VESZPREM, Hungary - Cavalry Scouts assigned to 2nd Platoon, Outlaw Troop, 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment participated in a live-fire exercise at Bakony Combat Training Centre, Veszprem, Hungary Oct. 2 during Exercise Brave Warrior.
The squadron is in Hungary training with the 25th Infantry Brigade, Hungarian Defense Forces, to enhance interoperability, increase operational readiness and strengthen allied relationships.
For several members of the team, including 1st Lt. Nick Preskar, this is their first large exercise with the platoon. Preskar became the platoon leader a month prior to movement and is pretty impressed with his platoon.
"After being in the field with them and conducting these exercises is when you get to know them the best," Preskar said. "They want to learn and that is what I love seeing most."
Scouts are the ones who conduct reconnaissance to paint the picture of what is going on ahead of the Regiment. They gather information such as terrain, enemy size and location.
They take note of routes that different types of vehicles will be able to pass through and look for the enemies supply lines. All this information is sent back to the larger element behind them for commanders to assess.
"It is like we are used to sense where the enemy is trying to get in," said Preskar. "And we're that first line of protection and detection for our main body."
The 2nd Platoon, along with the rest of Outlaw Troop, prepared for live-fire training the day before with a dry run. The dry run was used to refine the overall plan of how they will accomplish their mission.
"There is a lot involved in a live-fire exercise. We usually have a bunch of levels of rehearsals before we do a live range," Preskar said. "We can use this time to refine our plan."
Before driving onto the range, each platoon leader receives an operation order from troop command. They, in turn, brief their team and devise a plan.
"The troop gives us a situation of say enemy moving north to south into our vicinity and the targets (on the range) act as the proposed enemy in the OPORD (Operation Order,)" Preskar explained.
During their iteration, 2nd Platoon moved across the range in different stages, called phase lines, using their M1126 Stryker Combat Vehicles. From line-to-line they conducted a zone reconnaissance with the Long Range Advanced Scout Surveillance System, which gives them the ability to detect, recognize and identify distant targets.
When the Stryker is unable to maneuver through the terrain or too large to keep concealed from the enemy, they deploy their dismounts through the rear hatch.
Dismounted scouts can move forward and hide in the underbrush to observe enemy forces and find possible routes for their vehicles.
"They are kind of like our recon," explained Preskar. "Our whole platoon is early detection for the troop and the squadron."
"They can provide us with more detailed information on what it is actually like being on the ground," he added.
Pvt. Joseph Hamilton, a member of the platoon for only three months, became the dismounted team leader right before they arrived in Hungary. He makes sure his scouts are ready to head out.
"I make sure we have everything we need: ammunition, weapons and not bringing too much along," Hamilton said. "I am pretty much a guide to the other Soldiers."
When Hamilton was assigned his new position, he thought he was being put on the spot because some of the Soldiers he leads out rank him. But as the training exercise continues, he sees it as an opportunity.
"It's giving me a more in-depth look at why we do stuff, and a whole lot more responsibility," Hamilton said. "I'm learning the reason we do this or that. I am not just the driver or an M240 machine gunner."
Throughout the two-day training objective, Preskar has been able to rely on his whole platoon to provide input for their plan to move forward to enemy lines. He and his platoon sergeant want to train each of the Soldiers at least two levels above their position.
"Instead of just thinking one level above or at the current level, we like to try to help them reach two levels above," Preskar said. "We think drivers should be able to ultimately know how to get on the weapon and the gunner should know how to do a section sergeant's or squad leader's job"
The whole team has been up to the challenge. After each iteration, everyone in the platoon participates in an after action review (AAR) with the troop and squadron leadership who give them recommendations on how to improve.
"So, everything they are telling us, our guys including (the medic), are writing it down and they are fixing it on the next run we go on. It really nice to see," Preskar said proudly of his Soldiers.
Every time 2nd Platoon is moving forward on the range, everyone is alert and paying attention to what is going on. When their plans need to be altered in route, Preskar takes suggestions.
"We have an open relationship, so everybody thinks about recommendations, they send it up to me and it really pays off dividends," said Preskar. "I am honestly shocked out there when they send me up this stuff and it's from a private."
Preskar emphasized on his opinion of the platoon and how proud he was of them.
"They really are doing well," said Preskar. "These guys are, I think, the best platoon in the squadron."
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