04/05/2024
Our Story!
Colonel Jim “Avalanche’ Rost…… Still shaking his head over the promotion, decoration, and subsequent orders. He took another draw off his always handy flask….. “This wasn’t supposed to happen….. I was supposed to retire from USSCOM, US Southern Command.” He said to himself..
Bronceado and El Greenador were now both secure from the Drug and Human Trafficking ring of Major Matt Mason. While Peace had not been completely restored, the destabilization that had been occurring for the past 4 years was now settling down. TF23 had eliminated all, save one of Major Masons known associates and had busted the Cartel to FUBAR.
Col Rost continuing to think to himself: “The State Department and the CIA would now take over. Our Tax dollars at work, bribing the local politicians into submission. The way of Washington was to throw money at the problem, study it some more and then throw more money at it……” At least he’d still be able to see the intel reports from the area… The CCP were beginning to make a play in the area, so he and The Sgt. Major had suspected….. Cursing aloud “Damnit Bilko!”
Even though The Sgt. Major was a Marine, Bilko had always been there for him. Refilling his flask on the sly, or just straight up spiking his morning coffee. Bilko was a true Staff Noncom that always delivered when it was needed. However; This last time he had over-delivered…….
Damn Bilko! He had recommended LDCR John P. “Madkow” Holm for Command of TF23. Madkow, Now a full Commander, and his handpicked team had delivered. The DOD had taken note. Decorations and promotions all around quickly followed by Orders…..
The Orders read: INDOPACOM, Indo-Pacific Command. SOCPAC, Special Operation Command Pacific. Well, at Least Commander Holm was coming along. Thank God someone from the Navy was going to be there…. Of course, Bilko, being a Marine, was an expert in Amphibious warfare, among other things….
The Sgt Major and Rost had met at the Quantico War College many years ago. An unlikely friendship had taken hold as the two managed to drink their way through several training evolutions and classes. None of their classmates could keep up with them. Notorious for drinking into the wee hours, then turning to physical training, professional periods of instruction and presentations followed by exams. The pair, always in the top 5 of everything. Their classmates & instructors were amazed at their physical and mental resilience and proficiency while hung over and or intoxicated.
Colonel Rost, he was still getting used to that…..However, the “Full Bird” was most welcome in the Rost household….
His wife was pleased at the opportunities that would now be available to her within the inner working circle of the bases in and around Hawaii. This was where INDOPACOM was located. She was excited at the prospects that lay ahead for both of them.
Drawing on his flask again, “Sh*t!” damn thing was almost empty, and The Sgt Major was not here. He was off already scouting the new Command, getting the lay of the land. They had already exchanged several e-mails.
Bilko was already working his “magic” and had reported that they would have a bit of leisure time getting acclimatized to their new environment. Expectations at SOCPAC were high that Col. Rost, CMDR Holm, and team would assemble another group of first class operators for a series of multinational exercises for the coming 18 month training cycle. Of course, this team would also have to be proficient and prepared to be activated for tasking up to and including “black ops” at a moment’s notice.
What challenges lay ahead? What insurmountable objectives would they be asked to take? Who might they face? Who might they meet along the way? What would the ROE’s be on these islands across the vast space of the Pacific and Indian Oceans? Only time will tell…
Do You have what it takes to be part of Platoon Leader 2024?
Will you Join Commander P. John “Madkow” Holm for TF24 SOCPAC?
Please join us at Command Decisions Wargames Center for Platoon Leader 2024 as The Rogue Patriots & Company take you into the Crucible of the South Pacific!