DSERF? DSURF? DCRF? How do you spell it again?

When I came to Fort Polk to report for my first duty station out of AIT. I had already been told my battalion had no plans to deploy for another 4 years much to my disappointment. When I was getting in-briefed into the post I had a number of officers and Senior Non Commissioned Officers throwing the phrase "D-Surf" around. I had no idea what in the hell that meant but it sparked my curiosity. Despite all this I wanted to deploy to the war zone like every other soldier who's had it pounded into their head since basic.

There must be somebody who needs killing...

When I got to 178 Engineer Company that damn "D-Surf" name kept coming up. Yet no one could exactly explain what it was. What i was told is that I'd have to pack my crap up and get ready to go to Florida in a few weeks (irregardless of the fact I just drove from there over two days and many of creepy Louisiana's back roads to finally make it there). So on I went and began all the paperwork and acquiring of gear to get ready to pack for it. From there I started hearing bits a pieces from guys who went to similar training in D.C., it got my interest up. Our final briefing by our Platoon Sergeant was that we were the first active component to do this and to get ready for some hard training. I started to get excited for it. Also I found out it was DCRF instead of D-Surf...oops.

On May 2nd of 2011 I got on a bus and headed to Ocala, Florida for our training. Through the 10 weeks of training we learned Hazmat, Rope Rescue, Confined Spaces Rescue, Vehicle Rescue, Trench Rescue, and Structural Collapse Rescue. We learned from Florida State firefighters who had been to disaster sites at Ground Zero, Haiti, New Orleans, and Oklahoma City. The training itself was long and intensive with two weeks doing scenarios in full chem gear (basically plastic suits and gas masks) in full blown Florida summer. We got further briefings that put it all into perspective. DCRF means Defensive CBRN Response Force and under this we answer to Army North. In the standard operations procedure if a major disaster happened we'd have to wait until a political offical called the Department of Defense for help. So we'd have to wait for the City, County, State, Reserves, and National Guard to be overwhelmed in order to call us. In effect the hopes of us ever deploying went from high to slimmer than an eye lash.

We came back to Fort Polk in July and were ready to get into it. We got our equipment in for 1st platoon. We had 10 guys unloading, accounting, moving, and storing a full tractor trailer of equipment in 105-116 degree heat all day for two weeks. When we first got it, the civilians who ordered it had to inventory it, then supply, then our Lieutenant. Next we had to move it between three different storage areas. It just kept going on. Then 3rd platoon came back and got their equipment and a "training cache" so two tractors full of it. A few months in we were pretty much like "fuck this shit". And of course half of the equipment was different that what we used in Florida, so we got to push our "ADAPT" buttons multiple times.

The highlight of it all was when JAG provided our use of force brief; not a rules of engagement brief...use of force. It had 12 points which was all conditional and contradicted each point to where I am better off just carrying a stick if we deploy and need weapons. We all looked at the paper provided to us and looked at in confusion.

Sir, if we shoot someone in self defense we have to provide first aid immediately after?!

We train all the time for it, so our skills haven't diminshed. We have won accolades from generals left and right, but we still haven't deployed. Its come to the point where people would rather deploy to a war zone than this. Personally, I'm getting sick of carrying around my entire equipment loadout for a layout.

In reality there is a legitimate need for what we are doing here, but don't expect us to come flying out to your trailer park just because a category 5 tornado hit your county. That is, unless it was a category 5 tornado with a 7.0 magnitude earthquake, or a fire tornado, or a Sarin or Tabun fueled hurricane, or the second coming of Christ. Then we would totally be there for that!

Actually, now that I see this, cancel the fire tornado. That shit just screams "don't screw with me!"

