McGREGOR RANGE, N.M. -- The 1st Battalion, 361st Engineer Regiment, Task Force Redhawk, 5th Armored Brigade, recently conducted three days of patrolling fundamentals and two days of mounted combat patrol live fire exercises with National Guardsmen of the 1223rd Vertical Engineer Company, based out of Summerville, S.C.
The company is a mix of carpenters, masons, plumbers, electricians, and heavy equipment operators who will serve as part of the Central Command Material Retrograde Element, expected to conduct deconstruction missions during the drawdown of U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
"Our unit is still in the honeymoon phase," said 2nd Lt. Thomas Kaiser, platoon leader for 1st Platoon, 1223rd Engineer Company. "This training was great because the noncommissioned officers are seeing what their roles in theater are going to be as well as seeing what we can expect downrange in terms of our equipment set."
The unit's training with Task Force Redhawk also included mounted and dismounted fundamentals of patrolling, improvised explosive device indicators and detection techniques, enemy structure, and the latest intelligence on their soon-to-be area of operations.
Not only did Task Force Redhawk trainers guide the unit and show them better ways to conduct their mission, they also prepared them in case they have to execute a medical evacuation.
"We want them to react correctly to a very stressful situation, in a timely manner during the MEDEVAC portion of our range," said Sgt. Anderson Tejada, a two-year Trainer-Mentor with Task Force Redhawk. "We are ingraining in them the concept 'train as you fight.'"
At the end of the week, the company went through two days of MCPLFX. For most, this training was the first time using the Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles, the same type of vehicle they will use in Afghanistan. The unit established and improved their tactical standard operating procedures, which can be described as a set of directives that guide day-to-day operations.
"Our SOP is a living, breathing document," said Kaiser. "Just the opportunity to build upon it made the training incredibly valuable."
Related Links:
Like Division West on Facebook
See Division West photos on Flickr
Social Sharing