lessonslearned Spell It Out I
When a training exercise ends with an unexpected outcome, an armored cavalry platoon leader learns just how important it is for crucial regulations to be explained clearly.
In 1964, I was an armored cavalry platoon leader for the 1st Battalion, 35th Armor based in Germany. As the reconnaissance unit for the battalion, our job was to secure the fl anks of the battalion in case of confl ict. Our mission was to be prepared to delay the enemy by creating obstacles — blowing up bridges, dropping trees, etcetera. To do this, all platoon members were to be trained in explosives. We signed out the demoli- tion range, which included bleachers, a protective berm, and a demo bunker of cast concrete walls a foot thick and a fl at roof constructed of railroad ties and sandbags stacked 10 deep.
After the platoon sergeant taught a
45-minute class on explosives and steel- cutting techniques using off set plastic explosive charges, we went to the bunker to set our charges on the steel rails inside. Stenciled on the bunker was a notice that read: “Before using the bunker, refer to 7th Army Regulations.” Of course, nobody had a copy of the regulations. We started placing our charges. A ser-
bling in fl ight and sandbags raining down. The platoon sergeant turned to me and said, “Sir, I think that 7th Army Regulations had something to do with a maximum charge.” As the last sandbag hit the ground, the battalion commander rounded the corner — making an unannounced trip to inspect our training. The platoon sergeant — to keep the commander from looking downrange — got the troops back onto the bleachers and began teaching the same lesson he had taught us 30 minutes before. It worked. After the commander left, we went to inspect the roofl ess bunker. To our delight and surprise, most of the construction ma- terials survived their fl ight, and we took the rest of the day to collect the pieces and re-
specificity
geant asked, “Sir, how about one here?” “Yes,” I said. Another asked the same ques- tion. “Sure, why not?” I said. We placed four charges, completed the wiring, and ran the wire to a safe position behind the berm. After assuring all platoon personnel were accounted for, I announced, “Fire in the hole!” and set off the charges. We watched in horror as the roof blew 300 feet into the air, with railroad ties tum-
80 MILITARY OFFICER JANUARY 2015
build the bunker roof. And we got out of the situation with no repercussions. If it’s really important, spell it out clearly
instead of burying it in regulations. If we had known 4 pounds of C-4 plastic was the maximum charge (versus the 8 pounds we used), it all could have been avoided.
MO
— Kevin T. Connelly is a retired Army lieuten- ant colonel, a MOAA Life Member, and a member of MOAA’s Sarasota (Fla.) Chapter. He lives in Os- prey, Fla. For submission information, see page 6.
Tell Your Story Submit your lessons learned by email to
profseries@moaa.org or by mail to MOAA Professional Series, 201 N. Washington St., Al- exandria, VA 22314. All submissions will be con- sidered for publication.
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