Map Reading

Why was Map Reading so hard?

It just was. We had a lot of in class instruction but then our test was actually going out and finding certain grid points. You’d get grid coordinates then have to go out and find them and there would be a number marked on a tree or something, you’d write that number down on your test sheet then take it in to get scored.

If that sounds confusing it’s because even back then I barely understood what I was doing and imagine now, over 20 years later, how much of that I retained. You were given three tries to go out and find your points. After the third try you failed the course and had to go back to your unit.

By this time I had become pretty good friends with my classmates. They looked out of me but like any good big brother would, they’d also tease me about girly things (like the sound of my voice calling cadence) but for the most part, we all got along quite well. Because of what transpired with the Sergeant and the statement I signed, I was less inclined to talk to any males that weren’t in my class or platoon and even at that, I tried to communicate through the Squad Leaders and not directly to the guys.

For those soldiers that worked in the field in the Army, they aced map reading –they do it every day. So those guys went out, found their points, passed and they were done. The rest of us struggled. I struggled.
I struggled for more than one reason. We were in full gear when we went out –train like you fight. How many times have I heard that? You have to train exactly how it would be in a real field experience. So for map reading, I was fully equipped with my TA-50 gear, weapon, helmet –all of it. And all of it weighed as much, if not more, than I did so that alone was a challenge to me –walking around in full gear, keeping up with my weapon, trying to find the points, walking in the woods –all the things I despised.

Our instructors were around the course mostly to make sure we didn’t cheat and give each other answers. We were not allowed to talk to anyone while out on the course. Some of the instructors walked around, others had little golf-cart type vehicles they sped around in.

I found most of my points right away –some just accidentally as I’d stumble on one while looking for another. So I was able to knock out quite a few right from the get go. Then it got tricky. You could not talk to any of the instructors out in the field but you could go back in and speak to any instructors if you needed clarification on how to do something, etc. but they were not allowed to give you specific points, etc. I was down to finding two points and try as I did, I couldn’t get it. At first I wasn’t worried but then I saw fewer and fewer soldiers around and it would soon be dusk –I didn’t want to get stuck out here in the dark. I began to get concerned and knowing I had three changes to get it right, I decided I’d take a stab in the dark and put down the last two points and turn it in.

The first sheet I turned I FAIL – I got the last two wrong but I wasn’t worried (too much) –I still had two more chances and at least I now could narrow down the choices. I went back out for my second try and by this time, there were only a handful of us left. I walked in circles. I saw the same trees over and over again. I walked, I looked, I hunted, I oriented my map, I used my compass ---- I tried, I tried and I tried. I put down two more points and went to turn them in.

When I got to the check in point I couldn’t believe what I saw.

This is NOT Today's Post

I'm sitting in my family room on my IBM think pad, Windows 2000 --because we've managed to crash not one but TWO computers . . . . and years ago I dropped my IBM think pad and cracked the monitor so I have it hooked up to our HP monitor so I can you know, see.  Its all very complicated.

And Jerry, my husband, isn't even aware I'm on my military blog . . . .

He's sitting over there eating the most delicious dinner I made for him (and me and Zach) and he's eating late because he had a board meeting he had to attend at 6pm.  Actually, he just finished eating his most delicious dinner.

And just out of no where he starts singing cadence.  Cuz he's like that you know, Retired Army, ex-Drill . . .

Its just like that living here with us.

We break computers, cook and eat delicious food and call out cadence for no reason at all.  We're Army like that.

So yes, Pete--I DO remember a lot of cadences from Basic because you know, that's how we roll.

C130 ROLLING DOWN THE STRIP
AIRBORNE DADDY ON A ONE WAY TRIP
HE HAD A MISSION DESTINATION UNKNOWN
AND THEY DON'T CARE IF YOU NEVER COME HOME
I SAID HEY ALL THE WAY
WE RUN EVERY DAY
HEY ALL THE WAY
WE RUN EVERY DAY

Please see below for Melissa's REAL Military Moment.

I Signed The Statement

I don’t know why it’s like this. Yesterday morning as I was mentally “writing’ this post, I saw on the news a story about a stalker that got a light sentence and they interviewed the victim and she was stating how people commented how it was her fault, she must have lead him on, etc. She went on to say that people’s reaction towards her was like being victimized again.


Why is it like that? I don’t know but such was the case with me and the Sergeant Major.

Sergeant Major had someone type up a statement that was completely contrary to what really happened. He called me out of class to come to his office to sign the statement.

Oh, I guess I failed to mention that when this first happened, before CSM even got involved, my instructor had me write out a statement of what happened.

