'Buffalos' strengthen lethal platoons, combat power

By Spc. Maricris CosejoMarch 5, 2015

'Buffalos' strengthen lethal platoons, combat power
1 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Stryker team from 4th Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas, prepare to engage enemy during a platoon live fire exercise at Malakhand Live Fire Village, Oro Grande, N.M., Feb. 24, ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
'Buffalos' strengthen lethal platoons, combat power
2 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Infantrymen from 4th Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas, head out to the village during a platoon live fire exercise at Malakhand Live Fire Village, Oro Grande, N.M., Feb. 24, 2... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
'Buffalos' strengthen lethal platoons, combat power
3 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Infantrymen from 4th Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas, head out to the village during a platoon live fire exercise at Malakhand Live Fire Village, Oro Grande, N.M., Feb. 24, 2... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
'Buffalos' strengthen lethal platoons, combat power
4 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Pfc. Christopher Elliott, infantryman with 1st Platoon, C Company, 4th Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, pulls security during a platoon live fire exercise at Malakhand Live Fire Village, Oro Gr... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
'Buffalos' strengthen lethal platoons, combat power
5 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Infantrymen from 4th Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas, clear out the village during a platoon live fire exercise at Malakhand Live Fire Village, Oro Grande, N.M., Feb. 24, 201... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ORO GRANDE, N.M. - Throughout history, the 4th Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas, set their main goal to build combat power to prepare for future operations.

As part of the continued effort to develop combat power, the infantrymen of 4-17 Infantry Regiment conducted a platoon live fire training exercise from Feb. 20 to March 1, 2015, at Malakhand Live Fire Village here.

"This training exercise main purpose is to train lethal platoons to be able to close-in and destroy the enemies on varying conditions whenever needed," said Maj. Lucas Yoho, 4-17 Infantry Regiment operations officer.

The leaders applied a unique approach during the training exercise in preparing their Soldiers for combat operations.

"This training exercise is really unique because we are making it as realistic as possible and we're integrating all our enablers across all war-fighting functions to ensure that it is tough," said Yoho.

Soldiers were trained to improve their combat skills during the exercise by integrating other elements to add difficulty to the mission at hand.

"We have indirect fire, weapons teams and we use human assets as well, so we can get all the war-fighting functions in," said Yoho. "We're starting to reintegrate Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear training back into our live fire exercise and get all those enablers and to really stress the platoon leader to make him a better leader and ultimately make those platoons more lethal in the battle."

The 4th Battalion is one of the remaining active battalions under 17th Infantry Regiment, also known as the "Buffalos," bears a proud and distinguished history. The 4-17 Infantry Regiment carries the legacy of the "Buffalos" before them as they continuously strengthen their combat power.

"By making the 'Buffalos' a more lethal fighting force, showing them that training events at this level are lethal and mission-focused, so that when we do deploy in combat they'll be more prepared to deal with the enemies of our country," said Command Sgt. Maj. Brian Morneault, 4-17 Infantry Regiment command sergeant major.

The infantrymen are being trained to be well-prepared for future combat operations whenever the country needs them.