NVG training returns to 58th Transportation Battalion

By Ms. Dawn M Arden (Leonard Wood)June 19, 2014

NVG training returns to 58th Transportation Battalion
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Company C, 58th Transportation Battalion, has reintroduced night vision goggles, or NVG, familiarization into their Field Training Exercises as part of 3rd Chemical Brigade's move to more expeditionary-based training.

3rd Brigade began its movement towards the "back-to-the basics" training last fall following guidance set forth by the Chief of Staff of the Army saying that the Total Army should be able to rapidly deploy, fight, sustain itself and win in "austere environments and rugged terrain."

Capt. Anthony Addison, Co. C commander, said they are in the process of bringing back some of the basic skills that have been pushed aside due to time constraints during the Army's requirement to get Soldiers immediately ready to deploy.

Addison said the NVG familiarization was added into the FTX portion so it wouldn't interfere with their required training during the 88M's six week, four day Advanced Individual Training course.

Addison said it is important for young Soldiers to learn basic Soldiering skills.

"These changes came about due to the understanding that realistic training is what saves the lives of Soldiers," Addison said. "NVGs are used throughout the Army and for some of the trainees just introducing them to this technology is beneficial for future missions."

Addison said that he has been getting positive feedback from the Soldiers-in-training.

Pvt. Michael Gonzales, Soldier-in-training, said that receiving this training has been beneficial and that he feels more confident going to his new unit after graduation.

"We got to do hands-on training," Gonzales said. "We learned about them (NVGs) in basic but we didn't get hands-on, here we did. I really liked it."

Addison said he looks forward to adding more basic skills.

"As with any training goals, it is the intent of the trainer to provide the greatest amount of knowledge to the trainee with the least amount of loss, so that the training is beneficial and helpful for future requirements," Addison said. "The next step will be to interrogate the tie-down procedures into the FTX for the purpose of exposing the trainees to what will be expected of them once they in-process to their first unit."

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