Lessons from the Forest - Part 1

We had the lovely fortune of going to the forest twice in the span of three weeks. Here are the lessons learned from the first forest camp.
First, a quick overview of what happened: we set up a patrol camp base and went out on assignments, like reconnaissance, observation posts, ambushes and the like. Keeping in mind that all was done as stealthily as possible, since our opposition was the American Cavalry division (I'm not sure which one. The one currently in Estonia. That's the one), equipped with Humvees (from now on, HV-s), Bradleys, Strikers and whatever doohickeys they have stuffed into those vehicles (I know of thermo cameras and 30mm automatic cannons, neither of which is nice to have used against you).

Boom. Numbers. Because I felt like it.

1. Never expect to make it in time. We were meant to start at 10.00, we left 5 minutes later. We were meant to put up an observation post at 13.00. We put it up 3-4 hours later because our platoon lieutenant couldn't find us a suitable camp site fast enough and travel.... ahem.... trekking in full gear, through dense forest in order to bypass any patrolling HVs or Brads passing by is bloody time consuming. :P
2. Our guests stand out like sore thumbs. This Cav. Division just came from the desert, we get it. But still: Estonia is a woodland country. Woodland camo is necessary. Having Brads and HVs in desert yellow in the middle of a green-brown forest is not stealthy at all. :P
   And their movement on foot isn't stealthy either. Even the simplest of Estonian conscripts knows that in a fire-fight you take cover, not stand around in your desert camo in a clearing in the woods. A lower target is harder to see and once detected, just as hard to hit, especially when under effective fire. This brings us to the next lesson:
3. Americans are bulletproof, as our mock battles have proven. They stand in full view and no matter how many blanks I shoot in their direction, they don't get the hint that they've been killed. Our EDF conscripts, however, have suffered many casualties, determined by our judges (who are strict, if not particularly fair), under American blank fire.
4. Bradleys are loud. Seriously, get a muffler or something. You can hear them from 3 km away. :P
5. Americans are blind. It seems the fact that they fight upright means that they expect their opponents to be standing as well. It is incredible how close the Americans have come to us without noticing us. And there is nothing as satisfying as seeing the surprise on a Texan's face as a young fir tree, not more than 10m away opens fire with a burst of blanks. "Noisy Ninjas", the Americans have come to call us.
6. Americans move flipping fast. Our squad had a go at trying to slow down an American advance, in order to allow our platoon to evac. The Americans bulldosed us. Their advance was so insanely fast our entire squad was obliterated in no more than 5 minutes. Only our squad commander survived and that only because he legged it the first chance he got. So, yeah. I died. Andwe only killed 2 Yanks in that tactical withdrawal. At least the platoon evaquated. Though they left a lot of stuff behind.

This post is a condensed version of a larger one, describing our first forest camp in more detail. If I can gather enough time and can actually bother to finish the post (it is quite long and very in-depth), I might just publish it. Reader comments and pokes might also help.