My final activation with the LAARNG was for training up on the "new" Bradley, which took so long to filter down to us that we got M3s (no firing ports). The luxurious motorpool area at Fort Polk is apparently the only place on the planet whose mud destroys HMMWV brake rotors, so it's lots of fun to walk or drive in. We got lucky that it was so dry this year.

Before the road march, all the vehicle assemble & wait... IDK why we still had those old M901s with us. Maybe for target practice...

Eventually, all the vehicles start moving, and the thunder of a few hundred tons of armored vehicles rolls across the hills.

Not even armor can stand up to armor - some spirited driving by weekend warriors slowed us down.

Good thing Louisiana taxpayers are filthy rich.

We occupied a range on Peason Ridge and prepared for live fire.

The first iteration moved to the firing line.

Of course, nothing can happen until everything is ready, so hurry up & wait...

Finally, some action!

The launch motor is just a small explosive, so the missile leaves like a recoilless cannon shot.

With careful timing (and a LOT of luck), I caught an actual TOW detonation.

Not quite as dramatic as you see in movies, but it's enough to cut through 18 inches of armor or 3 feet of reinforced concrete.

After live fire, we practiced some maneuvers.

Yep, we're maneuvering.

After a long day of sending ordnance downrange, we moved to the treeline & settled in for the night.

I can't remember why this old M901 was with us - maybe for nostalgia.

Just as if we were in-theater, everything has to be netted over.

During the night, we had to teach a (typically) smart-mouthed Lieutenant to mind his manners.

Near the end of summer camp, I was chosen to take a joy-ride in a Huey as a reward for a high score during TOW qualification.

This is only the 2nd time I've ridden in a helicopter, and it'll probably be my last.

The pilot made it fun with some combat maneuvers...

He even took us on a low blast through this firebreak, eventually getting below the treeline.

This was ~20years ago, which might be enough for my mother NOT to get hysterical if she finds out I did this.

We were dropped off at another firing line where some HMMWVs were lined up.

The grunts were blasting away with 50cals & M60s.

We were startled by a shot from what we assumed was their commander's track, but it turned out to be a mounted mortar.

Again: not quite Hollywood, but I'm glad I was at THIS end.

More noise = more fun, so we wandered over to their position.

An advantage of indirect-fire weapons is that you don't have to be AS worried about getting shot while you're shooting.

I managed to catch one just as it left the tube.

These big ones have some serious hang time...

After the end of summer camp, and cleaning up all the equipment back at the armory, everyone let off some steam.

While I was in an intel unit, I did a summer "camp" in DC as a driver/interpreter for a group of German reserve officers attending a convention.

I arrived a few days before the activities to familiarize with the locations & routes.

On the first drive with my passengers, the car's muffler blew out, and they nicknamed it "the Sherman tank" because of the noise. Even after I traded it in for one that wasn't broken down, the name stuck. These guys were a lot more casual than the stiffs I was used to, but they were still professionals.

Boy, those 2 weeks of summer duty with the National Guard can be such a pain...

This view is from my room in the Crystal City Marriott.

These were the US officers attending the event, and the NCOs supporting it. I'm back there on the R behind my glasses.

The hotel fire alarm went off one afternoon, and I gave the PA instructions in German, since there were so many staying here. It turned out to be a Chlorine gas leak from the swimming pool, and it was cleared up by the time we got back from dinner.

The last event was a formal reception dinner at the German embassy, and my passengers invited me to attend.