Boots, Chaps, and Cowboy Hats
Taming Team Ten
Book One
By Jana Leigh
© Copyright June 2013 JK Publishing, Inc.
All cover art and logo © Copyright June 2013 by JK Publishing, Inc.
All rights reserved.
Edited by M. L. Hill and Caroline Kirby
Artwork by JK Publishing, Inc.
Published by JK Publishing, Inc.
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This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales are entirely coincidental.
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Dedication
This book is for my husband, a twenty year vet with the Air Force, and to all those who have served and will serve our country. Their sacrifice is an amazing gift to all of us, and I am proud to say we are part of the Military family. This was a heart-wrenching book to write, as some of the experiences are my own. Please thank a vet or service member, anyone who puts their life on the line for us to remain safe; they are a dedicated group of man and women who deserve our respect.
Table of Contents
Dedication
Character Glossary
Part One
~Life Changes in a Flash
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Part Two
~The Road Back
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Part Three
~Moving On
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Epilogue
Books by Jana Leigh
Excerpt from Alpha’s Mate
Excerpt from Cat’s Choice
Excerpt from the Mating Call
Excerpt from Playing with Zach
Excerpt from Dangerous Trio Part One
Excerpt from Meridian Warriors: Xander and Des
Excerpt from Perfect Reflection
Character Glossary
Meet the Sexy Men of SEAL Team TEN
Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) Alex “Boyscout” Prain-Strout: Technician Plans and Targeting/ Intel Lead Petty Officer (LPO) Frank “Wolfman” Smithe: Training
Lieutenant Commander Thane “LC” Grete: OIC or Officer in Charge Platoon Chief Gage “Master Chief” Loman: Technical Sergeant
Sergeant Brian “Frogman” Lipit: Quick Recon Force or QRF
Sergeant Ted “Raider” Farat: Communication or COM
Petty Officer Mark “Emo” Plater: Technician Intelligence or Intel Sergeant Mason “Voodoo” Patrick: Logistics
NCO Jessie “Ice” James: Communication or COM
LPO Drake “Lobo” Viser: Plans and Targeting
Ensign John “Dagwood” Marse: Logistics
Ensign Sam “Clipper” Roge: Air/Medical
Acronyms
CIA: Central Intelligence Agency
SOG: Special Operations Group
OIC: Officer in Charge
COM: Communications
Keywords for SEALs that will be in this series not necessarily in this book:
Mission Name: Charlie Exec
Mission Launch Code Word: Irene
Joint Operation Center: JOC
ABORT - Directive to cease action/attack/event/mission.
ACTION - Directive to initiate a briefed attack sequence or maneuver.
ALPHA CHECK - Request for bearing and range to the described point.
ANCHOR - Orbit about a specific point; ground track flown by tanker. Information call indicates a turning engagement about a specific location.
ANGELS - Height of aircraft in thousands of feet.
ALAMO - Training term used to denote simulated launch of enemy, all-aspect radar missile.
ARMED (Safe/Hot) - Select armament (safe/hot) or armament is safe/hot.
AUTHENTICATE - To request or provide a response for a coded challenge.
BANDIT - Known enemy aircraft and type ordnance capability, if known.
BASE - Reference number used to indicate such information as headings, altitudes, fuels, etc.
BELLYCHECK - A momentary unloaded bank to check the blind side of a turning aircraft.
BENT - Identified system inoperative.
BLIND - No visual contact with friendly; opposite of term "VISUAL."
BOGEY - A radar/visual contact whose identity is unknown.
DOPE - Request for target information as briefed/available.
BRACKET - Indicates geometry where aircraft will maneuver to a position on opposing sides either laterally or vertically from the target.
BREAK (Up/Down/Right/Left) - Directive to perform an immediate maximum performance turn in the indicated direction. Assumes a defensive situation.
BREVITY - Term used to denote radio frequency is becoming saturated/degraded and briefer transmissions must follow.
BROADCAST - Request/directive to switch to Broadcast Control.
BROKE LOCK - Loss of radar/IR lock-on (advisory).
BUDDY SPIKE (Position/Azimuth/Altitude) - Receiving friendly AI RWR.
BUGOUT (Direction) - Separation from that particular engagement/attack; no intent to reengage.
BULLSEYE - An established reference point from which the position of an aircraft can be determined.
