I've been on a pre-deployment training op with a group of infantry reservists from NYC, destined for Iraq. (unit 2/25 if you know any of them). My unit 3rd Combat Engineers is stationed here to HELP units like them go through this "Mojave Viper" period of training in addition to preparing for our own deployment. My platoon was chosen to help out 2/25 for a month in the field. I'll be heading out tomorrow at 9am to spend another two weeks spending my time in the 120-130 degree heat in the desert with them. Sweat sweat and then sweat some more, haha. We just finished assisting them with large scale assaults (taking fighting positions, etc) and did mostly large breaches on wire obstacles, mine fields, and I did get to have some fun blowing a few bunker doors for them. Anyways. before I post pictures I'll just say why I'm back for a day. Yesterday we were on a live fire range with them. I'm point man on a wire obstacle breach that we were going to take down mechanically (cut). This means that instead of being able to stay with them for security and "backpack" system designed to blow up the obstacle from 35 meters back, my fireteam had to push up to the obstacle. During the period of the 35 meter sprint in full gear to the obstacle I noticed some rounds impacting a berm to my right about 5 meters and didnt think much of it at the time. I rushed first to "recon" and clear the wire of mines. After getting up to around 10m from the obstacle I tripped in some rocks and fell flat on my face bashing my lip and gums open on my weapon, when I apparently fell out of view. For the next 3 minutes (felt like hours) I was pinned down in a very shallow wash by two SAW's who thought they were clear that continued to put rounds down range about 2 feet over my head. Eventually I guess they figured it out when I popped every green smoke I had on my flak jacket. Anyways, I didnt think anything of it until we got off the range and then it kind of hit me that that **** wasnt cool. My entire fire team got a day off to come back and get some fast food, sleep in a bed, and sit in AC for a few hours because of it, so no complaints here. We have been laughing about it for the past day, and have tried to calm the grunts that were shooting down with some jokes. :laugh: Just thought I'd submit my "bad day at the office" thread, lol.
