A Darkside Reunion Training

• Date: Saturday, Feb 3, 2018
• Time: 0440-0945
• Starting Point: Covenant Church side lot

Bush and I had the honor of the Q at the 3rd Darkside Ruckers training and it was an event to remembered. The last time I got to ruck with Bush was at the Joe Warner Ft. Bragg Heavy. It’s been almost a year and we are ready for a heavy reunion. The flag was posted at 0400 and two cups of strong, black joe were picked up to see who would show. It was 21-27 degrees throughout the event, so the morning was a “tit nipply.” At the appointed hour 5 studs were present. Unfortunately, that meant that as Qs who planned on 8-16 we had to modify. Part of that meant these studs would have to handle weight designed for twice their number. It would be a test. We gave our two Fartsackers a few more minutes to roll in as we got the TL prepped and coupons secured. They did not show.

The event was planned as a series of missions listed below. The route was designed to integrate some lessons and logs that Cadre Danny and JC shared with the FiA GrowRuck and explore some territory that was virgin to all of us. Vanilla was man enough to be our first TL for the morning. At each evolution, the TL was given a mission briefing to memorize and complete. There were many lessons and truth nuggets hidden in those missions and most were found, eventually. We stated at the big sand hill in front of Champions. After a little confusion and some almost bad decisions, the TL asked if we were in the right spot. We were close enough to be welcomed.

Bush started us off with a run to get the blood moving and body heat up. Up at down the hill several times. Then bear crawl up and then crab walk back up. Bono then continued with a series of exercises including: merkins, overhead press, squats, etc. Then it was a different kind of lesson in “It pays to win.” We made several laps up the hill and each time the winner got to stop and rest. The trick learned at the end is that if we win as a team, the entire team wins. It only took one more lap to make that lesson stick. The temps that morning were cold enough to freeze Bush’s water bladder for the first time he remembered as well as all of us other studs. A cold hose is hard to suck on, so our water need became an issue. The mumble chatter at the end of the event determined this Welcome Party was a TON of fun. Then we were off to the 2nd mission.

It was a 2 mile ruck to Alice Keene, the coupons were rotated according to plan (most of the time) although that #90 sandbag proved to be awkward the entire evolution. That is something our guys will continue to work on. When we got to Alice Keene, we had to transport the “heavy artillery” AKA Big Bertha to an appropriate location in the woods. Like most of life, what seemed like a quick and direct route was diverted into a much longer route. After learning the benefits of having a water key in the ruck to secure water, the crew found the appropriate wooden elements to secure the log for future Ruck Ready workouts. Promise that thing will be used in the future. The double-time through the woods back to the coupons revealed many other elements that should reveal themselves at future rucks. After See Thru stopped to smell the roses, we were back for the next mission.

See Thru was selected as the next TL for the shortest evolution ever for a TL. 4-seconds later he was fired. Partly to play with everyone’s mind, partly to get a more virgin TL some experience. That left the short-clad Marlboro Man to take his reigns. It was then that the finer details of the missons were revealed. Sometimes it’s worth asking what is a “necessary” coupon. The mission was to evac the casualties, so it was only the liter and casualties, AKA sandbag and ruck of the fallen. That was some unwanted news considering the Jerry can we carried among other items. Pied Piper revealed his organizational and analytical skills and created a 4-man liter rotation that should be remembered for future events. Bush and YHC looked at each other several times during the next leg and he wanted to make sure all 4 of these men were signed up for both the T and the L in Greenville. The next leg proved to be the gut wrencher it was meant to be. Through a seemingly open field, full of cotton stubs and a big ass, boot sucking ditch. The crew realized that the straightest path is not always the most efficient. Hence another truth nugget was found by the team. Once at the back of Vicksburg, the team figured out that they could drop the casualties if the pace picked up. After ringing San Fran’s fancy RING button and he neglected to get up at 0826, we pushed on. No beer present was given by our San Fransisco treat.

The team earned a brief respite before progressing to our next mission. What was planned as  a recon mission with several causalities ended up being a lesson in cold water tolerance. The Fork Swamp water had risen a great deal and the Q plan was modified to meet the objectives while keeping the men safe. Mission first, men always. After exiting the water path and a shuffle to get the blood flowing to the feet, the men made great time conducting a walking AAR and making it back to “headquarters” on time.

This was an honor to Q with Bush. We got to learn a lot about each other, being a dad, and our little girls. We also observed a lot about each of the men who showed up. Tater was our shadow because he just started BLET. He provided intel and helped manage coupons with such as small and elite strike team, as our “helo” for casualties and coupons. Hurricane is the official “Blue Falcon” of coupons. We only scratched the surface about what he has in his “storage shed.” As a dad he knew he only had about 2 hrs and stayed the whole time he had before having to be “transported” by Tater back to his 4-Runner. Showing up for all the time you had showed a ton of gonads in this weather. Vanilla was a stud and learned a lot as our first TL. It was neat to see him think and learn. Marlboro Man is the king of questions. He has some weird kind of “exothermic” reaction going on wearing shorts and purple socks in this weather. See Thru and Pied Piper were the quiet vets who did their Heavy prep with style. Pied was the king of the coupon rotation and See Thru was a stud at the welcome and at sniffing the roses after log PT. It will be a honor to compete side by side with these men – all of them.

