Infantry Tactics [Wednesday Second Period]
"Good morning," his voice boomed. "Some of you may have taken a course with me before, and that's nice. Some of you may have met me in some other venue, and that's nice. But whatever you think you know, is wrong. When you are in my classroom there is precisely one correct way to refer to me, and that is Centurion. It is my rank, and it is a sign that I know more than any of you are likely to learn about the fine art of killing men on a battlfield." His eyes narrowed. "If any of you refers to me inappropriately... well, let's just say that things will get ugly."
"I understand that some of you may have formidable skills you think may make things easy for you here. Let me assure you that you do not. Some of you may be excellent fighters, or even warriors, but that doesn't make you soldiers. This class will shape you into soldiers, and soldiers understand tactics in a way no mere warrior can. So forget what you think you know."
"This course is divided into two parts. The first part will be focused on what are called regular infantry forces, and the second will be focused on irregular infantry forces. If any of you have military training, it is likely as irregulars. I will discuss that in more detail when the time comes. For now we will focus on regular infantry forces, and that means you must all understand the first and most important lesson: your job is to follow orders and protect your teammates. Your job is not to kill the enemy. Your job is not to be a brilliant fighter. Your job is not to be brave and heroic. You will follow orders and keep your teammates alive. That is all."
"Soldiers are professionals. The work you do is scientific, and you will learn to do it properly. Or," and here Max paused to grin evilly, "I will be glad to provide supplemental instruction."
"The reason regular infantry forces are called 'regulars' at all is that each of you has the same job to do. If any one of you falls then each of the others can take their place. It will not matter where in a formation you stand, or who you stand with, because you are trained as a regular you will know how to do your job." Not that Max would ever call them all 'cogs in a machine', but that was very much what he was trying to convey.
"That is all I intend to say today, and that leaves us with some time in this period." Max's cruel smile was back as he flipped some switch and the Danger Room reconfigured itself into a running track. "And that means we can get in some running today."
"Now run! Don't dawdle! You can stop to breathe when the period ends!"
"I understand that some of you may have formidable skills you think may make things easy for you here. Let me assure you that you do not. Some of you may be excellent fighters, or even warriors, but that doesn't make you soldiers. This class will shape you into soldiers, and soldiers understand tactics in a way no mere warrior can. So forget what you think you know."
"This course is divided into two parts. The first part will be focused on what are called regular infantry forces, and the second will be focused on irregular infantry forces. If any of you have military training, it is likely as irregulars. I will discuss that in more detail when the time comes. For now we will focus on regular infantry forces, and that means you must all understand the first and most important lesson: your job is to follow orders and protect your teammates. Your job is not to kill the enemy. Your job is not to be a brilliant fighter. Your job is not to be brave and heroic. You will follow orders and keep your teammates alive. That is all."
"Soldiers are professionals. The work you do is scientific, and you will learn to do it properly. Or," and here Max paused to grin evilly, "I will be glad to provide supplemental instruction."
"The reason regular infantry forces are called 'regulars' at all is that each of you has the same job to do. If any one of you falls then each of the others can take their place. It will not matter where in a formation you stand, or who you stand with, because you are trained as a regular you will know how to do your job." Not that Max would ever call them all 'cogs in a machine', but that was very much what he was trying to convey.
"That is all I intend to say today, and that leaves us with some time in this period." Max's cruel smile was back as he flipped some switch and the Danger Room reconfigured itself into a running track. "And that means we can get in some running today."
"Now run! Don't dawdle! You can stop to breathe when the period ends!"