Thoughts on Camp
Driving back, I've had plenty of time to think of Advanced Camp (now called Warrior Forge). All in all, I have some rather mixed feelings about it. Now, before I launch into my diatribe, let me at least temper my decree with a little objectivity and some background. I'm a prior-service guy who did Basic at Ft. Benning and AIT at Ft. Bragg for a rather challenging MOS. At the time, I had already had my BS from Davis and I had over 3 years of working in a fortune 500 company. To boot, I also had a high proficiency in the use of firearms. That's my deal.
Well, Camp was ok for the most part. However, there were things about it that rather irked me. For starters, if you're a prior-service guy going in, you may find yourself getting a little annoyed or frustrated from time to time. With more than half my squad being prior-service, I knew I wasn't alone. We had one guy who was a Marine Sergeant. Once was a Sergeant in the 25th ID. My bunkmate was a former 2nd Ranger Bn and EOD (Explosives ordnance disposal) technician. One was a transportation guy in the Kentucky Guard. We can all tell you that putting yourself back into an environment where everything that you do is micro-managed sucks. It feels like you're chasing after a demotion with a pay raise.
And with the abusive attitudes of some of the event cadre (we called them "drill privates"), it took a lot of restraint for us to not jump out of the file and strangle some of them. Gee, if only they knew.
Now to the other folks who are coming in as civilians, I'm sure we came across as cynical or unmotivated. But truthfully, I think a lot of us are just world-weaary and we just don't get high on false motivation and all sort of other rah rah rah type talk. I guess that's probably why we didn't take it too seriously.
Now, don't get me wrong, I'm more than certain that there was something learned in all of this. Be it about ourselves or about how we do things, that much I'm certain. But I swear to you that there is a great difference between how the Army does things in a training environment as opposed to how things are in in a "real world" scenario. Trying to divorce the notions of how things are done "down range" can be very different than that of the "school solution." I felt a little dismayed how some people held so steadfast to a textbook solution than that of an improvised one. We were graded on the former. argh...
In addition to this, I was surprised at what would be said behind other people's backs. I was surprised at how far some people will do to get a sparkling eval, belittling others in such a dastardly way. I refused to take part in any of this. I guess that's why I would keep to myself and a small crowd during the down times. I guess in a way, this hurt me in my peer evals. Whatever...I'm not one to compromise on my principles.
Whatever the case, not all of it was bad. For those who were truly selfless, we helped each other out as best as we could without any expectation of a quid pro quo. I'm gonna remember these folks for a long time. Also, Camp helped me to re-evaluate some of the goals that I have in life. That is to say, some were validated, some were discarded. Funny how in such environments, some things stand out quite clearly.
Drawing to a close, I'm very happy to be done with Camp. I didn't get a shining evaluation but it wasn't bad either. There were a few unlucky souls who would quit or be disqualified and had no intention of coming back. I guess I should count my blessings in that regard.
Driving back, I've had plenty of time to think of Advanced Camp (now called Warrior Forge). All in all, I have some rather mixed feelings about it. Now, before I launch into my diatribe, let me at least temper my decree with a little objectivity and some background. I'm a prior-service guy who did Basic at Ft. Benning and AIT at Ft. Bragg for a rather challenging MOS. At the time, I had already had my BS from Davis and I had over 3 years of working in a fortune 500 company. To boot, I also had a high proficiency in the use of firearms. That's my deal.
Well, Camp was ok for the most part. However, there were things about it that rather irked me. For starters, if you're a prior-service guy going in, you may find yourself getting a little annoyed or frustrated from time to time. With more than half my squad being prior-service, I knew I wasn't alone. We had one guy who was a Marine Sergeant. Once was a Sergeant in the 25th ID. My bunkmate was a former 2nd Ranger Bn and EOD (Explosives ordnance disposal) technician. One was a transportation guy in the Kentucky Guard. We can all tell you that putting yourself back into an environment where everything that you do is micro-managed sucks. It feels like you're chasing after a demotion with a pay raise.
And with the abusive attitudes of some of the event cadre (we called them "drill privates"), it took a lot of restraint for us to not jump out of the file and strangle some of them. Gee, if only they knew.
Now to the other folks who are coming in as civilians, I'm sure we came across as cynical or unmotivated. But truthfully, I think a lot of us are just world-weaary and we just don't get high on false motivation and all sort of other rah rah rah type talk. I guess that's probably why we didn't take it too seriously.
Now, don't get me wrong, I'm more than certain that there was something learned in all of this. Be it about ourselves or about how we do things, that much I'm certain. But I swear to you that there is a great difference between how the Army does things in a training environment as opposed to how things are in in a "real world" scenario. Trying to divorce the notions of how things are done "down range" can be very different than that of the "school solution." I felt a little dismayed how some people held so steadfast to a textbook solution than that of an improvised one. We were graded on the former. argh...
In addition to this, I was surprised at what would be said behind other people's backs. I was surprised at how far some people will do to get a sparkling eval, belittling others in such a dastardly way. I refused to take part in any of this. I guess that's why I would keep to myself and a small crowd during the down times. I guess in a way, this hurt me in my peer evals. Whatever...I'm not one to compromise on my principles.
Whatever the case, not all of it was bad. For those who were truly selfless, we helped each other out as best as we could without any expectation of a quid pro quo. I'm gonna remember these folks for a long time. Also, Camp helped me to re-evaluate some of the goals that I have in life. That is to say, some were validated, some were discarded. Funny how in such environments, some things stand out quite clearly.
Drawing to a close, I'm very happy to be done with Camp. I didn't get a shining evaluation but it wasn't bad either. There were a few unlucky souls who would quit or be disqualified and had no intention of coming back. I guess I should count my blessings in that regard.
posted by G at 18:45
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