post 193 above, it happens often. Not always a portapotty available.
So did we. It depends on where you happen to be. One time, a krait made a sudden entrance while I was “enjoying” some private time, or so I thought. It was a good thing I was already squatting with my pants around my ankles. Oh, and that my entrenching tool was at hand.
We got two letters from Ivygirl yesterday. She’s passed her APFT, which, from what I can gather, is a physical fitness requirement for graduation, whipped a tourniquet on properly in 14 seconds, and was able to go on their ruck march with no pain from shin splints.
I thought it was funny what she wrote in the letter. She said she didn’t have to walk until “I was (which was crossed out and changed to) we were” told to.
She really enjoyed the first aid training and said the DSs are starting to be a bit more motivational.
Yaay! It sounds like both she and you are getting into the spirit of the thing. She’s at that stage of life where every year for the next few will be big changes, big adventures, and big growth.
You may or may not be able to see this, but it seems odd to me. (Let me know if the link doesn’t work.)
Fort Leonard Wood is IN Missouri, but they cannot accept a Missouri state driver’s license as a valid identification because MO is one of the states that is not yet Real ID compliant.
Oops.
I block all things Facebook. Who is “they”?
If you mean TSA, yes this is now an issue. Starting this year the TSA cannot accept driver’s licenses that are not Real ID compliant. This is part of the Federal government’s assertion of sovereignty over the several states that refuse to comply with Federal law.
Fort Leonard Wood themselves. I just find it funny, but I know it’s because FLW is federal and the state they are in is responsible for issuing the licenses.
My driver’s license is Real ID compliant, but Ivylad’s isn’t. His military id should work, correct? He’s retired Navy.
Yes, his retiree ID should work to get him on the Post.
This is mostly a training issue. If you have a group of soldiers using the same training site year after year, they would rapidly get to the point where they wouldn’t have anywhere left to put it.
I’ve always wondered about that. Certainly animals don’t have access to port-a-potties. Nature manages to dispose of animal waste. Why would human waste be different?
Not just TSA. All federal agencies that require ID, which includes the Army.
Doesn’t she still have a Florida driver’s license? She’s not really a resident of Missouri since since is only there for basic.
ETA: Yes, his military ID is Real ID compliant.
Yes, bears shit in the woods. But one square mile of virgin woods has maybe one bear in it. One square mile of army exercise area has 2,000 people in it. Big difference.
Also, humans get human diseases from human shit. Humans don’t catch bear diseases from bear shit. Other bears do. Not our problem.
Okay, so not the wilderness, more like a small-scale Woodstock. Gotcha.
Actually, we can catch all sorts of diseases from other animals’ shit.
By next year it’s become more plants. There is a karstic spread south of Mesa de los Tres Reyes which includes a relatively large boulder. Downwind of the boulder is a small amount of what might be the best soil in the world, or at least the bit containing one of the greatest amounts of fertilizer. It’s a very windy area and a very popular boulder.
Every training rotation is likely to use the same set of training sites. So one company might occupy the training site one week, tear down, and then a different company moves in next week. After a few months of this you get to the point where it would be more poop than actual dirt.
Even in a real war, cat holes are a last resort and primarily used when on the move. When the unit stops to make a long-term camp, they break out the 55 gallon drums, mix the waste with fuel, and burn it. If you ever hear someone complain about “stirring the poo” that’s what they’re talking about.
Or there are inadequate numbers of portapotties
Imagine a Brigade Support Area, the place where the cooks and officers and commo guys and supply guys, medics, yanno, your support troops and supplies are at. Lets say its about 1000 to 1500 (population varies a bit from day to day) all living in an area about the size of a football field. there are 15 to 20 portapotties for all of them. 5 of those portapotties are unofficially reserved for the exclusive use of the brigade commander and his staff. You and your brigade mates are there for two weeks and the portapotties are serviced once in that time.
I hated being in the BSA. In the rear with the gear is NOT preferable to the front with the grunts.
We got another letter from Ivygirl. She’s still having some issues with shin splints and learned some hard truths about herself in the peer evaluations. She was very close to being peered out, which means she’d have to start basic over again. She’s asked for advice and her father and I are going to write her again this week. On the plus side, they’ve moved into White Phase, where they have a bit more freedom in moving about the post.
I was going to pick up the plane tickets for graduation, but I think I’ll wait until she actually confirms she’ll be graduating. It sounds like she’s struggling again.
Never heard of peer evaluations in basic. Must be a new thing inspired by survivor. Can’t believe her fellows would try to screw her like that, I thought teamwork was something they still taught in the army.
I don’t think it’s meant to screw anyone. Quite frankly, her battle buddies pointed out some things her father and I have been trying to tell her for years. I think the fact that she’s asking for advice from us is a sign she’s finally willing to listen.
You have to be able to trust the people in your company with your life. Being told you’re thought of as a complainer and a slacker is better now than in a combat situation.