NTC Day 18

I woke up after breakfast had ended, so I had to forage a bit to get something to eat. I grabbed a cup of Total from near the command post, and found a carton of milk near the MKT. I brought them back to the tent, where I managed to keep a plastic spoon from some time ago -- good to go.

Being on reverse cycle (working nights, sleeping days) isn't great -- I'd rather be able to get both my free meals -- but I was proud of myself for managing this one.

Several things worked together to befuddle my attempt at a smooth convoy command.

Starting today, we now have to take a HIIDES biometric camera on mission. These things are usually used by infantry patrols to record and track detainees' information, but are essentially uselss on convoys. When would we ever delay our mission by getting out of our trucks to chase down somebody on foot, capture them, and record their data? Just plain dumb....

Plus, as convoy commander on today's mission, I was given a new form for our convoy manifest (a roster of every person and sensitive item that goes on the mission) just hours before we were supposed to go out. Having to retype the whole thing in this new form was such a pain in the neck.

Finally, while I was doing the convoy brief, the first sergeant insisted on doing his own pre-combat inspection apart from the one we did; that seemed like a subversion of our authority. He also interrupted my brief to correct our official convoy speed (which I said would be 15 to 20 mph), resetting it as 10 to 15mph.

*sigh*

At least we still have ice cream trucks.