A day in the life of an infantryman at Combined Resolve III

By Sgt. William A. Parsons, 214th Mobile Public Affairs AttachmentNovember 21, 2014

A day in the life of an infantryman at Combined Resolve III
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – After dismounting his vehicle, 2nd Lt. Crockett Colbert, second from left, platoon leader for 2nd Platoon, Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, establishes radio contact with othe... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
A day in the life of an infantryman at Combined Resolve III
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – After being positioned into a vantage point by his team leader, Pvt. Jordyn T. Locasalesingleton from 2nd Platoon, Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, pulls security during a bri... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
A day in the life of an infantryman at Combined Resolve III
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – After successfully leading his troops through a demanding training exercise, Sgt. Austin Anderson, from 2nd Platoon, Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, briefly removes his eye p... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
A day in the life of an infantryman at Combined Resolve III
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Exhausted and cold, Pvt. Jordyn T. Locasalesingleton from 2nd Platoon, Alpha Company, 2nd Platoon, Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, catches his breath from carrying a casualty... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

GRAFENWOEHR, Germany (Novl. 21, 2014) -- Somewhere deep in the woods of Bavaria, an old beast wakes up. Its hooves are steel and its body is a fortress. Its head sits upon a swivel, its gaze a stream of rockets. And as its metal gears grind to life, the thing bellows a mighty roar, then charges through the forest.

The beast's official designation is the M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle. Most Soldiers, however, simply refer to it as "The Bradley." Built in response to the menacing Soviet BMP-1, the Bradley holds the distinct role of both tank and troop transporter. Its turret encapsulates a rocket launcher and possesses a 25 mm chain gun capable of shredding everything from light tanks to aircraft.

Yet the Bradley's most prized asset is its rear compartment, capable of protecting up to six fully-equipped infantrymen. Despite its fearsome power, Soldiers seem to have a love-hate relationship with the machine.

A 24-year-old infantryman, well over six feet tall, must nearly roll himself into a ball to fit inside its compartment. The Bradley hits an unexpected bump thrusting him up against its armored wall.

"You'll learn it ain't very comfortable back here," says Spc. Tyrell D. Brown.

Brown and the three other Soldiers from Bravo team -- all within the bowels of the Bradley -- are infantrymen out of Fort Hood, Texas. They belong to 2nd Platoon, Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division. These Soldiers are deployed here to participate in Combined Resolve III -- a multinational training exercise involving 18 countries from across Europe. The mission today: Seize and assault the enemy objective.

Today's event is an exercise in fire and maneuver, explains 2nd Lt. Crockett Colbert, the platoon's rookie leader.

"This event is an evaluation of a platoon leader's ability to maneuver his four Bradley sections and then his two assault squads on an objective," says Colbert. "The Bradleys do a support-by-fire and attack-by-fire, and then the squads actually get out and assault and clear a building."

For Brown and the rest of Bravo team, this simply means they are expected to slog across unforgiving terrain and attack a simulated enemy compound.

But until it is time to dismount, however, the platoon must sit in the dark -- or, rather, sleep, as all four men appear to be unfazed by the situation. The ride in the Bradley is bumpy. After 40 minutes of driving, waiting, and driving again, the machine finally lurches to a halt.

"Prepare to dismount," Colbert declares through the small radio inside the Bradley.

The hydraulic ramp opens and infantryman spring from the beast's gaping maw. Teams link up with squads, squads link up with the platoon leader, and the platoon leader orients himself toward the objective. The exchange is quick, and before anyone has time to catch their breath, the Bradleys roll off.

After several minutes of hushed radio communication, Colbert gestures to his squad leaders. It's time to move.

There is the faint clinking, rustling and breathing of Soldiers as they begin their march through the thick vegetation. The air is chilled and the earth is wet. With the Bradleys gone, the infantrymen now have only their grit and each other to depend on for safety.

The journey is difficult, but the Soldiers move smoothly and on schedule despite their heavy load-out.

The term often used to describe these infantrymen is "Light Infantry." But among the weapons, ammunition, radios, body armor, breach kits, medical kits and water, the word "light" seems only an unspoken cruel joke. Depending on their job within the team, each Soldier might be carrying 60 to 100 pounds of gear.

Time goes by. The Soldiers trek on. Soon, the platoon reaches the crest of a hill. Again, Colbert signals to his squads.

The platoon splits into two groups -- an assault group and a support-by-fire group. The former will attack the enemy compound beyond this hill. The latter group positions itself atop the hill, readying to suppress the enemy until their comrades near the buildings.

What occurs next unfolds at a dizzying speed.

There is gunfire, there is sprinting, there is Colbert ordering the hill to shift-fire. There is smoke, there is Bravo team, there is Brown, there is room clearing, there is a squad leader shouting to seize the next building. There is kicking, there is a broken door, there is sweat, and there is a cry, "L-O-A!"

And finally, there is a successfully cleared enemy compound.

"That felt good," Brown whispers. "We did what we trained to do."

Typically, American assault forces spend no more than 10 minutes at a seized enemy location. Possible retaliation of enemy reinforcements or artillery strikes resonates in every infantryman's mind. No wasting time. The assault group re-consolidates ammunition, checks for casualties, and then promptly leaves.

Colbert remarks later that the troops make his job easy.

"The movement through the woods was outstanding," Colbert says proudly. "The guys did a great job."

The platoon reunites, and hastily moves back to the pick-up site. There, the beasts rumble once more through the woods to swallow Soldiers.

And the young specialist curls into a ball in the belly of the beast.

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