BUMP - A fly-up to acquire line of sight to the target or laser designation.
BUNT - A pushover maneuver.
BURNER - Directive to select/deselect afterburner.
BUZZER - Electronic communications jamming.
CAP - An orbit at a specified location. Establish a combat air patrol.
CHAMPAGNE - An attack of three distinct groups with two in front and one behind. The leading two groups are attempting to bracket with the trailing third group flying up the middle.
CHATTERMARK - Begin using briefed radio procedures to counter comm jamming.
CHECK - A directive statement made to momentarily monitor (specified items/systems). No response is required if status is normal.
CHICKS - Friendly fighter aircraft.
CHRISTMAS TREE - Directive to briefly turn on exterior lights to enable visual acquisition.
CLEAN - No radar contacts; used to confirm a good battle damage check (i.e., no air-to-surface ordnance remaining on the wingman's aircraft).
CLEARED - Requested action is authorized (no engaged/support roles are assumed).
CLEARED D
RY - Ordnance release not authorized.
CLEARED HOT - Ordnance release is authorized.
CLOSING - Bandit/bogey/target is getting closer in range.
COMMIT - Fighter intent to engage/intercept; weapons director (WD) continues to provide information.
CONTACT - Radar/IR contact at the stated position; should be in bearing, range, altitude (BRA), Bullseye, or geographic position format.
CONTINUE - Continue present maneuver; does not imply clearance to engage or expend ordnance.
COVER - Directive to assume briefed support position and responsibilities.
CUTOFF - Request for, or directive to, intercept using cutoff geometry.
DEADEYE - Informative call by an airborne laser designator indicating the laser is inoperative.
DEPLOY - Directive for the flight to maneuver to brief positioning.
DIVERT - Proceed to alternate mission/base.
DOLLY - Data link equipment.
ELEMENT - Formation of two aircraft.
ENGAGED - Maneuvering with the intent of achieving a kill. If no additional information is provided (bearing, range, etc.), ENGAGED implies visual/radar acquisition of target.
ETA - Estimated Time of Arrival.
EYEBALL - Fighter with primary visual identification responsibility.
FADED - Previous radar contact is lost.
FEET WET/DRY - Flying over water/land.
FENCE - Boundary separating hostile and friendly area.
FENCE CHECK - Set cockpit switches as appropriate.
FLARES - Flares have been detected or directive to deploy flares.
FLASH - Temporary activation of IFF transponder on desired mode/code.
FLOAT - Directive/informative to expand the formation laterally within visual limits to maintain a radar contact or prepare for a defensive response.
FOLLOW DOLLY - Follow data-link commands.
FOX - Air-to-air weapons employment.
FOX ONE - Simulated/actual launch of radar-guided missile.
FOX TWO - Simulated/actual launch of infrared-guided missile.
FOX THREE - Simulated/actual launch of AMRAAM/Phoenix missile.
FOX FOUR - Bomber gunner has simulated firing on a target.
FOX MIKE - VHF/FM radio.
FURBALL - A turning fight involving multiple aircraft.
GADGET - Fire control radar.
GO SECURE - Activate secure voice communications.
GORILLA - Large force of indeterminable numbers and formation.
GREEN (Direction) - Direction determined to be clearest of enemy air-to-air activity.
HEADS DOWN - Call to inform aircrew that leader/wingman is head-down in the cockpit and wingman/leader is responsible for clearing.
HEADS UP - Enemy/bogey got through; no kill.
HOLDING HANDS - Aircraft in visual formation.
HOME PLATE - Home airfield.
HOT - In context, attack geometry will result in rollout in front of the target.
HOTEL FOX - HF radio.
HOUND DOG - Informative call from support fighter to engaged fighter within visual arena that a shot opportunity exists. Implies tally/visual.
JINK - Unpredictable maneuvers to negate a gun tracking solution.
JOKER - separation/bugout/event termination should begin.
KILL - Directive to commit on target with clearance to fire; in training, a fighter call to indicate kill criteria have been fulfilled.
MICKEY - Have Quick time-of-day (TOD) signal.
MIDNIGHT - Informative call advising that command and control functions (GCI/AWACS) are no longer available.
MUSIC - Electronic radar jamming. On AI radar, electronic deceptive jamming.
