Chapter 1

My name is Gail Peters and I started journaling in middle school after my first experience with a boy. Tommy Quillan and I had been neighbors for seven years, and were more like brother and sister than boyfriend and girlfriend. So when we were out hiking that summer and found the small pond surrounded by the thick trees we decided to go skinny dipping. We had swam in underwear before and swimsuits too, but never seen each other naked until now. We were both 12 and seventh graders. After splashing around for a while we did the show me yours and I will show you mine. That lead to physically exploring each other’s private regions gentle touching and mostly looking was all we did. When I got home I was so excited but afraid to tell anyone that I started my journal. Tom as he wanted to be called in High School were the perfect couple. We enjoyed each other’s company and fooled around a lot but never went further than oral on each other {69 as we would later find out we did not invent}. I had always been a tomboy and enjoyed activities not considered appropriate for girls. I ran cross-country and swam in high school. I was second in the state in the 5k cross-country my freshman year and was first every year after. I placed at state in swimming but never higher than 3rd my junior year and 4th my senior year, but I was a lifeguard during the summers. I earned a scholarship to college for cross-country and a starter all four years. I was third my freshman and sophomore years and was caught in a pile when a girl tripped and did not place my junior year. My senior year I was second by 2/10 of a second. My major was outdoor recreation as that was my passion much to the dismay of my parents. Why am I telling you this? Well it will explain what happened to me after graduation.

So when I finished my walk across the stage and received my degree there were three people waiting with my parents. Two men and a woman. They asked us all to lunch and would explain everything at that time. My parents and I agreed so we joined them. We were seated in a corner booth away from most people with one of the men sitting at the next booth alone to give us more privacy. I was very curious about all this as were my parents, my dad spoke first asking exactly who they were and what they wanted with me.

Col James Browning and Col Amanda Freeland both U.S. Army as was CSM Jeff Golden who was sitting at the next table; and they wanted to offer me a job with the Army.

My mother objected loudly saying “like hell” my dad was more polite and asked why?

I finally spoke and asked, “yes, why me?”

Amanda answered by saying that my physical abilities along with my obvious outdoor skills would be perfect for my role in the Army.

I asked if I was interested what would I be doing and what pay and benefits would I receive.

James answered saying that I would be listed as a GS 13 step 6 at $40 an hour and full health benefits of all GS employees. My job would be based on how I did in my training.

They left me with paperwork and an airplane ticket. If I accepted I was to take the flight and bring only one change of clothes and personal hygiene items. The flight was for Monday two days away. We went home and talked about this before I left to meet up with my friends and celebrate graduating. Mom was against it but dad like me thought it would not hurt to check things out as it was a great opportunity.

I said nothing to my friends and just enjoyed the evening. I got home Saturday morning about 4:30 am. I slept until noon, I woke cleaned up dressed and met my folks for lunch. Mom was still upset about the offer but dad had told her it was my choice to make. After lunch I went for a run and swam some before cleaning up for dinner. Sunday we went to church Tom was home too and asked if I was up for a hike, had been years since we had done a hike together. We talked about how college went and what we were planning to do after graduation. Tom was a business major and had job offers in two big cities. I told him I would probably end up working in the outdoors. Sunday night I packed a daypack with a change of clothes business casual and my hygiene items I wore jeans and a polo with a nice jacket and my running shoes.

Monday June 1st 1998

The flight was three hours and when it landed I found that there were a dozen of us ladies waiting to be picked up. The fact that we all were built about the same and only had a daypack or small carryon bag had us all laughing as we introduced ourselves. Two SUVs pulled up and CSM Jeff Golden got out of the first one as the drivers opened the back for our bags. CSM Golden asked everyone to get into one of the SUVs and we would be off. We drove into the mountains and pulled into a small military base north of Fort Bragg by a ways. Everyone was in civilian clothes and at first look it did not appear to be a military base, it looked more like a college or business school. We all entered a main building and were seated around a large table in a conference room.

Col Amanda Freeland and CSM Golden entered along with three other females.

CPT Brenda Chase 1LT Dana Osborn 1SG Ellen Whitedoe the Company Commander, Executive Officer and First Sergeant of our unit. Brenda began a quick briefing explaining that we were being offered a job working with US Army Special Forces as support personnel and would not be in the Army. Basically we were Government employees working for the Army not in the Army. Ellen asked us to introduce ourselves and after if there were any questions they would answer at that time.

Joan Stevens was first since she was seated to the right of Col Freeland. LeAnn Smith was next followed by Susan Jones, Xim Fu Won, Zoe Navajo, Renee Whitetree, Debra Knowles, Kylee Brown and me Gale Peters.

The only question seemed to be the same for all of us. Why us? Amanda answered that with a brief story. It seems that when Special Forces are sent into foreign countries they sometimes do not want to standout as military so accessories are added to give them a cover so to speak. She stressed that appearances ONLY were required anything consenting adults did was heavily stressed as optional and MUST NOT interfere with the mission. She continued by saying that her people had never causes any problems but on more than one occasion the SF guys got too friendly and did not respect NO; causing them to be severely dealt with and in a few cases caused a mission failure. We would be at some risk but NOT involved with actual missions, thus we had to undergo and pass training before we could be hired. At this time the Col and CPT stepped out and a SSG Freddie Douglas the S1 and SFC Wilma Green the Platoon Sergeant came in to complete our paperwork and get us started training.

