BFV01Motorpool.jpg
562 hits | 56.38 KB | Posted: 11/11/11
My final activation with the LAARNG was for training up on the "new" Bradley, which took s...

BFV02Assembly.jpg
549 hits | 45.38 KB | Posted: 11/11/11
Before the road march, all the vehicle assemble & wait... IDK why we still had those old M901s with...

BFV03Convoy.jpg
473 hits | 85.79 KB | Posted: 11/11/11
Eventually, all the vehicles start moving, and the thunder of a few hundred tons of armored vehicles...

BFV04Wreck.jpg
490 hits | 75.24 KB | Posted: 11/11/11
Not even armor can stand up to armor - some spirited driving by weekend warriors slowed us down.

BFV05Scrap.jpg
492 hits | 58.32 KB | Posted: 11/11/11
Good thing Louisiana taxpayers are filthy rich.

BFV06Cmdr.jpg
616 hits | 49.86 KB | Posted: 11/11/11
We occupied a range on Peason Ridge and prepared for live fire.

BFV07Line.jpg
475 hits | 40.55 KB | Posted: 11/11/11
The first iteration moved to the firing line.

BFV08Line.jpg
502 hits | 26.53 KB | Posted: 11/11/11
Of course, nothing can happen until everything is ready, so hurry up & wait...

BFV09Live.jpg
522 hits | 32.94 KB | Posted: 11/11/11
Finally, some action!

BFV10Fire.jpg
441 hits | 37.4 KB | Posted: 11/11/11
The launch motor is just a small explosive, so the missile leaves like a recoilless cannon shot.

BFV30Effect.jpg
502 hits | 28.08 KB | Posted: 11/11/11
With careful timing (and a LOT of luck), I caught an actual TOW detonation.

BFV31Hollywood.jpg
530 hits | 30.19 KB | Posted: 11/11/11
Not quite as dramatic as you see in movies, but it's enough to cut through 18 inches of armor or 3 f...

BFV11Advance.jpg
473 hits | 48.33 KB | Posted: 11/11/11
After live fire, we practiced some maneuvers.

BFV12Advanced.jpg
480 hits | 42.34 KB | Posted: 11/11/11
Yep, we're maneuvering.

BFV13Camp.jpg
467 hits | 61.8 KB | Posted: 11/11/11
After a long day of sending ordnance downrange, we moved to the treeline & settled in for the night.

BFV14Camp.jpg
477 hits | 44.09 KB | Posted: 11/11/11
I can't remember why this old M901 was with us - maybe for nostalgia.

BFV15Camo.jpg
469 hits | 43.55 KB | Posted: 11/11/11
Just as if we were in-theater, everything has to be netted over.

BFV16Louie.jpg
508 hits | 34.66 KB | Posted: 11/11/11
During the night, we had to teach a (typically) smart-mouthed Lieutenant to mind his manners.

BFV17Huey.jpg
504 hits | 41.75 KB | Posted: 11/11/11
Near the end of summer camp, I was chosen to take a joy-ride in a Huey as a reward for a high score ...

BFV18Ride.jpg
445 hits | 31.87 KB | Posted: 11/11/11
This is only the 2nd time I've ridden in a helicopter, and it'll probably be my last.

BFV19Bankin.jpg
465 hits | 35.54 KB | Posted: 11/11/11
The pilot made it fun with some combat maneuvers...

BFV20Slot.jpg
488 hits | 24.79 KB | Posted: 11/11/11
He even took us on a low blast through this firebreak, eventually getting below the treeline.

BFV21Shadow.jpg
472 hits | 31.61 KB | Posted: 11/11/11
This was ~20years ago, which might be enough for my mother NOT to get hysterical if she finds out I ...

BFV22LZ.jpg
475 hits | 54.35 KB | Posted: 11/11/11
We were dropped off at another firing line where some HMMWVs were lined up.

BFV23Grunts.jpg
472 hits | 41.14 KB | Posted: 11/11/11
The grunts were blasting away with 50cals & M60s.

BFV24Charlie.jpg
567 hits | 43.55 KB | Posted: 11/11/11
We were startled by a shot from what we assumed was their commander's track, but it turned out to be...

BFV25Boom.jpg
454 hits | 43 KB | Posted: 11/11/11
Again: not quite Hollywood, but I'm glad I was at THIS end.

BFV26Repeat.jpg
478 hits | 46.67 KB | Posted: 11/11/11
More noise = more fun, so we wandered over to their position.

BFV27Drop.jpg
466 hits | 39.04 KB | Posted: 11/11/11
An advantage of indirect-fire weapons is that you don't have to be AS worried about getting shot whi...

BFV28Shot.jpg
447 hits | 34.38 KB | Posted: 11/11/11
I managed to catch one just as it left the tube.

BFV29Hang.jpg
486 hits | 48.33 KB | Posted: 11/11/11
These big ones have some serious hang time...

BFV32Pile.jpg
548 hits | 59.29 KB | Posted: 11/11/11
After the end of summer camp, and cleaning up all the equipment back at the armory, everyone let off...

DC0.jpg
547 hits | 59.04 KB | Posted: 11/11/11
While I was in an intel unit, I did a summer "camp" in DC as a driver/interpreter for a gr...

DC1.jpg
600 hits | 49.74 KB | Posted: 11/11/11
I arrived a few days before the activities to familiarize with the locations & routes.

DC2.jpg
588 hits | 76.51 KB | Posted: 11/11/11
On the first drive with my passengers, the car's muffler blew out, and they nicknamed it "the S...

DC3.jpg
611 hits | 37.66 KB | Posted: 11/11/11
Boy, those 2 weeks of summer duty with the National Guard can be such a pain...

This view is from...

DC4.jpg
709 hits | 60.02 KB | Posted: 11/11/11
These were the US officers attending the event, and the NCOs supporting it. I'm back there on the R...

DC5.jpg
660 hits | 61.88 KB | Posted: 11/11/11
The hotel fire alarm went off one afternoon, and I gave the PA instructions in German, since there w...

DC6.jpg
576 hits | 39.54 KB | Posted: 11/11/11
The last event was a formal reception dinner at the German embassy, and my passengers invited me to ...