The Reunion

The corporal drove the Humvee down the road, ignoring the officer sitting next to him. He wasn’t happy to be playing soldier just a few days before Christmas. His entire unit was activated as OPFOR troops for this major war game and were the bad guys against the Navy and Marine units participating. That, coupled with the timing of the operation was upsetting to the citizen soldiers. They didn’t mind being called on to protect their country in time of need, but they certainly weren’t happy with the recent call-up to be sent out as targets for the regular military to shoot at.

The soldier was especially upset when he was assigned as the driver for this officer. His lieutenant told him the officer was commanding all the guard and reserve forces involved in the operation. He was from New York State! Their own senior officers weren’t available for the exercise! The Pentagon sent a replacement all the way from New York to help the United Sates Navy kick the butts of some reservists and guardsmen in Hawaii! He was even less thrilled when he found out that the man was a naval officer. What business did a naval officer from New York have commanding ground forces assigned to protect the Hawaiian Islands? He was convinced this war game was rigged.