I get to the Sergeant Major’s office and he said something like, “No need to read it over, it’s exactly like we talked about. Here you go *hands me paper* just sign it and this will all be over with. You’re doing the right thing, you know. This really wasn’t a big deal and if that Sergeant’s wife finds out about it she’ll probably think it was more than it really was, you know? You really don’t want to cause all that trouble, do you? So here you go, just sign right here. . “

I picked up the paper and started reading it. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Sergeant Major fidgeting in his chair. The statement was a complete lie and distortion of the facts. He covered all bases too –at the end it said something like, “This is a complete recollection of the events as they happened and this statement supersedes any other statements made by me.” I read it then looked at Sergeant Major.

“You know Sergeant Dodge, this is all starting to get in the way of the real reason we are here –and that is to train you and the others. I can’t focus on the course when I have to constantly be distracted by things such as this. We just need this to go away so we can get on with training. Our goal is to graduate both of you –I’d hate to see either of you [me or the Sergeant] not finish the course because you got held up in an investigation or lost too much classroom time because of something like this. So if you just sign that you can go back to class and this is all over with. If you don’t want to sign it I understand but you know, I’ll probably have to pull you out of the course . . . “

I knew exactly what he was doing –he was threatening me –he was using his rank and position to do something I did not want to do.

I wish I could say I didn’t cave –but I did. He scared me. He won. And I was tired of always being the cry baby.

I signed the statement and left. As I was walking out I felt a knot in my stomach. I knew I had not done the right thing and yet, I felt like I had been forced into it.

Sergeant Major Said

Sergeant Major looked at me and said, "What did you do to him?"

What did I do to him? I was confused. What did he mean? Oh well he explained.
Sergeant Major wanted to know what signals I gave him --what I did to lead him on and make him think I wanted his advances.

I had to respect Sergeant Major --he held a lot of power over my career at this point so I was trying to hold back but what I wanted to say was----well, I'm not going to tell you what I wanted to say because it wasn't very nice. But I was shocked and offended. I told Sergeant Major I didn't give any signals and I had not done anything and in fact, the first time it happened I made it clear that it wasn't okay --but the Sergeant just laughed.

Sergeant Major went on to say you know-- it’s just that all these things are happening only to you. I said, "No, Sergeant Major, all of these things are happening to all of female soldiers but they don't speak up because it does no good, nothing ever gets done or we get treated like --this."

Sergeant Major said, "Yeah I understand but ---the showers and ...."

"The showers were not my fault, Sergeant Major. Even if that was something I wanted, how could I possibly arrange for something like that?"

There was more conversation but mostly CSM not believing me --oh he had even asked me, "Are you sure his hand didn't just brush up against you as you were walking up the stairs?"

Uh, no --it was a GRAB.

So CSM said he'd talk to the other guy and I got the feeling CSM thought he'd deny it, it would be his word against mine and the matter would be dropped for lack of evidence.

But the Sergeant's guilt got the best of him and he admitted to both instances and even went as far to say that, “No, Sergeant Dodge didn't lead me on.” He admitted it was intentional and he did in fact intend it in that manner.

Soooo back to Sergeant Major's office I went. And now Sergeant Major had a different attitude but he was still on the guy's side. This time he wasn't blaming me but he wanted mercy from me, mercy on this guy. Sergeant Major went on to explain, "The Army doesn't take sexual harassment lightly [no they don't, they just don't believe you when you say it happened] so I have no choice but to press charges against this soldier. Now you understand this will probably ruin his career. He will most likely get an Article 15, loose rank, money --are you sure you want to pursue this? He's really sorry and said he won't ever do anything like this again --so can't you just take his apology and leave it at that?"

Again, I'm just so offended and angry I'm being treated in this manner. This was not appropriate. It wasn't. I said, "Sergeant Major, that's not really my call. I'm not in this soldier's chain of command so what actions are taken against him, if any, is not my call. I reported what happened. That's it."

"But Sergeant Dodge, if we press charges against this soldier it could break up his family! Have you even thought about that? This guy really doesn't want his wife to find out. And he has three kids! If he gets an Article 15 and gets a reduction in rank and money taken away, that's just less money for his family and children."

I'm standing there thinking how or why this guy's family suddenly became my responsibility or consideration.

Sergeant Major continued, "What if we just give this soldier a Letter of Reprimand? It will stay in his school file but not his personnel file and this way his wife and family won’t have to suffer."

I had enough of this conversation and I had enough of ALL OF IT. They won. They wore me down.

I said to Sergeant Major, "Okay. I'll agree to the LOR and I won't press this any further." I could tell CSM was relieved. He thanked me and said, "It’s really about his wife and kids, they shouldn't have to suffer because of this. That's all he's thinking about."

I pursed my lips together and said, "Trust me, it wasn't his wife or his kids that he was thinking about when his hand was on my ass -- twice!"

Sergeant Major looked shocked and stared at me for a few seconds and said, "Well, that's all, Sergeant. You can go now."

So I started to walk out and he said, "Oh, but I'm going to need you to sign a statement. I'll have one prepared for you and I'll let your instructor know when it’s ready for you to sign."

