This past July, I got the opportunity by Army Public Affairs to share my medic experience in an unfortunate accident during Army training last year and to, also, go through what my job as a mission controller is!
My Transition from Chemical Specialist to Medic
I became an Army medic in March of 2014 after I changed my job from being a Chemical Specialist. Being a chemical specialist isn't as cool as it sounds. I didn't actually get to play around with chemicals or experiment with them, my job was more on the lines of keeping inventory of all protective masks and equipment, and providing training to the unit on how to protect yourself from chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear agents.
When I was at my first duty station, Ft. Irwin, CA, I got to do smoke operations, which basically was a platoon that drove M113's (a type of armored tank) that had giant Smoke generators and provided cover and concealment from the enemy for infantry companies. It was actually pretty fun and we got to be creative on how we maneuver, but unfortunately Ft. Irwin was the only place in the entire Army where we got to do that. I wasn't happy with that job and knew I needed to make a change.
I've been a medic for a few years now and I love it! I even went into the Reserves after leaving active duty because I wasn't ready to fully let go of being a medic. After I went into the reserves, went to my unit, and found out my position there wasn't to be a medic, but to be a mission controller, I was a bit disappointed and thought I wasn't actually going to get to do my job. I didn't think about how there could be any possible accident where my job as a medic would come in handy. That is, until last year during our annual training at Fort Hunter Liggett, CA.
My Job as a Mission Controller
My job as a mission controller during our annual training is to gather the OPFOR to ensure that units, that are there to train for possible upcoming deployments, receive their missions and perform them the safest way possible. We have the BlueFor (Which typically are the "good guys" who's sole purpose is to train) and we have the OPFOR (Opposing Force, who are there to be the "bad guys").
Here is how it goes as a mission controller: I am given the mission(An ambush, small arms fire, or just a meeting between the BluFor and a village chief), I conduct a reconaissance (map out the location, routes, etc.), I gather the necessary resources and prep for mission (OPFOR, role players, ammo, simulation grenades, etc.), I drive out to location, start the mission, and stand by ensuring everything is going the way it's suppose to go. It can be fun at times when there aren't any incidents!
Last year, the missions were a little slow. We would only have about 1 or 2 daily, meaning only 1 or 2 from my company would go out and be a mission controller. You might think, "Hey, you just get to chill and do what you want", but things can get pretty boring real quick. I remember thinking that I just wanted things to pick up and be more climatic. And I should've been a little more careful with what I wished for.
The Incident
The day after I thought that, the infantry OPFOR I gathered had a little incident. It was a big mission where 3 humvees worth of soldiers attack a bridge being guarded by BLUFOR. This mission had 4 mission controllers, 2 of us would start pull up to the side of the road and pop off a simulation grenade in a barrel (a lot of dry grass out there, so we tried to minimize the risk of starting a fire by using the barrels for the simulation grenades), and two of us would follow behind the OPFOR convoy and be ready with the barrel for more simulation grenades.
I was part of the 2 that followed behind the convoy. After, the first simulation grenade popped off, the OPFOR moved in toward the bridge. We were so far behind that we couldn't see the first vehicle and didn't notice that they decided to go around the bridge and through the river. Well, guess what? They underestimated the depth of the river and completely flooded their vehicle. When we saw that everyone ahead stopped, we got off our vehicle thinking the mission started and grabbed our barrel to move ahead with them. And that's when we saw what actually happened.
Me and my battle buddy, the other mission controller, decided to stop the mission and look for a vehicle to pull the humvee out of the river. As we drove over the bridge, we saw a guy walking towards us and stopped to ask if they have called someone to pull the vehicle out. He, then, told us that they did, but, immediately went on to ask if we noticed the fire behind us. That's when we were confused and look back to see a lot of smoke. We just looked at each other and said, "Oh Shit!" and turned around to see if we can stop it with our fire extinguisher. By the time we got there, the fire had covered a huge portion of dry grass and our little fire extinguisher was going to do nothing. All we could do was call it up to range control, so they can get the fire department.
It was one crazy mission, and none of us knew another incident would happen the very next day, during MY mission, AGAIN! Watch the video below and see what it's like for me to be a mission controller and to use my medic skills to help during the second incident. I hope this gives you guys a little insight of who I am in the Army. I hope you guys enjoy and let me know what you think! :)
