3-6th ADA Soldiers conquer capstone

By Mr James Brabenec (IMCOM)March 22, 2012

14t training
Pvt. Michelle Veselkov spots Pvt. Tommy Burgoon operating the launch control unit to position the Patriot missile launcher to its line of fire during the two Soldiers' capstone exercise May 15 at Fort Sill. The duo were nearing the end of their advan... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT SILL, Okla.-- Fifteen advanced individual training Soldiers in C Battery, 3rd Battalion, 6th Air Defense Artillery showed what they learned March 15 in their 10-week Patriot launcher enhanced operator and maintainer course.

Under the watchful eyes of Staff Sgt. Sarah Aldrich, AIT instructor for the 14T career field, and Sgt. 1st Class Keith Mason, branch chief, Pvts. Michelle Veselkov and Tommy Burgoon briskly moved through their multi-step capstone exercise.

"This is an accumulation of everything they learned here at AIT," said Aldrich. "The drills we teach are the same ones they will do when they go to their first duty stations; we teach them march order and emplacement, and reload."

Capt. Mark Garcia, C, 3-6 ADA commander, said because the Soldiers will be stationed in units that have both updated launchers and the previous version, Soldiers learn the Patriot Advanced Capability 3 and 2 launchers. The 2 series gives battlefield commanders four missiles, while the 3 series ratchets that number up exponentially. The new version offers up to 16 missiles. Though smaller than the 2 series weapons, Aldrich said instead of hitting near the target, the new missiles hit the intended target.

Working as a team, Veselkov and Burgoon trotted through their tasks. In each of the march order and placement exercises, the duo had 25 minutes to complete all tasks. Like folding up tents, stowing gear and moving to another location, a march order requires the Soldiers to pack up the launcher, hook its trailer to the transport truck and move to another site. Once there, placement involves all the details required to get it set up and ready to fire missiles.

Throughout the sequence, safety stayed at the forefront. From backing and parking the launcher with the assistance of a spotter, to placing fire extinguishers at easy to reach locations along each flank of the launcher, to stowing cables in specific locations before moving, the Soldiers showed precise practice paid off to accomplish their mission.

Aldrich said the instruction gives Soldiers a general idea of what their units will expect them to do. Time constraints limit what instructors and students can accomplish because each class only gets four to five weeks hands-on training before graduating.

"We expect the Soldiers to be motivated and have an understanding of the drill; once they get to their units they will train day after day to perfect what they started to learn here," she said.

She added some students arrive for training believing they are going to learn to fire the missiles, and part of the challenge is to instill in the fresh-from-Basic-Combat-Training Soldiers how vitally important their jobs are for commanders to fire missiles down range.

From the first to the final step, the two Soldiers maintained eye contact, affirming and communicating to ensure everything they completed met the exact requirements they learned. Whether backing up the truck, lowering or raising the outriggers or operating the launch control unit, one Soldier operates the mechanism while the other spots providing hand signals and shouts to start, stop or turn as needed.

"Communication is very important, because you need to know what your partner is doing and make sure you do everything safely and correctly," said Veselkov.

Before enlisting in the Army she worked in the food service industry and drove a small foreign car. The "ride" she boasts now is the launcher truck, something she trained extensively on for about 10 days.

"I certainly didn't expect to be doing something like this in the Army, but it's a lot more fun, and I stay plenty busy," said Veselkov.

Burgoon said the hands-on training really helped him memorize the steps that are his responsibility. Throughout the exercise he kept a note card handy as a reminder of what was expected of him. Garcia said instructors realize students learn in different ways and encourage students to find ways to help them learn their jobs.

Throughout the exercise Mason followed along marking a detailed checklist. The school faculty developed it after receiving feedback from Forces Command units stating what they wanted the new Soldiers to learn.

"Soldiers who complete this course can do the march order and placement along with preventive maintenance checks and services on the vehicle to make sure it will operate correctly," said the captain. "They will get more practice at their assigned units and will further improve what they've learned here."

As they raised the launcher and pivoted it to the specified angle of fire, the Soldiers reached the end of their exercise. Mason then huddled together with the Soldiers to give them feedback.

Relieved to have the exercise completed, Veselkov said there were a few things they could have done better, but overall it went well. With an assignment to Fort Bliss, Texas, coming after graduation she displayed a portion of that motivation Aldrich spoke about.

"I hope I get to work on launching stations a lot more and get to know the equipment even better," she said.