkmenistan that was literally 10 miles away where apparently, life was similar to the United States. On the opposite side was a village littered with Taliban/Al-Qaeda fighters who ran angle hair wire throughout the town and into the only passing road which was wide enough to only fit the width of the RCP Buffalo, so once in the path, there was no turning around. After 2 attempts and 2 disastrous IED's later, the push of the 6 RCP vehicles(now 5), 3 MP MATV's, and 2 recovery vehicles (now 1) now had us all at a stand still. It was a 1 mile stretch from end to end but really seemed like forever. The original mission ironically enough because I'm writing this here, was to provide a passageway for an ODA 6 hours north of the COP we had left the initial morning days prior, IOT head back south towards Kandahar. I just though I'd mention the COP we were at housed a group of MARSOF guys who were watching everything through their TOC predator feed, and even them could not come out to help.
After being denied multiple times through our BFT that no one else had authorized permission to assist we began thinking of a solution because we had about a days left of supplies before we went black on ammo, water, and food. Sadly enough our last damn supply airdrop had occurred the night prior. The following morning by the grace of god, some form of air drop occurred a few miles away on the backside of a mountain. Soon enough after dawn, 3 figures began walking down to our location which were 3 navy EOD techs. It was honestly a blessing. We had never really prepared for a situation as this one, and to see guys who trained at a different level, especially for IED's, gave us a sense of relief that's honestly unexplainable. As an RCP we trained on simple tactics. IED awareness, being able to BIP, familiarizations, GPR's, UXO's etc etc, but never for this. We began working now with the EOD techs to figure out a solution to get through the town, and hours later we received yet another form of assistance coming from the back side of the village. 3 Afghan EOD trained soldiers were to push through the village searching for spotters (within the homes) that were waiting for us to make our next attempt to drive through the path. Literally about 30 minutes later a barrage of small arms fire occurred from within the village. Word was sent through BFT, that the Afghans EOD help were now KIA. I think it was that moment reality set in that there were people waiting for us, in this COUNTRY, who wholeheartedly wanted us dead. It was definitely a pinnacle moment in time for me.
The plan was set and we were to line up everyone except 1 TC and 1 driver for each vehicle, and as the vehicles crawled through the village our 30 man front would walk through simultaneously staying abreast, while maintaining visual confirmation of the RCP. The plan was set and the 3 EOD techs would be divided amongst the 30 men. No women, even though some were MP's, were allowed to walk. There would be 1 EOD tech on the main road before the RCP trucks then 10 men to his right (which was my group). Another EOD tech, 10 men, and then the last tech and the rest of the men that were left. Before briefing the men my Platoon Sgt. (a somewhat religious man), in front of the leadership suggested he'd say a prayer that almost came out movie like. I remember feeling in that moment, if I die today, the only people who will ever know this feeling... are the men to my left and my right. After the prayer the rest of the RCP was briefed by their individual squad or team leaders and began preparing for the push. People mounted the trucks, weapons were brushed and cleaned as best as possible; oiled and functions checked. The trucks were started, everyone line up, and we all began walking, looking to our left and right at the low ready, I instantly thought to myself, "Is this seriously happening? Holy shit this is nuts". As we originally left the back yard and began walking through this field towards the town we ran the last 30 or so feet to a 10 ft.wall which we climbed using the ladder taken off of the back side of one of the recovery vehicles. I was 1st up and over and literally slid down the opposite side about 15ft having some of the wall collapse in my eyes through my sunglasses, due to my free hand trying to grab onto anything on the way down, ripping pieces right off the wall. As we pushed through the village, stacking on doors and kicking them down fighters saw us coming and ran to the opposite side of the village to an open field. Through short, sporadic small arms engagements we broke through the village to the open field, being engaged by fighters as we piled into the now exposed RCP trucks exiting the village. Our guys instantly jumping behind MK19's and 50's, began a very close quarter battle of about 50 meters away that was clearly overwhelming in our favor. I just remember one of the MK19 gunners and his bullseyes hit, which later on became the talk of the town because of his lucky shot. After finally making it back, I befriended an army infantry squad leader working with the MARSOF guys and got a chance to work with them without informing my RCP company, worried they might deny my participation. Very long story short, we ran different night ops to include local air drops using NVG's on dirt bikes, short recons of nearby villages, and other local trips throughout nearby towns but most of all, just the overall camaraderie between men whom I feel were fearless, really gave me an outer body experience where the inexplicable trust between a group of people was stronger than any blood family member could ever offer me. I came off of my deployment waited about 6 months and gave Special Forces serious consideration. I volunteered to try out the pre selection process in Maryland with the 20th SFG, which is 6 months and after every passing training day, I couldn't believe I'd made it... well survived is more like it. So here I am now awaiting a selection date hoping to tell my wife my ultimate goal is to be embedded in an active group doing what SF does best, help people however, whenever, and wherever they can because of their selfless service to the world.
