Once you were engaged in combat, what were your foremost thoughts?

SPC Margaret Higgins — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 22:18:03 -0400

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 29 at 2015 10:32 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 22:32:48 -0400

Return fire.
Nothing really entered my mind, instinct and training, fueled by adrenaline, took control of my thoughts and actions. It's not until after the event that I began to reflect on what had actually happened. The more it happened, the more I would remember the words of a former PSG of mine, "Calm breeds calm." His point was to allow the tactical situation to develop and not become so overwhelmed with events that it negatively affects your decision making ability.

But when you're being shot at, instinct and training takes over your actions. That is why good repetition in training is so important.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Sep 29 at 2015 10:48 PM

Capt Seid Waddell — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 22:48:18 -0400

Don't screw up.

Response by SGT Jonathon Caldwell made Sep 29 at 2015 10:51 PM

SGT Jonathon Caldwell — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 22:51:10 -0400

There really are no thoughts other than tactical ones during a firefight or IED/RPG attack. Once you've got your "up" from everyone its Let's F@$! These guys up. All of the rational thinking and being scared comes hours after, when the adrenaline finally drops to a normal level. Thats the time when everyone realizes how close of a call it was for some or all out on the mission. Most will agree with me I think that we've done some crazy scary stuff when you look at it after the fact but during that act it was like second nature.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 29 at 2015 11:29 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 23:29:37 -0400

My men.
That thought superseded all others.

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Sep 30 at 2015 1:14 AM

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 01:14:05 -0400

EFN SHOOT!

Response by SGT Lou Meza made Sep 30 at 2015 1:18 AM

SGT Lou Meza — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 01:18:21 -0400

Return fire when possible, keep my head down and stay alive !

Response by SGT David T. made Sep 30 at 2015 8:22 AM

SGT David T. — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 08:22:48 -0400

Punch it! (I drove fuel trucks lol)

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 30 at 2015 11:42 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 11:42:14 -0400

At some point, these actions are second nature, especially when you have been in engagements, or fire fights, or TICs, whatever you want to call them. And you can get to a point where you can react and still think and talk. After years of doing this, at one point I was on foot patrol in Afghanistan. We saw some people up on the ridge, they waved, we waved back. About two minutes later, they fired on us. My first thought, and it was an audible thought, was, "No the F*** they just didn't!"

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 30 at 2015 3:24 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 15:24:53 -0400

For me, the only time I was engaged in combat was when the base hot hit with rockets and mortars. Depending on the sound of the blast I would either roll over and go back to sleep or walk to the bunker right outside my CHU door.

Response by CPT Dave Brest made Aug 20 at 2016 1:25 PM

CPT Dave Brest — Sat, 20 Aug 2016 13:25:09 -0400

When I first arrived, I was to be a tank platoon leader. I reported to my CO. out in the field. He had been writing a letter on his footlocker "desk". He looked at me and said" LT, I'm giving you 5 tanks and 23 men. If you lose any of those people, one of your duties is to write that letter home, explaining to the family that you had allowed their son to be killed, cause you probably f----- up. Now get out of here!" Some vote of confidence, huh? It was like a bucket of cold water, but he effectively told me to take care of my people. They aren't numbers, but somebody''s beloved family. I eventually became the CO myself, but I never failed to plan every mission with that thought in the planning. By the way, when, as the CO, I "greeted " my new incoming lieutenants the same way !

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made May 8 at 2018 10:41 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Tue, 08 May 2018 22:41:37 -0400

Keeping my people alive, I have a lousy flight or fight attitude, normally just get P.O'd when folks start shooting at me.

Response by 1SG Tommy McGee made Apr 25 at 2020 1:27 PM

1SG Tommy McGee — Sat, 25 Apr 2020 13:27:12 -0400

Killed these motherf******s!
Keep my soldiers safe.!
Get a better angle to kill these motherf*****s.!
Shoot these f*****s in the face.!
Close in and engage and kill the enemy.
Yeah that’s about it.