May 17, 2026 1:40 am

McBride lets everyone eat at a leisurely pace. As the group finishes their meals, he gets them together and moved back to their racks. As they walk in, LT Thrace is there with some papers and hands them out to each person.
McBride speaks as he walks between the bunks, "What you have in your hot little hands is a list of the gear you will need in order to be successful on the upcoming mission. What I need from each of you is to go over your current gear and mark down what you are missing. Take your time; make sure you have everything. Mark down on your sheet what you need to complete the issue. I need all sheets, with your names, returned to me by 1600 today.
DA3645 Front
DA3645 Back
DA3645 Addendum"Then, right after tomorrow’s breakfast, we will all bundle back up and go back down to Brigade and visit our friendly Central Issue Facility, where we will all get the balance of the equipment we need to pick up.
"You will receive some of the best gear the Army has to offer you. While at CIF, you will have the opportunity to learn a few facts about the new gear. You will also get an opportunity to draw a few extra pieces of snivel gear. Do not pass those items up.
"Our mission is a Long Range Patrol. Long. Range. That means we won’t be back in our nice warm bunks the night after we step off. We won’t be back the next night, either. Or the next night."
McBride continues to walk through the bunk area as everyone begins going through their gear. "I hope you get the idea. Once we leave the wire, we could be out for more than two weeks. So there should be no illusions about misery. However, you are in luck, because misery loves company… and you can all keep each other company!"
McBride ends that line far more upbeat than anyone thinks he should. He turns to LT Thrace. "Anything else, L.T.?"
Thrace shakes her head. "Nothing more until the initial brief tonight."
McBride nods knowingly. "Alrighty, then. Noon chow is 1130-1330. Don’t miss it. Evening chow is 1630-1830. Everybody’s sheets will be in by then. After evening chow, Major Lee Adams will come by for our initial briefing. I expect everyone to be awake and attentive for that." McBride looks around the room, checking to see if anyone is looking lost. Satisfied, he says, "that is all for now. Carry on." He turns, boots clunking on the plywood flooring and joins Thrace, as they walk to the back.









