... With Our Shields or On Them

Meeting Corporal Smith

Forward Operating Base Variance

Yevlakh, Azerbaijan

1534 Local

Present Day 2009

(Mission: Black Light + 14 days)

"That's bullshit Grace," replied Corporal Riley Smith as he furiously scribbled onto a notepad. "Well did you get his insurance information," he asked just as he caught a glimpse of his team leader, three tele-com stalls up from him, stretch his arms over his head. The Corporal continued his domestic interrogation as the Gunnery Sergeant got up from the phone booth he was using and walked towards the exit, "And why were you going to the store at that hour babe," asked Smith as his senior non-com patted him on the shoulder as he walked towards the exit. "I'll catch-up in a bit Gunny," responded Smith taking note of Alvarez's ridiculously colorful boardshorts and loaded carbine slung across his back, and yelled out in his best southern accent, "That ain't regulation Marine wear now is it?" "What, no no, I'm not talking to you Grace," reassured the 24 year old Marine as he leaned back in the metal folding chair and looked around the tent that had been erected to house the telecommunications stalls used (by the sailors, Marines, airmen, and soldiers working out of the Yevlakh air base) to make telephone calls or for those who possessed laptop computers- access to the local internet network. There was a an internet kiosk located near the base's mess hall, however the computers there were supervised and administered by the Air Force and had every imaginable content filter installed in them; rendering them practically useless.

Smith was the newest addition to 2nd Platoon and being the youngest and most junior ranking member within the platoon hadn't helped with his transition into this conclave of warriors who saw him as just a kid; a liability. As such, he was surprised when he reported to 2nd Battalion's S-1 (administrative cell) and found out that he had landed orders to 2nd Company's free-fall platoon. Free-fall platoons (3 per battalion) generally had some of the most seasoned operators within the Battalion, much of it due to the limited number of slots issued to the Regiment for attendance to the Military Free-Fall School. This limited space meant that only mature and committed Marines, senior non-commissioned officers (E-6 and up) and qualified Sergeants, would be allowed to attend the course. For Smith, he had been fortunate enough to attend the course during his tenure with a unique communications unit known as the Radio Recon Company with the 2nd Radio Battalion. RRC specializes' in conducting SIGNT/EW (signal intelligence/electronic warfare) for the MAGTF commander and what makes them unique is that their peculiar training paradigm allows them to be deployed beyond the capability of conventional Radio Battalion units. Prior to entering the training pipeline to be part of the Regiment, he had spent the last four years on a radio recon team.

Life in the RRT resembled being in an operational platoon but they were two distinct animals; while his current unit was a proactive death-dealing entity, RRT was a behind the scene support unit that avoided confrontations. Not that he hadn't already been in any firefights before, as his first deployment had been with a regular SIGNT/EW communications unit deployed to Iraq in 06 and had encountered ambush's while conducting mounted and dismounted patrols. It was during this first deployment in which he realized that he had no aspirations of being a gunfighter much less an operator, hell, disliked weapons and fighting. However, he always found himself attracted to those units which invoked some form of mythic connotation, those which were talked about but nobody knew anything about. Becoming a member of Radio Recon and then the Regiment were professional moves for Smith, gaining enough operational experience in the SIGNT/EW field in order to leave the suck and join a government agency such as the NSA; it was his big dream.

Being assigned to an operational platoon, however, was not part of the dream. He had originally been recruited to be part of a communications support unit within the regiment. The CSU was an enhanced version of Radio Recon with the addition of personnel from various intelligence MOS's. When he had been personally visited by the MARSOC recruiter he was assured that he would have no problems getting a spot in CSU once he successfully completed the 9-month Regimental Qualification Course. During the natal stages of the Regiment, Marines joining the operational support units were not required to attend the RQC due to shortfalls in manpower, however they endured a much shorter 8-week indoctrination. For Smith, RQC had consumed his soul, tested his senses, his will, and his commitment.

2nd Battalion's Headquarters & Service Company- MARSOR

Camp Lejunne North Carolina, USA

0845 Local

October 2007

Following an 8-day break upon completing the training pipeline, Smith proudly reported to the 2nd Battalion of the Special Operations Regiment's S-1 where a dreary Corporal Pozzi dryly handed him his orders. Riley read its contents twice and then looked up at her and then read them a third time. "Uhm, I think there has been a mistake," Smith said with a hint of fear in his voice. "Excuse me," responded the annoyed admin. Holding the document at eye level with the print facing her, Riley pointed to a bolded section and in an eager voice said, "Do you see what this says? FREE-FALL!" Rolling her eyes Pozzi countered unenthusiastically, "Way to go hero, you wanted to play with big boys' right?" "No, I'm SINGT. I'm supposed to be in Comms Support. I was guaranteed a slot. You need to change this," urged the young Marine. "Unfortunately, I can't just change orders and you should know that by now Corporal," gritted Pozzi under her breath. "Only the Admin Chief can do something about it and I don't think you want to bother him with these types of orders, trust me," urged the female Marine. "Look, I don't belong in that type of unit and I'm sure he'll understand when I discuss it with him," argued Smith just as another Marine approached the admin counter. "Ok, if that's what you want I'll get him," she said as she looked over the Marine that just walked up to her station, "Morning Gunny Alvarez, what can I do for you today," she gleefully responded as her attitude had drastically changed for the best. "Morning Ava. You think the Chief's got a few minutes to spare," asked the senior non-commissioned officer. Smith observed to himself how Corporal Pozzi practically cooed and melted when she said Gunny, evoking a cheesy grin from Riley. "It shouldn't be a problem but I'll verify that for," Pozzi responded snatching the orders from Smiths hands and then made her way down the hall to Chief Warrant Officer Fryer's office.

Corporal Smith observed the Gunnery Sergeant and watched as his eyes followed Pozzi until she turned a corner and was out of sight causing another grin to escape catching the senior Marine's eye causing him to glare almost snarl at the junior NCO. Sensing he had been busted, Smith turned to the Gunny and responded clearing his throat, "Morning Gunnery Sergeant," and then quickly glanced at the left side of his Alvarez's chest to determine who he was and what he'd done. Taking mental note of his service ribbons and lack of hood ornaments or school badges he determined the Gunny was probably just a leg but the Bronze Star ribbon indicated he had been in some action since the Corps was not keen on awarding uniform candy. Deeming the Gunny as not a threat he assumed he was just another admin or headquarters pogue. "Morning Corporal, problem with your orders," he asked. "Just a slight mix-up, they've got me slotted for a free-fall platoon," Smith responded nonchalantly. "Whoa that's hardcore Marine. Any grunt would give their first-born and left nut for a free-fall spot," was the Gunny's faux response trying to bait as much information from the Corporal as possible. "I know quite a few who actually would Gunny but it's just not for me, besides I had been promised a spot with comms support since I came from Radio Recon." "Radio Recon huh... That's a pretty hot-shit unit, must of had some hot deployments?" "Yea, it was alright," responded Smith as Corporal Pozzi returned to her station. "Gunny the Chief will see you right after he meets with the Corporal. Smith he's waiting for you now," she announced. Needless to say the meeting did not go as planed for Smith, however, the one bit of positive news was that once he completed his probationary deployment he would be allowed to transfer to the Communications Support Unit with his Company Commanders endorsement. "15 months Riley, just one deployment. It's only a temporary set back," he told himself on the drive out to 2nd Companys' billeting area to meet his new unit.