First Army's 177th Armored Brigade partners for readiness

FORT HOOD, Texas -- A Soldier in a tank turret patiently scans his sector for enemy movement while Soldiers dismount and conduct defensive operations around their perimeter. An explosion shakes the ground and smoke appears in the far distance.

For these Soldiers of the Kansas Army National Guard's Company A, 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 137th Infantry Regiment, the Multi-Echelon Integrated Brigade Training in which they and thousands of others are participating this month is an exciting opportunity to sharpen combat skills in a tough and realistic environment.

"The MIBT was a design between First Army and other leaders to come up with a training opportunity for National Guard brigade combat teams," said Col. Brandon Robbins, commander of First Army's 177th Armored Brigade, headquartered at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. "It provides additional complexities that are not normally found in certain training events."

The MIBT's focus is 100 percent on direct action training, from company to platoon level, Robbins added. "The advantage of the MIBT allows the [Mississippi Army National Guard's 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team] to bring other components, such as the U.S. Army Reserve, to integrate into their combat teams and employ mission command and set up the conditions for those companies and platoons to train hard."

The MIBT maximizes collective training value, supports increased readiness capacity and provides an environment similar to the combat training centers at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California, and the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana. The MIBT gives participating BCTs and other units a preview of what to expect when they train at the National Training Center next year.

Approximately 5,000 active-duty, Army Reserve and Army National Guard Soldiers, and Air Force Airmen are participating in this year's MIBT, which continues through June 24.

"The MIBT is creating an environment for a lot of training to take place throughout the depth of this exercise," said Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Colt, commanding general of First Army Division West, headquartered at Fort Hood. "It is directly attributed to excellent planning and cooperation between the training audience and First Army [observer coach/trainers]. We are seeing all components participate and the true integration of the [Active and Reserve] Components."

Col. Jeffrey Van, 155th ABCT commander, said getting his unit to the MIBT was a joint effort.

"This is the [155th ABCT's] first execution of a MIBT, and we collaborated with First Army's 177th Armored Brigade, the 3rd Brigade Combat Team and the 1st Cavalry Division," Van said.

"One of the unique aspects of this MIBT, Van said, is that all the participating units, including those operating as the opposing force, are achieving their commander's training objectives."

OC/Ts from the 177th Armored Brigade are advising and evaluating the participating units.

Sgt. 1st Class Justin Mansfield, an OC/T with 1st Battalion, 305th Armored Regiment, 177th Armored Brigade, said this training exercise gives Soldiers the opportunity to become more proficient in their skills and take back lessons learned back to their home stations.

Each battalion and squadron in the MIBT conducted training missions based on their specific war-time missions in a direct-action combat environment.

Sgt. Clifton Lankford, a fire control repairer assigned to the Mississippi Army National Guard's Company B, 106th Brigade Support Battalion said these types of exercises are very important for his Soldiers to learn from their mistakes, become proficient and be ready for any future missions and training at the NTC.

"The OC/Ts have helped us tremendously by giving us feedback after each mission and sharing their wealth of knowledge and experience as we continuously improve."

Capt. Michael Hayes, commander of the Kansas Army National Guard's Company A, 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 137th Infantry Regiment said the MIBT helps his unit develop readiness, challenges his Soldiers by training in an unfamiliar environment and prepares them for future deployments.

"It allows us to develop our own technique, build our own leadership styles and traits that can really help them become proficient in their skills," he said.

This type of exercise bonds active- and reserve-component units and allows them to get to know each other and build a stronger force, Hayes added.

MIBT events like this are specifically designed to fully leverage the incorporation of Active and Reserve Components in accordance with the Army's Total Force Policy. First Army is tasked by United States Army Forces Command to implement the ATFP, which directs active-component, National Guard, and United States Army Reserve commanders to integrate their Soldiers and unit capabilities into pre-mobilization collective training events to increase readiness and prepare for deployment as multi-component expeditionary forces.

Sgt. 1st Class William Lindler, an observer coach/trainer with 1st Battalion, 305th Armored Regiment, 177th Armored Brigade agreed that the partnership between the Reserve and Active Components is important.

"The National Guard and the Reserve make up a significant portion of our nation's defense, so the partnership allows us to be on the same sheet of music," Lindler said. "When we do get deployed, it is a seamless transition, and we are allowed to fight, take care of each other, and bring each other home. We all learn together, we are in this together and we train together."