2CR trains troops for Afghan deployment

By Spc. Joshua Edwards, 2nd Cavalry Regiment Public AffairsMarch 11, 2013

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2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Pvt. Marques Purvis (left) and Pfc. Takeva Wilson both with Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, Regimental Support Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, prepare plates of hot food during the regiment's Mission Readiness Exercise in Hohenfels, March 4. The... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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HOHENFELS, Germany -- The 2nd Cavalry Regiment began its Mission Readiness Exercise at the Hohenfels Training Area, here, March 3. Over the next three weeks the exercise will provide essential training to prepare and certify troops to advise and assist Afghan National Security Forces during 2CR's upcoming deployment.

The regiment will serve as a Security Force Assistance Brigade and build and train specialized Security Force Assistance Advisory Teams who will be responsible for advising and assisting security operations performed by the Afghan National Security Forces throughout the assigned region as they refine tactics and conduct security operations independently.

"The key to success to Afghanistan is transitioning Afghanistan to an Afghan lead," said Douglas A. Sims, 2CR commander. "If an SFAAT is able to advise an Afghan battalion staff to the point where they are capable of conducting, planning and executing their own operations, then that SFAAT is no longer necessary in that location, or in Afghanistan, that battalion is now fully functional. In the end, success for the SFAAT is not being an SFAAT."

Even though the MRE just started, leaders within the regiment look forward to a successful and informative training cycle producing well-trained and ready troops.

"We have been here for a few days and it's already been fabulous," said Sims. "As long as everybody's learning something every day and as long as we take this opportunity to capitalize on lessons learned, we will come out of this a ready regiment, a regiment that's ready to go to Afghanistan and succeed."

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