Dodge Charger
Jeep Liberty Sport
Thursday, June 25, 2009
MRAP School
I mentioned previously that Lisa was going to have to learn on the fly how to work on the MRAP vehicles. But it turns out that she may get to go back to Camp Johnson, NC for a couple weeks of school to come up to speed on the MRAPS. Lisa spent several months at Camp Johnson after Combat Training School last fall and winter. She likes NC and wouldn't mind being stationed there someday. She likes that the people are more laid back.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
MRAPs
Mine Resistant, Assault Protected vehicles. Lisa started working in a new shop today. The shop specializes in working on the new MRAP class of vehicles. This class of vehicles was developed to allow combat patrols a higher level of safety from Improvised Explosive Devices (IED's). The armor underneath angles out and is designed to divert the energy from the bomb away from the vehicle.
This is the Cougar. Below is a Cougar hit by an IED. The engine wound up 100 yards away from the vehicle. Amazingly only minor injuries were suffered by those inside.
Next up is the Buffalo. Appropriately named. This vehicle can also clear mines.
Lisa didn't work on these in school so she is going to be learning on the fly. She is working on a team of three with another Marine and a civilian. She said the civilian is like a mexican version of John who was so helpful to her in her last shop. "Someone who takes you in and gives you old people advice." I think she likes it though. Her and the other marine went to his house where Pablo's wife cooked up menudo. Lisa describes this as "amazing, beef intestines and vegetables with hominy in it. It is good and I get it wherever I can." It was only after she developed a taste for it that someone told her what it was.
Lisa told me she helped change a windshield today. A 400 lb. windshield with 6 layers to it. They have a process to seal it so that the troops inside are protected from chemical weapons. She said they have Cougar and Buffalo MRAPS in the shop and that some of them they are working on are destined for Afghanistan.
This is the Cougar. Below is a Cougar hit by an IED. The engine wound up 100 yards away from the vehicle. Amazingly only minor injuries were suffered by those inside.
Next up is the Buffalo. Appropriately named. This vehicle can also clear mines.
Lisa didn't work on these in school so she is going to be learning on the fly. She is working on a team of three with another Marine and a civilian. She said the civilian is like a mexican version of John who was so helpful to her in her last shop. "Someone who takes you in and gives you old people advice." I think she likes it though. Her and the other marine went to his house where Pablo's wife cooked up menudo. Lisa describes this as "amazing, beef intestines and vegetables with hominy in it. It is good and I get it wherever I can." It was only after she developed a taste for it that someone told her what it was.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Rifle Qualification Wrap Up
Lisa didn't seem to take much consolation in the fact she scored Expert on her second qualification. The Marines rules say that when failing the first time you are only eligible to wear the lowest rank badge which is Marksman until you qualify again in another year. But I was proud of her for coming back and posting a score at the highest qualification level even though she can't wear the badge, at least for this year.
And unknown to almost everyone, she did come back strong under a lot of pressure. You see, if she had not qualified this time she would not have been able to take her leave in July to visit family and be a bridesmaid in her friends wedding.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Ooops.
Thursday was practice day for table two rifle qualification which is FRIDAY, not yesterday as I posted previously. Lisa said she had a good day today and I think just wants to finish up.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Successful Rifle Qualification Day!
First off, the video that disappeared for a couple of days is back up. Hopefully for good this time.
But the real news is that Lisa bounced back strong and scored really well on the Rifle Range. She is fully qualified now and would have a great chance at scoring the top level of Expert if not for failing the first time around. As painful as that was I know that she is stronger for having to go through that. Tomorrow is the second table where they shoot on the move and at moving targets. This score will get added on to her score from today. In case you missed it you can read about the whole process of rifle qualification in the Marines in my previous blog post.
I asked her what she found the easiest and most difficult. She said the easiest was by far the 200 meter stationary targets. The most difficult position is standing. In Lisa's words when "standing, you have no support and have to muscle the rifle." The other difficult exercise is rapid-fire shooting where the Marine is required to stand up, THEN jump back down, acquire the target and fire in a short amount of time. It is important though as it represents a typical combat situation where you have to quickly hit the deck and acquire your target. I think the heat at Twentynine Palms affects her later in the day. It is very exposed and they have to wear their sleeves down in temperatures that have been running over 100 degrees lately.
But the real news is that Lisa bounced back strong and scored really well on the Rifle Range. She is fully qualified now and would have a great chance at scoring the top level of Expert if not for failing the first time around. As painful as that was I know that she is stronger for having to go through that. Tomorrow is the second table where they shoot on the move and at moving targets. This score will get added on to her score from today. In case you missed it you can read about the whole process of rifle qualification in the Marines in my previous blog post.
I asked her what she found the easiest and most difficult. She said the easiest was by far the 200 meter stationary targets. The most difficult position is standing. In Lisa's words when "standing, you have no support and have to muscle the rifle." The other difficult exercise is rapid-fire shooting where the Marine is required to stand up, THEN jump back down, acquire the target and fire in a short amount of time. It is important though as it represents a typical combat situation where you have to quickly hit the deck and acquire your target. I think the heat at Twentynine Palms affects her later in the day. It is very exposed and they have to wear their sleeves down in temperatures that have been running over 100 degrees lately.
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