"A statement about what", I asked.

"Oh just that you know, this was all one big misunderstanding and you were confused –it wasn’t a grab but just a friendly tap –like you know, a guy thing, like ‘Hey, good job!’ and that it wasn’t sexual or harassment.”

Oh that statement.

How Dare He!

My new found confidence was serving me well not only as platoon sergeant but my class work and grades were also starting to improve.

And I took a new stance with my roommates as well. I agreed with Sergeant Major that it wasn’t just their room and I had every right to be in there as I saw fit –so I did. I remember the first night I came in and plopped myself down on the floor and started polishing my boots, they looked at me (especially the “ring leader”) as if to say, “What’s she doing here?” I did feel a little intimidated but I tried my best not to let it show.

But I still had the Star Spangled Banner to practice for and sitting on a hard tile floor against a cold metal bed wasn't my idea of a night of fun (remember, we weren't allowed on our beds until just before lights out) so one night I was back in the basement.

The Sergeant that had uh --touched my back side was there too just as cocky and confident as could be.  He mostly hung around watching/listening to us sing --we'd chat (we as in the whole group) and it was mostly a very informal time.  Cutting it close to lights' out, as we so often did, we soon started to file our way back upstairs --with that Sergeant following right behind me.

And he grabbed me.  My back side.  Intently.  Purposfully.

And the anger surged up inside of me.  I felt it rise up within me until my chest felt like it was going to explode.

How dare he!  And how dare ALL OF THEM!  Must I endure this at every corner I turn?

I stopped dead in my tracks, turned around and said, "What are you doing?!"  He laughs and blows me off.  This time I'm not going to handle this myself.  Not this time.

The next day I told my instructor what had happened and he said he would talk to the Sergeant Major.  Aaannnnndddd ----once I again I was called down to CSM's office.

Again.

I'm tired of this.

I went to see CSM and I thought you know, we were friends by now.  It not like we haven't been here before, him sitting behind that desk, me standing there --scared, worried, angry, confused, scared --

So you know, I pretty much thought CSM was on my side so I wasn't so fearful.  This was all a formality, CSM asking me questions about what happened . . .

And it sort of did go down like that --CSM sitting there behind that, me standing there and Sergeant Major asked me what happened, I told him --I told him about BOTH instances and I was ready for Sergeant Major to get angry, I was ready for Sergeant Major to say what kind of nerve that soldier had...

But instead Sergeant Major said . . . .

This Is A Lame Post

I have nothing more to write about.  The story is done.

The End.

Kidding.

But I'm strapped for time and my computer at home has a virus.

So . . . .

In the midst of finding a measure of confidence at PLDC, I still had to over come a 5-mile run LEADING AND SINGING CADENCE, Map Reading and a Field Exercise (camping without the fun).

And because this is a lame post today I'll give you this tidbit ---

Towards the end of PLDC something happened that changed my life forever.

Now Its a Done Deal!

That night I was going about my regular duties, having to assign areas for cleaning and things our platoon was resonsible for getting done.  I had a good day, a very good day.

As I went to talk to some of the guys one particular guy, a guy that always acted like we were buddies and always was trying to stick up for me but also always trying to tell me how to run the platoon and always trying to get out of doing anything himself.  So after I talked to him he came up to me in his very friendly, almost flirtatious manner, "Oh hey Sergeant, I'm not going to be able to do such-n-such (whatever it was I assigned him) so you can just give that to someone else."  And absolutely confident I was going to give in, he just walked away as if it were a done deal.  "Oh Sergeant", I called back to him, "I can't do that.  You need to get your assigned areas done tonight."  Still not convinced he couldn't win me over he said, "No seriously, I can't do it.  I have way too much stuff to get done.  You understand, right?"  He flashes a smile and tries to act cute then again, as if this were a done deal he starts walking away. 

I didn't want to have to stand up to him.  I really didn't but I realized then all his friendship and being nice to me was all pretend.  He wasn't a friend --he was a guy looking out for his own interest and he was using me to get it.  I didn't like that and I think I was more angry with myself for not seeing that earlier than I was at him.  From what transpired with the Sergeant Major and marching I now had a new set of eyes and I was seeing things much differently.

The Sergeant and I were standing near the top of a large staircase.  Even being Platoon Sergeant, I wasn't allowed on the male floors during certain hours.  While we were standing there talking there were other soldiers all about doing their work; cleaning the floors, etc.

I took a deep breath and called back out to the guy, "Sergeant!  I said no, I'm not reassigning your work."  He slowly turns around and looks at me and says, "Are you being serious?"  I assured him that I was.  He glares at me with such a look of anger.  I turned to leave and I heard him say to another guy standing near by, "Who does that b**** think she is?"  I turned around and looked at him and said,

"Your Platoon Sergeant!"  then walked away.

NOW its a done deal.