Air Assault School Meeting - Monday, 28MAR11

We will be having an Air Assault Information Meeting on Monday, 28Mar11 at 1900 in the Furuseth, room 306.  Dates and exact # of seats are yet to be determined but the course will be during this upcoming summer break.  During this meeting we will discuss in detail the prerequisites, tryout schedule and some general info.  This meeting is mandatory if you are interested in attending Air Assault School this summer.  If you are interested and cannot make the meeting, please let us know - 1SG Swiderski

A Letter from Afghanistan

I thought that this letter was worth sharing with those of you that follow this blog. It gives some insight as to the people we serve with in the military.

Hey Gang,
Another amazing and emotional day yesterday. I try to write about things that impress me professionally, emotionally, and spiritually. Yesterday I was again impressed.

At 5:00 a.m., the Giant Voice (the base PA system) announced two incoming casualties. I reluctantly roused from my slumber and made my way to the E.R. On arrival, I found two victims of an accidental grenade explosion, one critically injured and one more stable. The critical patient had third degree burns to his face, neck and upper chest and severe penetrating abdominal injuries. He was in shock and was taken directly to the O.R. by the surgical team. The other had multiple burns, but fairly superficial. He also had eye injuries and he was essentially deaf from the blast, but he was stable. While the unstable patient was in surgery, my team and I evaluated and treated the stable patient, managed his eye injury (severe ocular contusion with corneal burns), CT’d him, cleaned and dressed his burns and expedited his helicopter evacuation to the ophthalmologist at the larger Bagram hospital (we don’t have one here).

The story of how the accident happened was initially unclear, but, when things settled a bit, my patient told me the following:... Click this link for the rest of the story > A Letter from Afghanistan

CWST (Combat Water Survival Test) at West Point

On Saturday, 26FEB11, six Midshipmen traveled to Camp Smith, NY and were attached to NYARNG OCS Class 56 to participate in the Combat Water Survival Test at Crandall Pool on the campus of the United States Military Academy, West Point. The CWST consist of three events - which are completed in ACU (Army Combat Uniform) with boots, weapon and load bearing vest - the 15 meter swim, equipment drop and a blindfolded three-meter drop. Our Midshipmen incorporated into the OCS squads and did great on all the events. The OCS cadre then had the class build their water confidence by treading water for an extended time, with periods of "hands out of the water," and a quick class on "Floaty Pants" or how to improvise a floatation device out of your uniform pants. The training was concluded with a squad relay swim, the winners being excused from the planned burpee event later that evening.

The Midshipmen in attendance all enjoyed the training and felt that it was worthwhile. Army events like this are open to all Midshipmen at the Academy. See the Army Liaison Team Events page for a list of future events or stop by the office to discuss participating in any of our activities.