FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- The 7th Engineer Battalion and 1st Brigade Special Troops Battalion took to the field Aug. 11-17 to train as a combined battalion for the first time. The two battalions are merging to provide enhanced maneuver support capabilities as part of a larger 10th Mountain Division (LI) restructure.
Soldiers spent time training on marksmanship, and engineer, signal, intelligence and logistics Soldiers assigned to the battalions trained on core specialty skills. However, this was the first time the two units have trained collectively as 7th Brigade Engineer Battalion.
"To this point, the two battalions have had a lot of integration in the areas of administrative actions, (family readiness group) events and transformation planning," said Lt. Col. James DePolo, 1st BSTB commander. "The combined field training really allowed for uninterrupted tactical integration of the two battalions."
Soldiers from A Company, 1st BSTB, and 693rd Engineer Company (Sapper) spent their time conducting patrol base operations, training on obstacle emplacement and breaching with demolitions. The 693rd Engineer Company also trained its horizontal engineers by digging survivability positions for the 427th Brigade Support Battalion of the New York Army National Guard, while A Company, 1st BSTB dug in their own patrol base using Interim High Mobility Engineering Excavators.
Soldiers of B Company, 1st BSTB, the military intelligence company, supported operations with their Shadow unmanned aerial system, serving as both flight training and an aerial retransmission source to ensure communications for the battalions. They also trained on human intelligence interrogation techniques and tested their analysts by practicing analog intelligence estimate and tracking techniques.
"They learned that there are other ways of doing their job than computer systems, which don't always work," said Staff Sgt. David Kauffman, a squad leader assigned to B Company, 1st BSTB.
Forward Support Company, 7th Engineer Battalion, tackled the significant challenges of resupplying a decentralized battalion training concept and ensured that Soldiers were fed, trucks were fueled and ammunition was available at every range. Noncommissioned officers from the company took the lead to train all of their Soldiers on field craft, battle drills and digging fighting positions.
"Working with the FSC was a good experience," said 1st Lt. Lyla Furey, executive officer of B Company, 1st BSTB. "We're not used to having an FSC to support us. It was a pleasant surprise to have a fueler located on our route out from the field instead of waiting in line at the fuel point."
The 630th Engineer Company, 7th Engineer Battalion's rear detachment, conducted a forward operating base deconstruction mission for Fort Drum Range Control. Their horizontal engineers removed wire and HESCO Bastions and leveled the ground to improve the training area. Between those tasks, Soldiers trained on basic Sapper tasks to prepare for any engineer mission.
Soldiers from the Headquarters and Headquarters companies from 1st BSTB and 7th Engineer Battalion combined as a staff to work through tactical operations center and tactical assembly area operations. The company NCOs trained Soldiers on camouflage net emplacement to improve concealment. Staff officers and NCOs spent the week in a challenging scenario that incorporated the military decision-making process while multiple scenarios were added each day to test the battle staff's ability to react and plan in a realistic decisive action environment.
"The combined training was a great opportunity for the two battalions that will form the future (brigade engineer battalion) to synchronize our staff operations so that the 7th BEB is postured for a smooth transition," said Capt. Everett A. Joyner, S1, 1st BSTB. "It was great getting to know the Soldiers (who) I will be working with (and) learning their skill sets and capabilities as we go forward."
Beyond the Soldier skills and battalion operations, 7th Engineer Battalion and 1st BSTB supported continuous range operations to qualify troops on their individually assigned and crew-served wea-pons. The training was focused on qualifying companies for the Division Marksmanship Streamer.
"The 10th Mountain Division's marksmanship training -- focused on a quality zero, familiarization and individual shooter confidence -- resulted in some impressive results," said Staff Sgt. Ralph W. Beaty, 7th Engineer Battalion master gunner. "The 693rd averaged 33 out of 40 hits, our combined HHCs averaged 31, and almost 50 percent of the battalions' shooters qualified as sharpshooter. This is a significant improvement over our scores using the basic rifle marksmanship training."
At the end of the week, after shooting more than 100,000 rounds, Soldiers were confident in their ability to accurately employ their weapons.
The field training has set up the Soldiers for success as 7th Engineer Battalion and 1st BSTB become the 7th Brigade Engineer Battalion in October for the next field training exercise. DePolo and Lt. Col. Michael Clancy, 7th Engineer Battalion commander, left the exercise feeling extremely confident in the future 7th BEB and its capabilities.
The 1st Brigade Combat Team will be well-supported by the specialty skills these trained Soldiers can provide.
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