This is a work of fiction, the characters are creations of the author's imagination, and any resemblance to any actual person. living or dead, is purely accidental and unintentional. Nothing here is intended to dismiss the sacrifices of, or in any way disrespect the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces.
Any mistakes in descriptions of military terms and/or tactics are the sole responsibility of the author.
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[Chapter 3]
I was booked for the Mountain Warfare course, which was to be the last of my 'Q' schools before I became a fully qualified P.J. & received my badge & Red Beret.
That was the 'plan' anyway... In the Spec War community, there is a saying that "No plan ever survives after the shooting starts." The way these things go, I reported to Ft. Carson, Colorado after my leave, and was told "Don't even bother unpacking Airman. Here are your orders, report to Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, get there by Monday. Keep your receipts, I can't promise you will get paid back, but without receipts I promise you won't. Dismissed."
"Uhhh, Yes Sir, Thank You Sir."
"Are you still here?"
So there I was, at the Airport waiting for a commercial flight, courtesy of Visa & Government Travel Rates. I could have tried to get a Space-Available flight courtesy of the Air Force, but I was still only an E-3. Airman First Class to civilians, and basically just another peon in the military hierarchy. Besides, I could sit around a hanger for a few days hoping to get a flight, or I could get to Florida 3 days early, and catch a few waves.
I opened my sealed orders to find out what new plans my Uncle in Washington had in store for me. Besides Mountain training, P.J.s typically get sent through the Artic or Jungle Warfare course. I was obviously not going to Arctic Training in Pensacola. So naturally, I was expecting to see 'Jungle Warfare School' typed neatly on the line... Instead it read: "US Army Ranger Assessment Course."
Because I was in my Class-A 'Blues', I assume, I was told by the Gate Attendant that they were oversold in Coach, but I was being upgraded to Business Class rather than get bumped to the next flight. "Thank you Ma'am, this must be my lucky night." Little did I know.
On the flight down to Florida, the first leg flew into Tampa. After my upgrade, I was sitting next to one of the most beautiful girls I'd ever seen. No Exaggeration. I (humbly) think I am a pretty good-looking guy, in good (now great?) shape due to the physical nature of the training regimen of a wanna-be P.J. But this girl was an 11 & probably out of my league.
I didn't want her to think I was a creep, so after I stowed my gear, and hers (chivalry might be out of style, but it's not dead) I took my seat by the window & started to browse thru the Sky-Mall catalog. Rebecca ("but everyone calls me Bex") introduced herself right away & started talking like we had been friends forever. I might have wondered who she was actually talking to (again -- out of my league), but in Business Class there are only 2 seats per row.
Bex told me she had a brother who was serving in an Army Striker Battalion, in Ramadi (Iraq), and showed me a picture of him with his squad. I told her I was still in training, but would likely be over there myself by the end of the year. She asked me about my training, and seemed interested when I told her about the P.J.s & their mission... my mission too, or it would be after I completed training anyway.
I found out that she was a Grad Student who supported herself by being a Cheerleader for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who coincidently had just won their first Super Bowl a few months earlier. I told her I was a long-suffering Chargers Fan.
Growing-up in Southern California definitely has its advantages, & I sure can't complain... But our Football Teams are generally atrocious. The Rams had a good run for a couple of years, but San Diego seemed solidly committed to underachievement year after year. Even though she cheered for the Bucs, she lowered her voice to below a whisper and said "But I grew up in Pennsylvania, and I'll aways be Steelers Girl at heart."