FORT BENNING, Ga. - The second week of basic training with C Company, 2nd Battalion, 47th Infantry Regiment, 192nd Infantry Brigade, trainees kicked off Feb. 16 with the Eagle Confidence Tower on Sand Hill. During the week, some of the things Soldiers learned included basic map-reading skills, land navigation, hand-to-hand combat, how to set up claymore mines and how to use nuclear, chemical and biological gear. The Soldiers completed a three-mile ruck march, a physical fitness test and their first field training exercise. In the third week, Feb. 23 to Tuesday, the Soldiers continued training on their basic rifle marksmanship and land navigation skills. The Soldiers learned first aid, dismounted squad tactics and completed their second field training exercise.
"At the second FTX, they did a lot of dismounted tactics and techniques," said 1SG Victor Garza, senior NCO for C Co., 2nd Bn., 47th Inf.Regt. "They did movement to contact, reacting to contact, ambushes and night land navigation. We taught them field-crafting techniques - how to stay warm and dry during adverse weather using items they had on hand. We showed them how to build hooches, which came in handy when it began to rain and temperatures began to drop."
Garza said the rainy weather provided a teaching point for the trainees.
"It builds character and discipline. They still have to be out pulling security because the enemy is always watching," Garza said.
The troops got their first crack at shooting at targets with live ammunition Wednesday.
Up until this point, blank firing adapters protected the ends of their M16s as the Soldiers practiced handling their weapons and learning weapons safety. As the troops prepared to enter white phase, the second of the three basic training phases, a few reflected on what they've learned so far.
"The first three weeks have been pretty demanding and you find out a lot about yourself and who you will be in the future," said PFC Jacob Wilhelm, of Statesville, N.C. "You have to put your mind before your body. If your body quits, your mind is going to keep going."
Wilhelm joined the military as a combat medic and said completing the confidence courses and the second FTX are accomplishments he's most proud of so far.
PVT Jayson Huff, of Bon Terre, Mo., overcame a fear of heights to get to the top of Eagle Tower Feb. 16.
"I think climbing up the ladder was worse than rappelling off the wall," said Huff, who signed on to become a corrections officer, of the 60-foot tower event. "But it was pretty fun once I got up there ... I'm definitely enjoying myself. There are good times and bad times but even with the bad times I can now look back and realize it was all for a reason so those are good times too."
SPC Brian Cross, of West Islip, N.Y., said he's learned to have faith in his equipment, especially his NBC mask, which is designed to protect against nuclear, chemical and biological attacks. Cross also signed on to become a combat medic.
"A lot of people my age don't stand up for the things they believe in anymore - they make other people do it for them - so I felt it was my time to serve," Cross said.
To future recruits, Cross said of his experience, "It's as much fun and as hard as they say it is. Some people stress about the little things and end up making bad decisions, but if you take it seriously and put the effort toward it, everybody is here to help you out.
You've got your buddies beside you, your drill sergeants behind you and your company commander and first sergeant in front of you showing you the way."
Army words:
Hooch - A Vietnam-era term to refer to a hut or dwelling.
Field-crafting - Basic skills for operating stealthily, such as creating camouflage and selecting good firing positions.
Ruck march - A road march conducted with a rucksack.
Trainees get ...
8 hours of sleep a night
An average of 60 to 75 minutes of physical training each morning
At least an hour of personal time each night
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