NCOs: C-IED 'Train the trainer' pilot launched at Fort Polk

FORT POLK, La. ---- The non-commissioned officer is the backbone of the Army. NCOs, from corporals to command sergeants major, are ultimately responsible for their Soldiers' training, appearance and welfare.

In recent years, the Army has given much of the training responsibility for certain skill sets to teams of civilians (all with extensive military/combat backgrounds) to help prepare Soldiers for deployment. The success rate of that training is more than adequate, but comes at price ---- it takes money to pay salaries, buy equipment and maintain teaching facilities.

So what's a budget-conscience Army with looming financial cuts from sequestration to do? One idea is to make NCOs, rather than civilians, responsible for more of the "specialized" training.

That's the idea behind the "Counter Improvised Explosive Device Train-the-Trainer Academy," currently offered by the Forces Command Counter IED Integration Cell, or CI2C, located at Polk Army Airfield.

The NCOs of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Patriots are the first group of students to go through the pilot program, said Roger Lewis, CI2C training integrator.

"This course will empower NCOs to train up their Soldiers in-house. The goal is to have one trained NCO per company," said Lewis. "FORSCOM is watching to see if the program is well received by the 3rd BCT, 10th Mtn Div … then they may do this FORSCOM-wide (and eventually Army-wide)."

The 120-hour course spans three weeks and covers all aspects of C-IED, including biometrics, site exploitation, handheld detectors, robotics, Counter-Radio controlled IED Electronic Warfare (CREW), homemade explosives and IED awareness. Rather than offer the training to individual Soldiers, this program saves time and money by training one NCO who returns to his unit and trains the rest of the team.

"We have plenty of materials and products available to facilitate that NCO's training (demonstrations) back at his unit. We give them the capability and teach them how to set up their own training lanes, and from there they can begin or continue a training program at their unit," said Mike Long, CI2C Cell.

"There is built-in flexibility to adjust for different deployment areas as needed," he said. "It strengthens the units from within by getting back to a mindset of Soldiers teaching Soldiers. It takes a holistic approach to training. Every unit should have a capable leader/expert/trainer for C-IED to enhance the survivability of that unit in theater. C-IED is every bit as important as marksmanship, PT and other warrior tasks."

Training is updated regularly, said Long, based on "the latest and greatest information according to trends observed downrange. Training is updated about every six months," he said.

One of the NCO students, Cpl. Cory R. Gaddis, said he would "absolutely recommend" other NCOs take the training.

"The curriculum allowed us to get hands-on training which greatly increased our knowledge of IED awareness and handheld detection devices," said Gaddis. "This training will allow us to pass along our knowledge to our Soldiers which will make them cognizant of IED threats and increase their survivability."

Lewis said the program is available for any NCO, at the request of their commander. This initial program, produced specifically for the 3rd BCT, 10th Mtn Div, came at the request of its commander, Col. Guy Jones.

"(Through this program,) commanders are enabling their NCOs to get this training and take it back to the units," said Lewis. "This falls in line with FORSCOM's initiative to have Soldiers training Soldiers and becoming the subject matter experts in the fields that apply to their jobs."