Posted on Apr 14, 2015
“If you can’t Buddy Carry me, you don’t leave the wire with me.” How would you have reacted?
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Question for all RallyPoint members: Is this the true test of whether someone could leave the wire with you? Vote in the survey here and explain why.
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When I got to my first unit in Hawaii, which was an infantry company, we were already set to deploy later that year to Iraq for 15 months. I was not an infantry officer myself; I was an artillery officer. We were doing a ton of intense training in the field, and PT in that unit was tough as well. All good things.
Leading up to our deployment date, we did a lot of brute physical strength-related PT, like running long distances with heavy equipment, or walking uphill doing one-man or two-man Buddy Carry drills.
I remember one of these sessions being led by one of the squad leaders, a Staff Sergeant (Army E-6) who had deployed twice already. At the end of that PT session, he yelled out to our formation:
“To every man here – if you can’t Buddy Carry me 50 meters with my full kit on, then you’re not leaving the wire with me in Iraq. No questions.” I thought through this for a while – both the logic and the spirit of what he was trying to get at.
Question for all RallyPoint members: What is your first reaction to this NCO’s statement here? Vote in the survey here and explain why.
//
When I got to my first unit in Hawaii, which was an infantry company, we were already set to deploy later that year to Iraq for 15 months. I was not an infantry officer myself; I was an artillery officer. We were doing a ton of intense training in the field, and PT in that unit was tough as well. All good things.
Leading up to our deployment date, we did a lot of brute physical strength-related PT, like running long distances with heavy equipment, or walking uphill doing one-man or two-man Buddy Carry drills.
I remember one of these sessions being led by one of the squad leaders, a Staff Sergeant (Army E-6) who had deployed twice already. At the end of that PT session, he yelled out to our formation:
“To every man here – if you can’t Buddy Carry me 50 meters with my full kit on, then you’re not leaving the wire with me in Iraq. No questions.” I thought through this for a while – both the logic and the spirit of what he was trying to get at.
Question for all RallyPoint members: What is your first reaction to this NCO’s statement here? Vote in the survey here and explain why.
Fitness
Leadership
Combat
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 108
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I agree to an extent. I've been in the Infantry for almost 14 years now. I'm 5'5 and weigh 125 pounds. Can I buddy carry some of my soldiers who are over 6 feet and weigh over 200 lbs with their kit while wearing all mine? Nope. Does that make me a bad infantryman? Hell no.
I know my job, and I'm physically fit. I can ruck march with the best of em, I score in the 280's on my APFT. I was a PSG for approximately 4 years, you bet your ass I had all my soldiers' back and would do anything to keep them alive. Some of the comments on here said you shouldn't be in the Infantry if you can't battle buddy carry another soldier 100 meters or so. Would I try to push/pull/drag you to safety? Hell yes. Can I buddy carry another soldier who weighs less, yup. Doesn't make an infantryman a bad infantryman if he can't physically carry a guy who weighs twice as much as him. All that matters is that a Soldier lays down EFFECTIVE suppressing fire and gains fire superiority, while trying to get the wounded to safety. You don't need to be big and strong to get wounded to safety, you just need another soldier and a litter.
I know my job, and I'm physically fit. I can ruck march with the best of em, I score in the 280's on my APFT. I was a PSG for approximately 4 years, you bet your ass I had all my soldiers' back and would do anything to keep them alive. Some of the comments on here said you shouldn't be in the Infantry if you can't battle buddy carry another soldier 100 meters or so. Would I try to push/pull/drag you to safety? Hell yes. Can I buddy carry another soldier who weighs less, yup. Doesn't make an infantryman a bad infantryman if he can't physically carry a guy who weighs twice as much as him. All that matters is that a Soldier lays down EFFECTIVE suppressing fire and gains fire superiority, while trying to get the wounded to safety. You don't need to be big and strong to get wounded to safety, you just need another soldier and a litter.
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SGT (Join to see)
Another thing on this thread is I don't want them buddy carrying me. I would much rather get pulled along the ground less chance of receiving more GSWs
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SSG Adam Wyatt
I would agree with you 100%. I have seen men of all heights and weights be effective because they had a will higher than themselves. And we've all seen what happens when they don't...
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PO3 Chris Scheide
Exactly! Brute force can be the solution, but often times isn't the only solution. Being able to think quickly and come up with an alternate solution is just as important.
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My rule for leaving the wire hell, for serving in the Army was simple. If your rifle is slinging bullets in the same direction as mine with the same intent, welcome to the team. Gay, Straight, man , woman, fat, skinny, trouble maker, who cares. Max forces forward. I put cooks, Admin and commo on PSD to fill gaps. They did just fine. Besides if they are fat they will lose that weight carrying their kit all day. I made it a point to get every soldier in my Headquarters Troop outside the wire to experience what the Scouts/Infantry platoons were experiencing. Granted they were not kicking in doors but I tell you what it made them provide better support to the shooters. When you've run short handed for too long you learn to appreciate every extra hand you can get.
