166 Days: My Journey Through The Darkness by Jennifer Clark Read Free Book Online Page B

multiple places, at least initially. I know they are thinking of sending you to a couple of different locations in the Uruzgan Province, which is currently a violent area, so you should anticipate contact,” Bob explained. There was that word again. He continued, “You need to prepare for that to happen and you may need to participate in combat if the firebase is attacked.”
    What !!? Becky and I shared the same disbelief. Our expressions clearly asked “Who? Me ?” When I joined the Air Force and went through my training as a medic, I was told about the Geneva Conventions and that by being a medic I was considered a “noncombatant,” which meant I was not allowed to engage in combat. I was told I could carry a weapon, but not fire it unless I was protecting my patients. Based on my career field I had infrequent training on the firing range; usually qualifying once every twenty-four months. Qualifying meant I had to hit the target on the range a certain amount of times within the standards set by the Air Force; I did this before I left Tyndall. In addition, I completed the two week course in ACST. The course was designed to give the students an understanding of what to expect in a combat situation; depending on the deployment, sometimes it was three months long instead of just fourteen days. Even during that training, I thought, I will do this exercise, but it doesn’t apply to me; I won’t be in these situations. I had developed a false sense of security behind my noncombatant title.
    Bob could see our concern. “Don’t worry,” he said reassuringly, “You likely wouldn’t be actively engaging in a fire fight per say, but helping to load mortar rounds and ammunition would certainly be something you would potentially be asked to do.”
    Becky and I looked at each other knowing we were both feeling the same unease.
    Bob chuckled as he continued, “You guys will get to fire some weapons out there you may have never even heard of. All you have to do is show an active interest and the guys would be more than happy to let you practice out at the range.”
    I couldn’t even begin to explain the thoughts going through my head. I knew I was a part of the military, and use of force was something that we did, but I couldn’t imagine myself in a situation where I would have to engage. As I pondered this thought, I realized the majority of active duty military members, combatant or noncombatant, probably had experienced a very similar mindset. Yes, we signed the dotted line, but did you really mean we had to go to war?
    I was also introduced to the radio room. It was located in the back of the Med Shed and the medics, which now included both Becky and Martha, were trained to monitor the radios and document all medical evacuations, forwarding all necessary information to the people who required it. I learned this could be very stressful. When there was an altercation going on with our Special Forces units a red light would flash (just like the one I saw at the gym) and the door would close, which meant if you weren’t necessary for the radios then you were instructed to leave the room.
    More flashing red lights to serve as a reminder of what was happening out there.
    We were asked about the weapons we were issued back at our home stations. As an officer, I was given only an M9 (9mm pistol) and the medics were given M16 rifles.
    They laughed and told us not to worry; they would give us what we needed to go out in the field. I got issued an M4, which is a rifle, the exact same makeup as an M16, but with a shorter barrel and a collapsible stock. We were then sent out to the range to “zero our weapon.” which consisted of firing at a specific target until the sights were adjusted to the person firing the weapon.
    “I can take you,” one of the non-medical guys offered, “I have to go out there anyway.”
    Becky and I smiled at each other. “I bet you do,” Becky whispered jokingly in my ear. I laughed.
    “Ok, ladies,