Last PT test Scores:
Push Ups - 97
Sit Ups - 86
2 Mile Run - 11:53
Pull Ups - 18
10 Mile Ruck - 2:22:00
6 Mile Run - 46:00
After being denied multiple times through our BFT that no one else had authorized permission to assist we began thinking of a solution because we had about a days left of supplies before we went black on ammo, water, and food. Sadly enough our last damn supply airdrop had occurred the night prior. The following morning by the grace of god, some form of air drop occurred a few miles away on the backside of a mountain. Soon enough after dawn, 3 figures began walking down to our location which were 3 navy EOD techs. It was honestly a blessing. We had never really prepared for a situation as this one, and to see guys who trained at a different level, especially for IED's, gave us a sense of relief that's honestly unexplainable. As an RCP we trained on simple tactics. IED awareness, being able to BIP, familiarizations, GPR's, UXO's etc etc, but never for this. We began working now with the EOD techs to figure out a solution to get through the town, and hours later we received yet another form of assistance coming from the back side of the village. 3 Afghan EOD trained soldiers were to push through the village searching for spotters (within the homes) that were waiting for us to make our next attempt to drive through the path. Literally about 30 minutes later a barrage of small arms fire occurred from within the village. Word was sent through BFT, that the Afghans EOD help were now KIA. I think it was that moment reality set in that there were people waiting for us, in this COUNTRY, who wholeheartedly wanted us dead. It was definitely a pinnacle moment in time for me.
The plan was set and we were to line up everyone except 1 TC and 1 driver for each vehicle, and as the vehicles crawled through the village our 30 man front would walk through simultaneously staying abreast, while maintaining visual confirmation of the RCP. The plan was set and the 3 EOD techs would be divided amongst the 30 men. No women, even though some were MP's, were allowed to walk. There would be 1 EOD tech on the main road before the RCP trucks then 10 men to his right (which was my group). Another EOD tech, 10 men, and then the last tech and the rest of the men that were left. Before briefing the men my Platoon Sgt. (a somewhat religious man), in front of the leadership suggested he'd say a prayer that almost came out movie like. I remember feeling in that moment, if I die today, the only people who will ever know this feeling... are the men to my left and my right. After the prayer the rest of the RCP was briefed by their individual squad or team leaders and began preparing for the push. People mounted the trucks, weapons were brushed and cleaned as best as possible; oiled and functions checked. The trucks were started, everyone line up, and we all began walking, looking to our left and right at the low ready, I instantly thought to myself, "Is this seriously happening? Holy shit this is nuts". As we originally left the back yard and began walking through this field towards the town we ran the last 30 or so feet to a 10 ft.wall which we climbed using the ladder taken off of the back side of one of the recovery vehicles. I was 1st up and over and literally slid down the opposite side about 15ft having some of the wall collapse in my eyes through my sunglasses, due to my free hand trying to grab onto anything on the way down, ripping pieces right off the wall. As we pushed through the village, stacking on doors and kicking them down fighters saw us coming and ran to the opposite side of the village to an open field. Through short, sporadic small arms engagements we broke through the village to the open field, being engaged by fighters as we piled into the now exposed RCP trucks exiting the village. Our guys instantly jumping behind MK19's and 50's, began a very close quarter battle of about 50 meters away that was clearly overwhelming in our favor. I just remember one of the MK19 gunners and his bullseyes hit, which later on became the talk of the town because of his lucky shot. After finally making it back, I befriended an army infantry squad leader working with the MARSOF guys and got a chance to work with them without informing my RCP company, worried they might deny my participation. Very long story short, we ran different night ops to include local air drops using NVG's on dirt bikes, short recons of nearby villages, and other local trips throughout nearby towns but most of all, just the overall camaraderie between men whom I feel were fearless, really gave me an outer body experience where the inexplicable trust between a group of people was stronger than any blood family member could ever offer me. I came off of my deployment waited about 6 months and gave Special Forces serious consideration. I volunteered to try out the pre selection process in Maryland with the 20th SFG, which is 6 months and after every passing training day, I couldn't believe I'd made it... well survived is more like it. So here I am now awaiting a selection date hoping to tell my wife my ultimate goal is to be embedded in an active group doing what SF does best, help people however, whenever, and wherever they can because of their selfless service to the world.
Last PT test Scores:
Push Ups - 97
Sit Ups - 86
2 Mile Run - 11:53
Pull Ups - 18
10 Mile Ruck - 2:22:00
6 Mile Run - 46:00