After all the paperwork was completed we followed 1SG Whitedoe and PSG Green out the back and into a large warehouse. We got in line and were issued our gear. It started with a rolling footlocker, military duffle bag and a soft frame backpack system. 5 tan T-shirts, 5 white T-shirts, and several colored T-shirts. 10 sets of underwear sets bra and panty 5 were sports and 5 were casual comfortable. 10 pairs of athletic socks, 6 pair of casual socks, 4 pair of nylons. 5 running shorts, 5 yoga pants, 2 light jackets, 1 medium jacket, 1 heavy jacket. 9 pairs of cargo pants 3 tan, 3 grey and 3 black with 2 military matching tops for each color. 2 pair of boots, 1 pair of cold weather boots and a pair of cross-training shoes. 2 mid-length skirts, 2 dress slacks, 2 jeans and several blouses. Next was electronics as we received a phone, compact tablet and oversized laptop along with all the plugs and other items to support their use. We were informed that more gear would be issued as needed for training. Everything barely fit into the footlocker duffle and backpack. We then moved to an apartment like complex and each assigned an apartment. It consisted of a bedroom, bathroom, and kitchenette with a dining area greeting area combo.

We were instructed to move in, unpack and meet at the dining area for dinner. I did not realize we had skipped lunch. There was a simple laminated paper with an explanation and picture of how to get everything to fit in our limited space as well as where to put everything. I had just finished when I heard a buzzing bell like sound and then a PA announcement that it was 18:00 and dinner had started.

I grabbed the light jacket and went outside to find the others doing the same. I wondered how it was we all had the light jacket even though we were not told to bring it.

As we entered the dining area PSG Green told us to meet at the conference room after dinner at 20:00 and to bring our phone and tablet.

Zoe was the first to speak and asked if everyone noticed we all had the light jacket? Debra and I both said it was getting chilly. Everyone said that is why they had brought it. Susan Jones spoke next and told us her background and asked for each of ours. She was 28 and a Physician Assistant with 3 years of ER experience her specialty was Internal Medicine; Renee Whitetree said she was an Trauma Nurse with 3 years’ experience; Quinn Romero was 21 and a graduate in Computer Science; Carol King also graduated with Communications & Electronics; Tina True 22 Engineer graduate; Xim Fu Won graduated Exercise Science and the only thing she could think of was the fact that she had several black belts in martial arts; Zoe Navajo was a Survivalist instructor with several years of experience and a Botany graduate; Debra Knowles graduated with a degree in outdoor recreation emphasis in Search & Rescue which she was a member; I introduced myself Carol Peters 21 also outdoor recreation graduate but the only thing I had done was my running; Kylee Brown 21 had not gone to college but was on the US Marksmanship team and had been for 5 years; Joan Stevens 22 was a business graduate and skydiving instructor; LeAnn Smith finance graduate and scuba diving instructor.

We quickly returned to our rooms for our phones and tablets that had been charging and all made for the conference room.

1LT Dana Osborn, 1SG Whitedoe, PSG Green were waiting to brief us as soon as we all were seated. Smiling the XO started by saying it was nice that we were early it was 19:53 by the clock on the wall and all our phones and tablets. Dana began by telling us all that we were not Army so we were not to refer to any of them by military rank but for us to use first names like anyone talking with a friend would do. So from now on everyone was to use first names.

Starting tomorrow Tuesday we would begin our training – this would be our schedule for the rest of the week:

06:00 athletic clothing weather appropriate for indoor and outdoor exercise

07:30 hygiene time

08:00 breakfast

09:00 1st class

12:00 lunch

13:00 2nd class

16:00 briefing/lecture/misc

18:00 dinner

19:30 evening activities

22:00 lights out

Wilma asked if we had any questions then released us for the night when we didn’t have any.

On the walk back to our apartments Debra Susan and Zoe all asked if we had any military experience or family history etc. None of us did and they continued that it had not been said or recommended that we dress the same or match but it might be to our benefit if we started walking talking thinking the same. We all agreed that it was not a bad idea. So we agreed on white sports underwear and socks with tan yoga pants and T-shirt and the light jacket and cross-training shoes. We all would bring our phone with earbuds and the armband carrying case.

Tuesday June 2nd

Brenda, Dana, Ellen and Wilma were waiting for us as we exited the building we were shocked to see them wearing the exact same items we were and even had the phone earbuds and arm case. Susan spoke up and just said, “What gives?”

Brenda laughed then apologized saying, “This entire area is monitored with cameras and sound listening security. Your rooms are not but the hallways and common areas are. We were expecting to have to have you go back and change into a common attire and give you the exact or close to the same conversation you all had walking home last night. You are all correct in the fact that even though we are not a military unit or Army. We will be working with them and have to have that mindset to make it a smooth working environment. We will start with a light warmup then run a mile today and increase ½ mile every day until we are at 5 miles. Then we moved to a gym and did circuit training on nautilus equipment. We were sent to clean up and meet for breakfast and told to have our tablet with us at all times unless told otherwise. On the way back we agreed to wear tan cargo pants and T-shirt with boots.

After breakfast we met in the conference room again. This time we watched a video and then had a briefing from Dana reviewing most of what the video covered. The video was a sample of Army Basic Training / Officer Basic Course / Basic NCO Course and a few specialty topics like communication, electronics, and counter espionage. We broke for lunch and when we returned Amada was there to give the next briefing.

She started out by explaining that each of us had been recruited for our individual talents and experiences. Then she asked us who we thought of as leaders in our group.

Everyone named Debra Susan and Zoe and she agreed saying that until further notice they would be the three team leaders. Debra’s team would be Joan Renee and Xim; Susan’s team would be Gale Kylee and LeAnn; Zoe’s team would be Tina Carol and Quinn.