Chapter 13: Training
Winters was also very interested in Rhys's training methods. He called him to the company command post to ask about them personally. After all, this concerned the well-being of all the brothers in Easy Company, so he had to be cautious.
"Do you think this training method would be effective if implemented across the company?" Winters asked with a frown after listening to Rhys's detailed explanation. There were clearly some things he didn't understand, but the performance of White and Hoobler had already proven that it was highly effective compared to conventional training.
"I don't know, sir," Rhys answered honestly. "It depends on each man's understanding and persistence. But I believe the brothers of Easy Company would do very well."
Winters nodded, then stood and extended his hand to Rhys. "I will consider it seriously," he said, shaking his hand. "If it's feasible, I will recommend it to Captain Sobel. Thank you, Sergeant."
Rhys saluted and left. He didn't know what the outcome would be, but even if his methods weren't used, the current training system was comprehensive and scientific enough that the men of Easy Company would still be in good shape.
"Are you sure Rhys's training is suitable for the men of Easy?" Nixon, who had been watching from the side, asked Winters skeptically. "After all, it's only been verified with two people. We should be more scientific about this."
Winters smiled. "It's precisely because the effect on those two was so obvious that I want to test it further. Nix, I'm planning to adjust Second Platoon's training and, at the right time, switch to Rhys's methods."
"You have to consider Sobel," Nixon said with an indifferent shrug.
"I've already thought about him," Winters smiled. "I've come up with a way. I'm going to suggest to Captain Sobel that we hold a basic training competition between the platoons in Easy Company. In the time leading up to it, each platoon will devise its own training plan. I plan to implement Rhys's methods in Second Platoon, which I used to lead."
"You're a genius, Dick! Sobel will definitely love that," Nixon laughed. "But even so, convincing him won't be easy."
"No, Nixon. I'll suggest to Sobel that if Major Horton and Colonel Sink could be present to watch the competition, it would certainly please them," Winters said, a slight smile playing on his lips.
Hearing this, Nixon slapped his forehead. "Dick, I always thought you were a dull guy with no sense of humor and no quirks, but today I have to say, that is a brilliant idea. You want to pull in Colonel Sink and Major Horton? Who could be better? With them there, as long as Second Platoon performs well, the chances of Colonel Sink approving the method will be much higher."
"Exactly," Winters said with a relaxed smile.
***
Captain Sobel was clearly intrigued by Winters's competition proposal. At the end of the day, it was an excellent way to review Easy Company's progress and could also boost the morale of soldiers who were losing their motivation.
"I can't believe Winters would suggest something like this," Lieutenant Buck Compton said, clearly annoyed as he discussed the competition with several sergeants in the barracks. "Has he gone over to Sobel's side?"
"Quit complaining, Buck. Maybe Winters has other ideas. We should respect him. It's only for a month, right? We've survived under Sobel's rule for this long, why can't we look at this with an open mind?" Carwood Lipton was a staunch supporter of Winters, and he could always find a reason to persuade those who were confused.
"I hope you're right, Lipton," Buck said. He wasn't really complaining, just surprised by the whole thing.
Just then, Bill Guarnere walked in.
"What's up, brothers?" Guarnere asked, sitting down next to Buck. "You all look like you've had too much sex."
"Please, Mr. Gonorrhea, we're discussing the competition Winters proposed," John Martin said, looking at him with displeasure. "Haven't you heard about it?"
"Of course I've heard, it's just…" Guarnere trailed off, looking at them.
"Well, spit it out! Is there something else going on?" Martin demanded.
"Sure is. This morning when I went to Winters's quarters, I heard him and Nixon talking about something," Guarnere said with a sly grin. "I think it had something to do with Parks."
"Parks?" several of them exclaimed at once.
Buck Compton suddenly leaped up from his bunk, a smile spreading across his face. "I know why!"
Everyone turned to look at him.
"Hasn't Parks been helping White and Hoobler recently? Could this be related to his training methods?" Buck was getting excited. "If that's the case, then Winters has done something great!"
"Oh, Buck, the mere thought of more training gives me chills," Guarnere cried out. "Forget Parks's training methods. What I want most right now is a good rest. It's the weekend! Don't you guys want to go to town and relax? Or find a pretty girl with big boobs or something?"
Rumors like this eventually spread throughout Easy Company, and as it turned out, they weren't wrong. When the final orders came down, there wasn't much dissatisfaction in the company. In fact, Rhys Parks became something of a celebrity because of it.
***
"Second Platoon, fall in!" Lipton shouted, and the soldiers in the barracks immediately scrambled to attention.
Easy Company's Second Platoon stood in neat rows on the training field. As expected, Captain Sobel no longer interfered with the individual platoon training sessions. He felt that Winters's proposal would light a fire under the slackers. Of course, if any platoon embarrassed themselves or came in last, he would make them pay. He couldn't care less about some so-called training method from Parks. What kind of effective method could a mere grunt come up with?
This was why, for the first time, Sobel was actually interested in one of Winters's suggestions.
"Alright, I'm turning it over to you now," Winters said to Rhys, who was standing beside him at the front of the formation.
"Yes, Lieutenant," Rhys replied. It was his first time formally addressing the entire platoon.
Regarding the training, Rhys kept his explanation as concise as possible, clearly outlining the main points to the brothers of Second Platoon. The purpose of the sandbags was much easier for the soldiers to understand.
So, on the surface, the men of Second Platoon didn't look much different from the other two platoons, but the final results might be quite different. That was the secret.
Regardless, this was all a practical experiment. Winters wanted to try it, but he didn't want to roll out an unproven method to the entire company. After all, the current US Army training manual was, for the time being, quite scientific.
Despite this, the brothers in First and Third Platoon expressed their displeasure. They felt that Rhys's training methods were sure to be effective. The idea spread like a plague, fueled by a common soldier's psychology. If Rhys could turn the physically weak Hoobler and White into solid performers, and if Second Platoon was adopting his methods, then they must be useful. And if they were useful, why couldn't their platoons use them too?
Ultimately, it all came down to the punishment Captain Sobel was sure to dole out. The platoon that finished last would undoubtedly suffer. This was the source of the widespread complaints.
Sometimes, brothers from outside Second Platoon would grumble amongst themselves.
"It doesn't get any worse than this," Sergeant Harris of First Platoon said angrily. "If Parks hadn't come up with that stupid training method, we wouldn't have to be so worried."
Sergeant Ranney laughed. "Then you'd better figure out how to beat Parks first."
"Are you guys talking about Parks?" Private Edward piped up from the side.
"Yes. What about it?" Harris said, annoyed. "Do you also think that defeating Parks is impossible? Listen, I think we should be trying his methods, just like Second Platoon."
"You definitely haven't heard, then," Edward said with a chuckle. "Some of the guys in Second Platoon say Parks is as strong as a bull. Looks like you're destined to lose." He laughed and ran off.
"Listen to that! I bet that guy is a spy from Second Platoon!" Harris shook his head in frustration.
But Sobel would never agree to such a thing. He could not tolerate any situation that deviated from his plan or went beyond his control. He had to maintain absolute authority over Easy Company.
***
A month wasn't a long time.
The brothers of Second Platoon truly felt the benefits Rhys had brought them. Their endurance on long marches and their explosive strength had improved rapidly. The same old cross-country marches and obstacle courses were becoming easier and easier for them.
"Seriously, I feel a lot stronger," Guarnere said, flexing his muscles for a group of soldiers in the barracks.
"Fuck off. You'll never be as strong as Parks no matter how much you train," More laughed. "But I have to say, I'm really looking forward to the upcoming competition."
*****
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