Trial By Fire

ATTENTION IN THE AREA, ATTENTION IN THE AREA, STAFF SERGEANT OAKLAND REPORT TO BRAVO COMPANY HQ IMMEDIATELY…

"Sergeant, sergeant wake up. Sarge!" Private First Class Linsey Clarke shook his squad leader awake. The huge figure of Staff Sergeant Chad Oakland rolled over in his bunk. His dark hair was unkempt from a night’s sleep.

"What is it Clarke?" he asked the smaller man.

"Sergeant, they’re calling for you to report to Bravo Company’s HQ." Oakland heard this, looked at his watch and immediately jumped out of bed. He grabbed his boots and put them on his feet without tying them. He quickly placed his helmet on his head, picked up his M16A2 rifle, and threw his LBE over his arm before running full speed out the door of 3rd Squad’s barracks.

"I wonder what’s going on." Clarke said softly to himself.

"A mission, it’s gotta be a mission." Clarke’s team leader, Sergeant Andrew Haberer, said from his bunk. Haberer was the veteran of the war. Over six feet tall, he towered over anybody in the squad. He’d already served his first year in country and decided to stay another tour. His claim of a mission aroused the attention of everyone in the squad. 3rd Squad, 1st Platoon of Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 46th Infantry Regiment gathered around the veteran’s bunk.

"Why do you think it’s a mission? Could be anything." Specialist Cameron Hayes, the squad’s SAW (Squad Automatic Weapon) gunner asked.

"They always have a briefing before a mission." Corporal Simon Anaya answered. Besides Haberer, Anaya had the most experience in battle and was the other team leader.

"Yep, Oakland was talking about it yesterday to me. He’s a little nervous for his first time out as squad leader." Haberer added.

"W-what will we be doing?" Private Seth Brown stuttered. He hadn’t yet been in country a week and before that just finished Advanced Individual Training and Basic Training. He was as green as you could be.

"There’s no telling. The only thing I can tell you guys is to get some sleep, we’re probably going to head out early in the morning. They always initiate the greenest squad this way. They never would give anything too tough or dangerous for our first time out though. Don’t worry." Haberer’s suggestions were taken as gospel to the members of 3rd Squad. They all went to their bunks for the extra sleep

* * *

Oakland had managed to get his LBE on and only dropped his rifle twice while his squad was discussing their future. He apologized but didn’t slow when he bumped into a soldier coming out of the mess hall. He received many dirty looks on the ½ mile run to the HQ building. He checked his watch as he neared the entrance, only 40 minutes late. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.

He shouldered the front door open and ran down the hall to the conference room where his briefing was to take place. He ran in to find his platoon leader and platoon sergeant sitting there. They looked up when Oakland entered. They were not happy.

Second Lieutenant Paul Ford and Sergeant First Class Robert Owen stood. Oakland saluted.

"Sir, Staff Sergeant Chad Oakland reporting as ordered." He spoke between deep breaths. Ford returned his salute.

"Forty minutes late!" Ford screamed as he slammed the palms of his hands down on the table. He and Owen glared at Oakland.

"Um, yessir. Sorry about that, it won’t ever happen again." Oakland stood at a shaky position of attention.

"You’re goddammed right it won’t ever happen again! Your ass will be gone if you ever pull a stunt like this again! As soon as this meeting is over you’d better pull a complete 180! Look at you! Jesus Christ you’re a squad leader!" Ford gestured toward Oakland; his chinstrap was unstrapped, boots untied, LBE belt not clipped and there were streaks of mud on his rifle where it had been dropped. Oakland was speechless.