NCO Of The Quarter; Part Deux

Holy crap, I almost died today. Let me give you a run down on the day's events.

The NCO of the Quarter competition began at 0400 this morning with a PT test. Push ups, sit ups and a 2 mile run. It was already so hot at 0400, that while I was running the second mile I had thoughts of closing my eyes and hoping I would fall off the side of the track into the drainage ditch and break my arm or leg to get out of continuing the run. I didn't, of course, because it's really hard to will yourself to hurt yourself.

Second on the list of horrors was to put on my 35+ pounds of protective gear and go qualify with my M4 rifle at the firing range. Lying on my belly in the sand with the sun cooking me from above is how I like to spend my breakfast hour instead of eating. Not only was it throwing 40 rounds downrange into paper targets, we did a stress shoot too. Doesn't that just sound fun? Our stress shoot was running down the firing lane to pick up a 9 round magazine, running back to the starting point to take a knee and load the weapon, then you walking back towards the targets while firing. Oh yeah, you only get 60 seconds to do this.

Next up was "Warrior Tasks": Loading and transmitting messages on an FBCB2, clearing and functions checks on a 50 caliber machine gun, M240 machine gun, M4 rifle and a M249 machine gun. It was coming up on noon by then, and what would be better than dealing with weapons that had been baking in 120 degree heat in the gravel than to deal with them while wearing the 35+ pounds of protective gear! For no purpose other than to "look hard core".

By lunch, when I finally got to drop my gear, I was soaked with sweat. So soaked that even the suede on my boots had sweat stains. I couldn't stop sweating and my skin was bright red. My stomach started to cramp and I was getting dizzy. I threw up water twice. Typical heat exhaustion. I had to get an IV and sit in the air conditioning for a while. I should have gotten to go home and take a nap and drink lots of water, but I still had the main event to attend: The Board.

Luckily, I was not alphabet fucked (stupid Williams for a last name) at the board and got to go first for a change. It went well. I was confident. I knew most of the answers. And my Battalion Command Sergeant Major is buddies with my Brigade Command Sergeant Major: it's always good to network with people in high places.

I do not know the outcome of the NCO of the Quarter competition yet. I don't think I won by any means because the heat was seriously effecting me all day. All I can take away from this experience is that this was my lame near death experience in a combat zone.