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 Dead Presidents--Training
Since only the set-up and character back-stories in the project involved service in Vietnam, we committed to a four-day training schedule in the Florida Everglades where portions of the film were to be shot. We selected a spooky, spongy and very damp site deep in the Glades and assembled the five actors involved. Warriors Inc. Cadre included the CO, XO, Sgt. Mark Ebenhoch, a former Marine and Sgt. Mike Edmiston, a former Army Ranger.
Since the area was rugged and riddled with potentially dangerous fauna such as alligators, snakes, spiders and biting insects, we focused initially on terrain appreciation, teaching the actors what to watch out for and where to look for it. We then established a team patrol base and began the basic work of weapons familiarization. Nothing heavier than the M16A1 rifle and M1911A1 pistol was involved, so we got to work teaching field maintenance, firing procedures and positions and combat reloads. In the swamp environment weapons maintenance was an hourly rather than daily requirement.
Since the actors were to portray Recon Marines, we moved quickly on to patrol procedures, noise and light discipline, stealthy movement in jungle terrain, land navigation and reconnaissance techniques. Each patrol that went out of the base had a specific mission, objective and time limit. They were instructed and then required to demonstrate their capabilities. Returning patrols went through a thorough post-mission de-brief and were required to produce a detailed terrain sketch as well as a SALUTE Report on enemy contacts to include all essential elements of information (Size, Activity, Location, Uniform, Tactics and Equipment).
Much of the training was done at night in rain and swamp fog that added to the realism but made conditions miserable for all concerned. Meals were limited to Long Range Patrol Rations and water. We used both food and sleep deprivation as training tools to help the actors understand how rugged long-range patrolling and reconnaissance work was on the men who engaged in that activity in Vietnam.
The Final Field Exercise was a day long patrol that required the Recon Team to receive the mission order, issue their own patrol order, navigate undetected to the objective, conduct a raid and then extract to the Team Patrol Base.
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