Fit to fight: Currahees conduct Individual Readiness Training

Fit to fight: Currahees conduct Individual Readiness Training

By Sgt. David Cox, 4th Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky -- Rear-detachment Soldiers with the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division took steps toward their next rendezvous with destiny by completing Individual Readiness Training, Tuesday June 25, 2013 at Fort Campbell, Ky.

The training took place over five days consisting of classes and training enables that Soldiers are competent in basic Soldier skills and gives insight into culture of Afghanistan.

"IRT is training that we put together to prepare in the most basic manner, Soldiers that are possibly going to deploy," Said Sgt. 1st Class Michael Ledbetter, the IRT non-commissioned officer in-charge for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th BCT. "That way if there is anybody that needs to be replaced down range, we got soldiers that are fully-capable and prepared.

The class was a mix of Soldiers who have yet to deploy and Veterans who see the training as a benefit to the new soldiers.

"I like to think of it as a good refresher on all the different things you encounter when you're overseas," said Sgt. Simeon Siudyla, a team leader with HHC, 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th BCT. "It's very important especially for the new guys who haven't experienced [deployment] yet."

U.S. Army Sgt Jeremy Dantzler, a team leader with Troop C, 1st Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th BCT, 101st Abn. Div., said that IRT can be informative for Soldiers.

"They can get more information about IEDs and what to expect on a deployment give them a little 'heads up' not just taking them and throwing them on a deployment," He said. "Without this you can't just throw them in a combat zone and not know Eagle First Responder, or not be able to shoot their weapon."

Eagle First Responder is the 101st Airborne Division's version of the Army combat lifesaver course designed to teach Soldiers the basic skills necessary to save lives on the battlefield.

Although all the Currahees who completed this session of IRT may not deploy, Ledbetter stressed the importance of having Soldiers ready if needed.

"What it comes down to, every Soldier needs to know how to do their war-time mission whatever it may be, whether they are a mechanic or a cook or an infantryman. There are a lot of common skills that we have to know how to do. [IRT] reinforces that."