We will plan another event before March 9/10, so pay attention. At least Mayhem figured out where Coffeteria was and me thinks he will set three alarms and get his shit together before 0100 the night of his next event. Lessons learned by everyone.

Here’s a little reveal of the planning docs your Qs put into this event.

Pre-Blast Hints: Prepare to explore new ground. Prepared to be smoked. Prepare to be cold. Prepare to be wet. Prepare to be muddy. Prepare to think. Prepare to focus on the details. Prepared to be exhausted. Prepare to be a team and to learn by consequence. If you are interested in Rucking, this will be an event you want to prepare to complete.

Packing List:

• Ruck
• Headlamps
• Reflective bands
• Minimum #30 weight (Tough Standards)
• Minimum 2L water
• Bring Sandbags if you got ‘em

Prepare to roll out at 0440. See you in the Gloom. We will welcome you there.

Route:

1. 0.3mi – Covenant Church Lot to Baywater Dr. Sand lot
2. 2.1mi – Baywater Dr. Sand lot to Alice Keene (via Old Firetower)
3. 0.6mi – Alice Keene gravel parking lot to 4934 County Home Road (3rd house past Bear Patch Daycare)
4. 0.6mi – through field 4934 County Home Road to 1308 Pine Drive (back of Vicksburg neighborhood)
5. 0.7mi – 1308 Pine Drive (back of Vicksburg neighborhood) to Boyd Lee Park end of lot
6. 0.6 mi – Boyd Lee Parking Lot to trailhead to the left of the bleachers
7. About 2.5 along Fork Swamp (take a right past field through mud) back to Covenant Lot
8. (7.4 miles of just rucking) 9.5 total (about 5 hrs)

Q Goals:

• Attention to Detail
• Situational Awareness 
• Mission first, Men always
• Clear Goals are communicated
• Welcome Party (35-45 min)

Mission Cards are below:

Event Goals: You are the Team Leader that is part of a the 2nd Company. Your team is small and elite. As Team Leader, you will maintain focus on the mission. You will be assisted by 3 Asst Team Leaders to focus on the men and make sure they understand and are meeting the mission objectives you receive. By the end of the event, your goal is to create a unified team that can move with situational awareness in an orderly way while accomplishing any task presented to you.

1. Mission: Unify the team by testing the individuals.
   1. In a uniform and orderly way, take all necessary coupons and men
      to the large sandhill in the Baywater Dr loop by Champions.
   2. Your team is on standby to provide support for the 3rd Company,
      which is infiltrating enemy territory.
   3. You will train under direction of the Qs until there is a need for
      support.
2. Mission: Provide support, relief, and cover for the 3rd Company, who
   engaged the enemy and is taking heavy casualties.
   1. In a uniform and orderly way, move the men and all necessary
      coupons with all deliberate speed to the rally point with the 3rd Company at
      the gravel lot just past Alice Keene Park.
   2. On the way, secure two wooden elements, 6-12” in diameter, 3-5’
      long, similar to each other.
   3. As you approach Alice Keene, maintain situational awareness
      because enemy snipers are scouting.
3. UPDATED Mission: Secure the heavy artillery
   secured by the 3rd Company as they had to evacuate casualties.
   1. Take the heavy artillery into the woods path and secure it
      according to instructions given to you by the Q when you reach the appointed
      area. Coordinates will be sent in by the 3rd Company when they are able.
   2.   Move with situational awareness because enemy troops are in the
      area.
4. Mission: Evacuate all casualties found to the nearest medical evac pad.
   1. In a uniform and orderly
      way, move the men and all necessary coupons to a rally point at the open field
      at Boyd Lee park (back corner close to ECCATS)
   2. Move via the following route that has been scouted by the 3rd
      Company. The route will be radioed in as it is cleared.
   3.  1st movement: Move to the
      3rd house past the Bear Patch Daycare, 4934 County Home Road.
5. Mission: Use extreme caution as you progress through hostile territory
   filled with innocent civilians. Move with speed as the casualties are beginning
   to experience complications.
   1. Cut through the field towards Vicksburg neighborhood, 1308 Pine
      Drive.
   2. Enter the neighborhood via the unfinished road, closest to
      Worthington Road. Only use public right of ways. Maintain close proximity as a
      team.
6. Mission: Rally with 3rd Company at the LZ for the medical evac.
   1. Your men will rally and hold at the bridge between ECCATS and Boyd
      Lee.
   2. Move with all deliberate speed.
   3. You will be able to regroup your men once the casualties have been
      evacuated.
7. Mission: Provide intelligence to company commanders about the water
   treatment plant off Fork Swamp.
   1. Your team must maintain situational awareness the entire time and
      stay in close proximity to avoid enemy snipers.
   2. Your men must maintain a zero noise level at the deer stand until
      they pass out of site of the lift station. The sound of water is natural. Any
      other sound will alert the enemy.
   3. Once out of sight of the lift station, you may use the unimproved road to progress back to the company headquarters.