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CPL Jay Freeman
My friend and I took a day where we shared roles for a day he was a mechanic or known as a fobit always stayed on fob never left. I did convoy escorts and pulled local security while we were stopped. We both learned something from it. Great job 1st for opening there eyes to our roles
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SSG Erik Petterson
I had some overweight AR 600-9 soldiers who were truck drivers, much needed, because we ran three convoys a day throughout Iraq, to various FSB's and other locations. My 1SG took them off the road, depleting my work force, placing more strain on my mission with less troops to accomplish it. You can't shit quality soldiers to fill in for soldiers removed from your platoon, due to unfavorable actions or death. Sadly, these soldiers taken from me were under unfavorable status which was absurd to me, considering we were at WAR, and not back in the rear playing "Admin games". My 1SG decided to send these "Fat bodies" to the Green zone, to see a nutritionist...a nutritionist which didn't exist in theater (I called ahead to verify). Soldiers heading to the Green Zone were only allowed to wear body armor and Kevlar helmet, their individual assigned weapon and TAT ammo, was left at the base camp. They had no way of defending themselves enroute, and everyone knows the GZ was never a safe place, especially the route leading to it. If these soldiers were killed on their way to see a nutritionist, because they were FAT and considered substandard soldiers, how do you explain this to their family back home?....the answer is, "You don't". You manufacture a bullshit patriotic story, promote the dead "Fat body", and award him/her a bronze star and a purple heart, not once mentioning to anyone that they were unarmed, and overweight, on a program because of their overweight, unmilitary like appearance. My point? War is a fucking joke when handled by Administrators thinking and behaving like they are in Garrison, while trying to behave as cheap knock off copies of Infantrymen in a combat zone. If you leave the wire, you should be performing a viable function, your job should demand it. You shouldn't leave for bullshit reasons.
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1SG Joe Messier
Sad story brother, sometimes trying to do the right thing doesn't seem so right in the long run. Very unfortunate.
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MAJ (Join to see)
1SG Joe Messier I have to agree with you, though I'll be honest that as a new PL, I was torn.
When we deployed I was part of a Task Force ran by an FA unit. In my platoon I had 11B, 19Ds, 13 series, MPs, CBRNE, Etc. My driver was an 11B and my gunner was an MP. Best crew I could have asked for. At the end of the day they all did their job and knew their responsibilities. I knew I could rely on them, and at the end of the day that is what mattered.
When we deployed I was part of a Task Force ran by an FA unit. In my platoon I had 11B, 19Ds, 13 series, MPs, CBRNE, Etc. My driver was an 11B and my gunner was an MP. Best crew I could have asked for. At the end of the day they all did their job and knew their responsibilities. I knew I could rely on them, and at the end of the day that is what mattered.
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Please note the picture of my section during my second deployment. I'm the guy second from the left. In this photo, I am in peak physical condition, and had a first class PFT score. The the guy to the left of me (Cpl Hightower), had 150-170lbs on me. (he was 6'8" 300lbs to my 5'6" 130-140).
I think the NCO's statements are shortsighted but well intended.
I think the NCO's statements are shortsighted but well intended.
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Cpl Brian Yanez
Really depends, I have seen big guys struggle with little dudes but I have seen short female Marines go beast mode and carry some of the big dudes. This is why we have a Combat fitness test in the Marine Corps to try and make sure as possible Marines can at least lift someone their size. I myself for my test had to carry someone 50 pounds heavier for one of my CFT's, wan't fun but you gotta do what you gotta do.
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
Cpl Brian Yanez Like I said, "well intended but short sighted." I can fireman carry someone 50~lbs heavier than me. That isn't an issue. But not someone double my weight, even at the height of my fitness. Just imagine me trying to fireman carry Cpl Hightower (pictured above).
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Cpl Brian Yanez
Sgt Kennedy - Yes that is true we can't expect them to carry the moon but my point wasn't about that, it was about how we can place measures (our CFT) to prove that a troop can carry someone at least their own weight proving they are not a liability to others. You should be able at the very least pick someone up your size, if they can't then we have to fix that. We can not expect everything from our troops but we can train them to a certain standard and that is something all troops have to meet at the minimum.
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Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS
Cpl Brian Yanez I concur, but that wasn't the statement made in the original post.
“To every man here – if you can’t Buddy Carry me 50 meters with my full kit on, then you’re not leaving the wire with me in Iraq. No questions.”
Well intended, but short sighted. What's good for the goose is good for the gander. A PSG that makes that kind of statement should have to live by it. Cpl Hightower should instantly be able to call his bluff. Dude weighed 300. Add Flak/plates, weapon, ammo, normal clothes, plus pack, and you are getting close to 400.
“To every man here – if you can’t Buddy Carry me 50 meters with my full kit on, then you’re not leaving the wire with me in Iraq. No questions.”
Well intended, but short sighted. What's good for the goose is good for the gander. A PSG that makes that kind of statement should have to live by it. Cpl Hightower should instantly be able to call his bluff. Dude weighed 300. Add Flak/plates, weapon, ammo, normal clothes, plus pack, and you are getting close to 400.
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