PLATOON SERGEANT'S NOTES
Hallo Emily, Pauline, und Sophie,
Ich bin ganze O.K.. Es geht mir gut. Ich Liebe Dich Ganze Viel,
Uncle Fehni
Platoon Sergeant's Perspective
I have had the very good fortune to be a member of one of the newest and
best organizations in the U.S. Army, the 3rd Brigade, 1st
Infantry Division?s Cavalry Troop designated as Troop F, 4th U.S.
Cavalry. Since Troop F?s
activation in January 1999 the ?Phantoms? have conducted three major gunnery
exercises, three CMTC (Combat Maneuver Training Center) exercises in Hohenfels,
Germany, numerous other internal exercises and evaluations, and have prepared to
deploy to Kosovo on three separate occasions.
Needless to say, we?ve been extremely busy! What really makes this organization stand out above the rest
is not the Troop itself, but it?s people.
Officers, NCOs (Noncommissioned Officers), and Soldiers from many
different organizations were pulled together to form the Troop.
With the exception of three of our soldiers, all came to the unit
straight from Basic Training at Fort Knox, Kentucky.
Within a matter of months equipment had been drawn and we were shooting
our first gunnery, immediately followed by our first CMTC rotation.
I truly believe that no one else other than Cavalry Scouts could have
completed these tasks.
Cavalry Scout?s are a special breed of soldier, literally a ?jack of
all trades?. We are trained to
conduct limited engineer and demolitions work, route and bridge classification,
and traffic control points which aid follow on forces in their movement, or
impede enemy movement toward friendly forces.
In this way we?re like Engineers.
We are trained to call for and adjust indirect fires (artillery) to
harass or destroy enemy forces. In
this way we?re like Forward Observers. Our
main mission is to be the Brigade Commander?s ?eyes and ears? on the
battlefield, allowing him time to maneuver his combat power where he needs it in
a timely manner. We operate
extremely far forward of friendly lines (20 to 30 kilometers) with little or no
support in order to gain intelligence data on enemy forces.
We can be assigned to an Armor or Infantry Battalion, a Light Cavalry
Troop (all equipped currently with various models of the HMMWV Jeep), or to a
Cavalry Squadron equipped with the Cavalry Fighting Vehicle (Bradley).
The Cavalry Soldier is the ?last to know, first to go? and almost
always the first to make contact with the enemy.
Knowing all this, you would probably wonder why anyone would pick the
Cavalry. You probably think we?re
desperate for a job, or plain got a screw loose!
I?m here to tell you, it?s neither.
I didn?t start my career as a Cavalry Scout and I?ve worked with many
other MOSs (Military Occupational Specialties).
I have yet to encounter people with more drive or will to accomplish
their mission under adverse conditions than the Cavalry. There?s no large monetary bonus, awards, civilian oriented
jobs, or special privileges involved, just the knowledge that the job was done
and done right. This takes a
special kind of person and that is what sets a Cavalry Soldier above the
rest.
Lastly, I?d like to say a few words about motivation.
No one really knows what motivates any given soldier at any given time
and I could speculate on this subject for days. My own personal motivation comes from my family, especially
my wife Beate, and my three children, Arthur, Philip, and Liesa.
Whenever I wonder if it?s worth it all, I think of them and the answer
always turns out to be ?yes?. Whatever
the reason, be proud your serving, and thank you for the opportunity of serving
with the best. For all the people
not affiliated with the military that read this, be proud of your men and women
in uniform. They represent you and
the United States always, and do so proudly no matter what the conditions or
circumstances. Again, thank you and
?SCOUTS OUT?.
WAYNE M. McLARRIN
SFC, USA
Prowler Platoon Sergeant