Medics from 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division work together to assess, stabilize and transport a "casualty" to levels of care at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, Calif. Soldiers of ...

Spc. Mauro Perez, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division pulls security outside the unit's command post. Soldiers of 1-12 Cav. are supporting the 3rd Cavalry Regiment and working with Soldiers from...

An M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle from 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division provides rear security within a convoy in the "box" at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, Calif. The Soldiers o...

Two M1A2 Abrams tanks from 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division maneuver to a defensive posture to provide security in the "box" of the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, Calif. Soldiers of ...

By 1st Lt. Roque Mesa

3rd ABCT UPAR, 1st Cavalry Division

FORT IRWIN, Calif. -- Amid sunny skies and cool temps, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment "Chargers," 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division are waging "war" at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, California.

Chargers' Soldiers arrived in the "box" Feb. 7 in support of 3rd Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division Decisive Action rotation. While the training enhances the Chargers tactical skills, they are not going about their mission alone.

Much of 1-12 Cav's ongoing success is based on their ability to work with other 3rd ABCT enabler units like Company C, 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, and Company A, 3rd Engineer Battalion, who are working alongside 1-12 Cav during the month-long training exercise.

"Some units forget how to use engineers," said 1st Sgt. Theodore Braunch, first sergeant of Co. A, 3rd Engineer Battalion, who said the Chargers are making good use of his unit. "Working with 1-12 Cav. is a very good experience, and the engineers have been supported far better than I've seen before."

Charger-Engineer coordination started with the planning process and has continued during the NTC rotation to make sure the training goes off without a hitch.

For example, 2-82 FA and 3d CR use two different and incompatible logistics management computer systems. Because 1-12 Cav uses both systems, they are able to help 2-82 FA to order maintenance parts.

The sentiment among the Greywolf enabler units is mutual.

"NTC is a learning experience among different types of units, wherein communication is essential," said 1st Lt. Maria Buser, executive officer of Forward Support Company J, 1-12 Cav. "The 1-12 Cav. has been doing many battalion-level exercises, so linking in with higher units is good training. Working with other types of units generates great combat multipliers with unique skill sets that make a difference in battlefield scenarios."