470th MI Brigade Soldiers combine survivability, technical training

By Gregory Ripps, 470th MI Brigade Public AffairsMay 21, 2010

IV Stick
Spc. Roberto Rodriguez, of the 401st Military Intelligence Company, practices an IV stick on Sgt. Rafael Del Toro, of the 717th MI Battalion, who is holding the saline solution to be injected into him. These 470th MI Brigade Soldiers demonstrated the... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas -- With the goal of developing and maintaining highly adaptive and highly mobile modular Signal Intelligence survey teams, the 470th Military Intelligence Brigade is combining aspects of both technical and survival skills in its training.

The combination includes not only training with the latest collection and survey equipment but also training to "shoot, move, communicate and medicate" in challenging environments.

"This combination of technical and survivability training is the crux of the brigade's expeditionary mindset," said Sgt. Maj. Robert Suttner, of the brigade S3 (operations and training).

"This advanced skills training concept has already proven successful with force protection detachments and counterintelligence personnel operating in Southern Command."

Soldiers of the 470th MI Brigade began training with a basic SIGINT theory course followed by collection training and demonstrations. Then they began their first phases of training in survivability, personal defense, combat medicine and driving tactics.

"The operating environment where SIGINT Soldiers will be working may be much different than that of Iraq or Afghanistan," Suttner explained.

"Our Soldiers may not only be exposed to the organizations that want to do our country harm but may also face a criminal element on a daily basis."

Krav Maga Worldwide Regional Training Center in San Antonio put the Soldiers in real-world personal defense situations that are applicable in everyday life as well as "down range," giving Soldiers choices other than just "going for the gun" in a life-threatening situation.

"Krav Maga training was one of the most unique training experiences I've had in my 15-year career," said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Alester Sumpter.

"I consider myself a physically fit Soldier, but Krav Maga required a different type of fitness level and toughness that can't be taught in a classroom environment; it requires heart. Krav Maga training uses your natural reaction to a threatening situation to enable you to defend, fight and survive."

Survivability training continued with a combat medical phase provided by Signature Operations in Austin, Texas. This three-day custom medical training event combined combat lifesaver and first responder courses and provided skills to assess and treat gunshot and knife wounds, and blunt force trauma.

"What makes our approach to training CLS different from the standard template for combat lifesaving is that we are not only training to CLS standards but also training to meet the unit's Mission Essential Task List," said John Dunn, the chief instructor.

The first two days of training were divided between classroom instruction and practical exercises. The third day culminated with a field training exercise in which students put their skills to the test.

Soldiers conducted tracheotomies and performed intravenous insertions. They even practiced a method to prevent tension pneumothorax (which results when blunt force trauma causes the air-filled lung within the chest to burst open and collapse).

Since training, the Soldiers continue to work with more in-depth technical and additional survivability skills for the SIGINT survey team.

"The 470th MI Brigade remains committed to being able to provide a highly trained and professional special survey capability, able to deploy anywhere within our area of operations, on short notice," said Suttner.