[b][u]Lucius D. Clay Kaserne Garlstedt, Germany[/u][/b] "Monday I want everyone in the motor pool. We need to make sure the tracks are at a 100%. We are heading to Bergen-Hohne in two weeks," Captain Stewart addressed the assembled Executive Officer, first sergeant, platoon leaders, and platoon sergeants in his office on a Friday afternoon. B Company, was one of four line companies in 3rd Battalion 41st Infantry (Mechanized) in the 2nd Armor Division (Forward) or 3rd Brigade assigned to the German Kaserne in Northern Germany. The Brigade was planning to travel to Bergen-Hohne training area in the southern part of the Lüneburg Heath, in the state of Lower Saxony. This is a NATO base used for training by the Federal Republic of Germany, the British Army, the Dutch Army, the French Army and the Americans of the 2nd AD (FWD). "As you all know, we will initially act as OPFOR for the Dutch 41st Armor Brigade, German 32nd Panzergrenadier Brigade and the British 22nd Armor Brigade. Then three weeks into the rotation, we move to BLUFOR and the Germans assume the role of OPFOR. I want all our equipment squared away. Use this time to take care of business." OPFOR is the acronym used for Opposing Forces and BLUFOR represents Friendly forces. Often times, units act as OPFOR for one another during [i]Force on Force[/i] training in order to provide realism to the training. The units plan to use the Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System (MILES) in order to determine hits and misses during training. MILES works two-fold; first, each soldier wears a harness with several receptacles on the torso and helmet and each vehicle mounts side straps with receptacles attached. An onboard computer determines what type of weapon fires at it and informs the crew if their vehicle is disabled. There is a yellow light attached to the top of the vehicle which flashes if the vehicle is disabled or destroyed. The crew, if they perish, remains with the vehicle until an Observer/Controller (O/C) has cleared them to move back toward friendly lines. The other aspect of MILES, is a laser transmitter is attached to the barrel or muzzle of a weapon system and transmits a laser beam every time a high intensity noise passes it. The loud noise is generated by blank cartridge for rifles and machine guns and a special Hoffman tank gunfire simulator for tank main guns. Blank cartridges and Hoffman simulators create the sound emitted by the weapon system and trigger the laser for the MILES transmitter. The Observer/Controllers are either battalion or brigade primary and special staff officers and NCOs. Captain Stewart went on to discuss Non-Commissioned Officer Evaluation Reports (NCO-ERs) that were due to Battalion as soon as possible (ASAP) and briefly touched on a planned training meeting coming up next week to discuss the next training cycle. When the meeting was over, the assembled officers and NCOs, stood, rendered a hand salute to the "Old Man" and left the room. "First Sergeant?" Captain Stewart called to his Company First Sergeant. At 29 years old, Captain Stewart was referred to as the [i]Old Man[/i] an American expression for a unit commander dating back to the 18th or 19th century. The US Army in steeped in tradition. "Yes, sir," First Sergeant Marsh clicked his heels, simulating coming to the position of attention. Something he did not have to do, but did anyway. At 35 years old, First Sergeant Marsh was the oldest man in the Company, the senior NCO, who actually ran the company. The Old Man simply got the credit for everything his NCO corps did and the blame for what they failed to do. "First Sergeant, have you spoken with Sergeant Carlson yet?" "Sir, I intend to speak to him in the next thirty minutes," the first sergeant responded. They were talking about an NCO who they recently discovered, received a positive report on a recent random Urinalysis test. The US Army implemented a random drug search and urinalysis system to help stop the drug problem plaguing many of the American Army units stationed in Germany in 1983. Drug sniffing dogs, guided by Military Police Officers conducted random searches of the soldiers' barracks while they slept. The dogs sniffed wall lockers, looking for drugs and the Drug Control Officer, first lieutenant Cole would administer a urinalysis test at random times throughout the year. Sergeant Carlson received a positive result. The problem with this, the Army's policy on an NCO receiving a positive report meant he was immediately separated from service and would receive a less than honorable discharge, which could be upgraded to Honorable six months after discharge if the soldier wished to do so. For lower enlisted soldiers, they were counseled, received an Article 15 and given time to rehabilitate themselves. An Article 15 is a non-judicial punishment including the loss of one month's pay and loss of one pay grade. If a soldier failed an additional urinalysis, they would then be separated from the Army. "Thanks, top. Keep me informed," The CO stated and then the first sergeant went to his office. [b][i]Three Days Later...[/i][/b] "Did you hit all those lube points?" Staff Sergeant Beaudoin asked, referring to the lubrication points on the M113 Armored Personnel Carrier the soldiers of his Section would need to push grease into with a grease gun. "Yes, Staff Sergeant," Specialist Mark Rose of Biloxi, Mississippi answered. "We was going to break some track and replaced those worn pads." "OK, Rose. Why don't you let those other fud puckers do that, you come with me." Specialist Rose fell in with Staff Sergeant Beaudoin and headed off to speak with the Lieutenant. After they left, Private First Class Antoin Thomas of Baltimore, Maryland asked the other soldiers of his team, "Did you hear what happened to Sergeant Carlson?" "No man, what that niggah do now?" Private Felton, an African American from Atlanta, Georgia asked. "He popped hot on a piss test. He's gone, bro." "Straight up?" "Word." "Shit. That's some fucked up shit, man." "You tellin' me." The two African American soldiers along with the other three soldiers worked on replacing track pads on their M113, bumper # B-13. They were member of Staff Sergeant Robert Beaudoin's 1st Team, 2nd Section. [b][i]Meanwhile,[/i][/b] "Specialist Rose, you are going to be TC on the Lieutenant's fifty when he dismounts." The section sergeant referred to the position of Track Commander and the fifty caliber machine gun mounted on the track. "What happened to Sergeant Carlson?" "Consider him ETS'd," the section sergeant responded. "I hear he popped hot on a piss test." The Staff Sergeant looked at Specialist Rose with a smile, "See, you're smarter than you look, Corporal." John Rose didn't pick up on the word, [i]Corporal[/i] right away and asked, "Why did the Lieutenant pick me?" "Three reasons, you keep your nose clean, you just re-enlisted for another three years and he trusts you," Staff Sergeant Beaudoin told it straight to the 21 year old infantryman. "Wait, Corporal!?" John Rose finally picked up on the section sergeant calling him by the new rank.