Security Police Academy Memories - Part I
In which Teófilo reminisces about training in classrooms, gun ranges, and practice fields.
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Arrival
Upon reporting to the 3283rd Training Squadron they assigned us our individual rooms in a 20- to 30-year-old barracks. They looked like this:
I had a big room designed for two all for myself, although I would've to share it with a buddy if the need arose. I had my own fridge and pretty soon I would rent a TV and a VCR from the exchange, and watch movies of my choice. I paid frequent visits to the exchange to have uniforms mended, or dry cleaned. I did my own laundry in a room for the purpose at the barracks.
An Air Force "Training Leader" (TL) took charge of us. He was a Technical Sergeant (TSgt.) who wore a blue rope on his left shoulder. He coordinated our training and all administrative needs. Unlike my MTIs, I've forgotten his name.
In fact, I only remember one name from all my training buddies in the SP Academy: Randy, from Michigan. I remember Randy because he too was going to Ellsworth and we would end up working together. Females also trained with us and had their own barracks. We all formed a coherent unit.
I also remember a classmate who had undergone Marine basic training and now was in the Air Force. He had asked and obtained an interservice transfer. He knew unique marching ditties and cadences and he often led us while we marched.
But expert SP instructors were in charge of our field training. They showed us the ins and outs of the profession through structured demonstrations. As it's common in those settings, their gruff wisdom and anecdotes were also par for the course.
I only remember the chief instructor's rank and last name, TSgt. Sileski, though I might be misspelling it — I also want to say “Tsiledski.” He once spat his chew on my boot by accident. He had to apologize to me twice because it took me that long to recover from the initial shock and disguised rage.
Class Leadership - My First Leadership Failure
Because I was an A1C the TL assigned me a class leadership position. The position came with a "yellow rope" we wore on our left shoulders. The senior enlisted classman wore a "red rope." He was the class leader. Collectively we were "The Ropes."
As time passed it became evident to me that I wasn't cutting it. My leadership style was not consonant with my classmate's expectations. How I'd exercise group leadership in Puerto Rico fell short in my new context. The other Ropes began isolating me. I got no chores requiring trust and confidence.
The charade came to an end close to our graduation day. One evening the phone rang in our day room. I picked it up. It was our TL. He asked to "speak with a Rope." I identified myself as one. With great disdain dripping from his voice he said, "get me another Rope." I obeyed and brought in someone else. I then went to my room, took my yellow rope, and tossed it into the garbage can. Next day I went about my day without it. No one asked me what'd happened. The TL didn't say a word. I gave no explanations and they required none. Everything continued as normal.
Such was my first leadership failure in the military. In the greater scheme of things this was nothing. I would go on to be an NCO and later, a commissioned officer in the Navy. I would get to grow and mature as a leader of people. Yet, even after almost 40 years of it happening, that first failure still stings.
Weapons Training
Like BMT, the SP Academy included its own M16A1 rifle qualifications training. This rifle was the one used by our troops in Vietnam. We trained with its proper 5.56mm ammunition, not with the .22 we'd trained with during BMT. When I first fired it, its loudness and "kick" surprised me. We wore eye and ear protection in the range, of course but back then neither were mandated for combat use. No wonder there have been so many military people with diminished hearing. In time I would become one of them.
We also trained firing the M202 grenade launcher. This grenade launcher worked almost as an "accessory" for the M16A1, as it attached to its barrel. You can see a picture of the M16A1, with and without the M202, below.
The M203 grenade rounds had the shape of big, fat "bullets." One loaded them into the launcher's breech, then aimed using a "protractor" for a good angle. The round then left the launcher with a brief "woosh." I became quite adept to it.
I also got to fire the M-60 Machine Gun, also used in Vietnam. The weapon was infamous because Rambo used to fire it from his hip. Uh, don't try that at home. Or anywhere else.
We fired the M60 mounted on a bipod. The trick to fire “the 60” was to flush its buttock firmly against your firing arm’s shoulder. Otherwise, the weapon’s recoil would strike your shoulder every time it fires and remember, it’s a machine gun. The repeated strikes of the buttock against your shoulder will bruise you. That happened to me. Moreover, the M60 gunner must time the rate of fire and have an assistant remove and replace its barrel. Failing to do so will make the barrel would glow red hot and melt. That didn't happen to me, praise God.
Once we were all familiar with the weapons, we could form a "fire team" consisting of four members. Two would carry plain M161As, one would carry the M16 with the M203 mounted, and the other would carry the M16. Usually the M60 gunner was one of the tallest, stronger class members.
(To be continued)
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