NO JOY - Aircrew does not have visual contact with the target/bandit; opposite of term "TALLY."
PACKAGE - Geographically isolated collection of groups/contacts/formations.
PADLOCKED - Informative call indicating aircrew cannot take eyes off an aircraft/ground target without risk of losing tally/visual.
PAINT - Friendly AAI/APX interrogation.
PIGEONS - Magnetic bearing and range to a specified point.
PLAYTIME - Amount of time aircraft can remain on station.
POINT - Directive for an element either to turn toward each other as a defensive response or to reestablish a mutually supportive formation.
POP - Starting climb for air-to-surface attack.
POPEYE - Flying in clouds or area of reduced visibility.
POSIT - Request for position; response normally in terms of a geographic landmark, or off a common reference point.
POST ATTACK (Direction) - WD transmission to indicate desired direction after completion of intercept/engagement.
POST HOLE - Rapid descending spiral.
POWER - Reminder to set the throttles appropriately considering the IR threat and desired energy state.
PRESS - Directive to continue the attack; mutual support will be maintained. Supportive role will be assumed.
PUMP - A briefed maneuver to stop closure on the threat or geographical boundary while maintaining situation awareness.
PURE - Call indicating pure pursuit is being used or directive call to go pure pursuit.
PUSH (Channel) - Go to designated frequency.
ROGER - Indicates aircrew understands the radio transmission; does not indicate compliance or reaction.
SANDWICHED - A situation where an aircraft/element finds themselves between opposing aircraft/elements.
SEPARATE - Leaving a specific engagement; may or may not reenter.
SHADOW - Follow indicated target.
SICK - Described equipment is degraded.
SILENT - "GO SILENT" directive to initiate briefed EMCON procedures.
SPARKLE - Target marking by a gunship or FAC using incendiary rounds.
SPLASH* - Target destroyed (air-to-air); weapons impact (air-to-ground).
SPOOFING - Informative that voice deception is being employed.
SPOT - Informative that laser target designation is being received.
SQUAWK - Operate IFF as indicated or IFF is operating as indicated.
STACK - Two or more groups/contacts/formations with a high/low altitude separation in relation to each other.
STATUS - Request for an individual's tactical situation; response is normally "offensive," "defensive," or "neutral." May be suffixed by position and heading.
STINGER - Formation of two or more aircraft with a single in trail.
STRANGER - Unidentified traffic that is not a participant in the mission.
STRANGLE - Turn off equipment indicated.
SUPPORTING - The act of assisting the engaged fighter in killing the bandit while maintaining overall battle situation awareness.
TALLY - Sighting of a target/bandit; opposite of "NO JOY."
TARGET- Specification of sort responsibility.
TIED - Positive radar contact with element/aircraft.
TRACK - A series of related contacts indicating direction of travel.
TRAIL - Tactical formation of two or more aircraft following one another.
TRASHED - Informative call; missile in flight has been defeated.
TUMBLEWEED - Indicates limited situation awareness; no tally, no visual; a request for information.
VICTOR - VHF/AM radio.
VISUAL - Sighting of a friendly aircraft; opposite of "BLIND."
WEEDS - Indicates that aircraft are operating close to the surface.
WILCO - Will comply with received instructions.
ZIPPER - Acknowledge radio transmissions with two clicks of the mike button.
Part One
Life Changes in a Flash
“My responsibility, our responsibility as lucky Americans, is to try to give back to this country as much as it has given us, as we continue our American journey together.”
Colin Powell
Prologue
Alex lined his equipment on the table before them. They were ready and had finally been given the
green light. Tomorrow they would complete their mission and then bug out before anyone even noticed a group of Americans was at the scene. Alex blended in well in some countries, but in this one he wore a hat to cover his blonde military style cut hair and blue eyes, at least his skin was dark from being in the sun and when he let his facial hair grow out, he could dye it a darker color. He was boyishly handsome, with a round face and charming smile when he wasn’t brooding all of the time.
Since they came to the Middle East, they had been stuck in the two-bedroom apartment, twelve men in such a tight space, thank god for their training or someone would have been hurt.
“Hey, Boyscout,” said Frank as he walked and slapped him in the back of the head.
That fucking call sign, when the men came into the SEALs they were given a call sign, one of the trainers told Alex he looked like a boy scout, hence the call sign.