Let's say you unit is going on a weekend exercise.
The week prior your platoon commander would get his/her orders from the OC. S/he, in turn would issue their own orders. You'd receive a kit list, timings etc. on the last parade night prior to the exercise
It's Friday evening. You arrive at about 1830 with your kit. You hustle to draw weapons, ammo, rations and other serialized kit like binos, NVG (if you're really lucky) and radios. Then, a quick confirmatory O group with the Pl Comd and it's "get on the bus!".
Enroute you may get more orders and instructions from your section commander, maybe watch a movie. (Hamburger Hill is a masterpiece of reverse motivation...).
When you arrive at CFB Middleofnowhere, it's 0'dark thirty. You stumble off the bus, collect your kit, ruck up in the order of march and move off into the gloom. An hour, maybe two later, your hootch is up and you get sorted out for... Orders. Move to the pl/sect comds hootch and get briefed for the advance which starts at sunrise, a mere 2 hours from now. Lots to do, so get at it troop!
The sun peeks over the horizon hoping to have a pee and go back to bed (just like you). It advances out of the shadows, just like you as your platoon spreads out along a road. You hope the "enemy" is still asleep. Badaboom! They're not. Game on, Kid! This lasts until about suppertime, over and over again until you can do it in your sleep (which would be kinda cool about now..)
You return to your hide and empty that half eaten IMP garbage out of your pockets. You are starting to heat up a nice supper of lasagna when your section commander says "Hey, Cabose, you' re on a recce patrol tonight. Warning order in thirty with the Pl comd." %$#@!!!
Warning Order
Orders
Inspection
Rehearsals
More inspections
Final briefing and off you go. "Forced rest", naturally, fell off the list again. Oh, well.. you'll get all the sleep you need once you're dead.
The sun goes back to bed. You don't. 4 nav legs later you're under a bush with two of your closest buddies, shivering in a light rain, watching a dry creek bed for... what the heck did he say???? Chimps? Meerkats? No, dammit... Gorillas!!!! Or, something like that. Switch on,troop, someone's approaching. Three shadowy figures approach with ... holy crap! Those are AK's!!! "What do I do?" you think through your sleep starved haze. "Oh, yeah, I observe and report." Two days, now a lifetime ago, you were cozy at your desk eyeing Jennifer at the reception desk. Man, she's cute but these f#ckers got AK's man!!!
They pass right by, the last one a mere metre from where you were lying. How could he not hear your heart pounding it's way though your sternum? The're out of sight and the patrol commader taps you on the foot. Withdraw. Another five nav legs bring you back to the hide. There some beady eyed guy from brigade asks you a bunch of questions about your patrol. After it's over you think "I really saw all that!" Back at your hootch, you fall fast asleep with your boots still on.
When you awaken 6 or 8 minute later (in reality it's been three hours) you hear that the other platoon executed an ambush on the same three guys returning down the creek bed several hours later. Man, were they stupid!
"ENDEX!" yells the CSM. For the next couple of hours, you eat, pack and clean up the training area, turn in your ammo and wait for the bus. Don't waste time, man, clean that rifle!
On the bus, there's some backslapping and teasing the now resurrected "enemy". Wow! 15 minutes into "Blackhawk Down", you're fast asleep, sprawled in the seat.
Back at the armoury there's kit checks, more cleaning and packing and a final dismissal where the old man tells you that the fine traditions of your regiment are safe in the hands of the new soldiers.
This ain't BMQ, SQ or BIQ anymore, troop. You've done your first unit ex as a fully badged member of your regiment. Be proud as you fall asleep in front of the TV tonight.....