Lieutenants

In every aspect of the army there is a commissioned officer who is in charge of it. In the platoon level there are Lieutenants, the rank of 2nd Lieutenant (pay grade O1) and 1st Lieutenant (pay grade O2) are the commissioned officers assigned to handle all the major planning, logistical, and enforcement of army regulations for said platoon. They are expected to take command and lead the way, they receive advice and guidance from the Platoon Sergeant (SFC/E7) to help govern their command decision. They are expected to be in excellent physical shape, handle stress, utilize their platoon effectively and efficiently, account for all their equipment, and lead from the front.

Whats strange about Lieutenants is that they are likely not much older than the lower enlisted soldiers and most likely younger than their Squad Leaders and Platoon Sergeant. The usual age is 22-27 years of age of many newly commissioned Lieutenants. Also they considered by the enlisted as the privates of the Officers, which means most NCO's don't trust them. In conjunction this lack of experience is the true litmus test of how these officers take the lead. Most excel at it since they utilize logical decision making and risk management analysis which they learned in college and their respective commissioning school (ROTC, OCS, West Point). The rare few make mistakes at bad times, let their commission get to their head, or neglect the fact that there are 30+ people under them who are trained to fight and remove characteristics such as self preservation from their psyche. These Lieutenants, while they may have their mind in the right place are simply spiraling into the world of reprimands, reassignments, dismissal, massive debt from lost equipment or possible severe/accidental injury (returning a salute while a sniper is present is an example).

Aw man, LT is at it again.

Some officers through lack of experience, stress, or just pure dumb will get themselves into trouble and in turn hated by their soldiers. Things such as giving soldiers crap for not being motivated when its 116 degrees or more outside, excessive inventories, crappy Drill and Ceremony skills, making an erroneous decision that gets soldiers screwed over, tapping their USMA ring on the table and so forth. Certain things can't be helped, but others can be avoided by taking a step back and thinking.

"Based on my experience.."
-When uttered by a LT this is a foreboding that shit is about to hit the fan.

In any military organization you will always hear an enlisted soldier of any rank say "Fucking LT X blah blah blah." Lieutenants are always disliked and that will not change, Joes will always look back and see the LT giving direction from the office or the rear causing scorn. Some officers take it in stride and persevere. The ones that don't eventually see their careers end or are thrown off to a Battalion or Brigade staff job that sucks the big one. Figures show that many officers separate from the service after just one contract. This may be a fact that they can secure better paying civilian jobs or they are so tired of dealing with their soldiers. Being an officer is an understandably stressful job with a likelihood of alcoholism.

Oh you're in the Army? What are you? A Plumber?!

In the US Army, there are many Military Occupational Specialties (MOS). Many are pride filled and proud positions such as Infantry,EOD, Artillery, Armor, Medical and Aerial. For the others, there are other jobs. The jobs no one else wants such has Human Resources, Pharmacy Tech, Plumber, and others.

When I was transferred after failing EOD school to Plumbing school at Sheppard AFB I remembered back to viewing Army MOS videos on YouTube before I shipped to Basic Training. One stuck out when I  viewed "Army MOS 21K Plumber" and thinking "man, that must totally suck as a job but at least they do some regular combat engineering training." I snickered a bit then went back to watching clips of Hurt Locker, how silly I was.

Going through class was odd, a multi-branch school run mainly by the Air Force. I heard our instructor, TSgt Taylor, say many a time "I don't know what they do in the Army, but in the Air Force we do..." We actually asked our Army Platoon Sergeants/Instructors about such scenarios....we were duly informed that we will likely never plumb again after AIT and to be ready to be second hand carpenters. Along with this we will not be going to Battle Focused Training (i.e. no combat engineering/battle maneuvers training)....man I got the short end here.

This plumber is watching everything learned go down the tubes at a standard 10 degree pitch.

I was discouraged at hearing this, but we were also told to get ready to deploy because by god there is two wars going on so you will most likely deploy and wreck those Al Qaida dickheads!

You'll totally fucking deploy!

After I graduated plumbing school I took my orders to head to Fort Polk. From that point on is where I'm will chronicle the things that go on at 178 Engineering Company.