125th BSB, 3rd IBCT "Mustangs" conduct their first CLFX at McGregor

MCGREGOR RANGE, N.M. (April 16, 2010) -- "Mustang" Soldiers from 125th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, participated in a six-day Convoy Live-Fire Exercise on Range 38 at McGregor Range, N.M, April 11-17. The field exercise was the Mustangs' first since the stand-up of the 3rd IBCT in August 2009.

While multiple facets of training occurred over the week, the main focus was on the CLFX. Accompanied by observer-controllers from throughout the battalion, companies mounted High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles and headed out to Main Supply Route "Mustang" where the heavy training began. In all, 32 convoy exercises were carried out over the battalion's week-long stay at Range 38.

Companies started with "dry runs," which were more like walk-throughs of the scenarios, then progressed to firing blanks, which eventually culminated into the use of live ammunition near the end of each training iteration.

Amid warm spring temperatures along the multi-mile route, Mustang leadership threw multiple scenarios their Soldiers' way. Armed with Defense Advanced GPS Receivers, observer-controllers initiated improvised explosive attacks on random convoy vehicles, and 125th BSB Soldiers reacted by not only towing the damaged Humvees to safer positions along the road, but extracted wounded Soldiers and secured them before transporting them on foot to a rally point to a medical evacuation helicopter landing zone. They also trained on foot patrol maneuvers and initiated "calls for fire" after receiving indirect fire on their units.

While the convoys were mobile, Mustang gunners worked on difficult marksmanship feats as they fired upon roadside targets and crews worked on other convoy procedures such as the standard operating procedure for passing under an overpass in hostile territory. According to battalion officials, more than 50 thousand rounds were expended over the six-day FTX.

Capt. William Quickley, assistant operations officer for the 125th BSB and one of the driving forces in the organization of the CLFX, said though most Mustang Soldiers got their first taste of the exercise April 12, with the help of fellow Soldiers from 5th Armored Brigade, the training started a little bit sooner.

"We actually started last Thursday (April 8,)" said Quickley. "Task Force Red Hawk taught us everything we needed to safely administer this training for our own individual units. I had NCO-level, E-5 and above personnel out to take part in that training, and once we implented it into our own battalion, I think we had a better result than we expected because this was our first time as a battalion."

Quickley, an Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran and one of several 125th BSB Soldiers who have seen combat, said he was pleased with the amount of realism which awaited Soldiers on Main Supply Route "Mustang." He recalled his experiences on "Route Pluto," an infamous thoroughfare in Sadr City where enemy engagements were common, while deployed to Iraq in 2007 and 2009 and said the training Mustang Soldiers received stood up to what he'd seen in Iraq in the past.

"Combat veterans have seen the similar events like we had set up in these scenarios," said Quickley. "I think it was very realistic and it was important for everyone to experience firsthand. The training I saw today, the explosions and everything we implemented, were similar to what I and my guys witnessed in Sadr City."

The assistant operations officer said he was glad he could help bring this level of training to his 125th BSB Soldiers.

"I didn't get training like this before I went [to Iraq]," said Quickley. "These soldiers are better for having gone through it because I know that a lot of Soldiers, even combat veterans, who didn't go through training like this."

Staff Sgt. Enrique Angullo, a Soldier from 125th BSB's Headquarters and Headquarters Company, said he was thankful for the CLFTX experience, an opportunity that may not normally be readily extended to logistics Soldiers.

"It was great training," said Angullo. "It gave our Soldiers a good opportunity to work on the skills we're going to need as a logistical supply battalion. We're going to be running convoys [while deployed] so the scenarios were good to see."

He added that he'd seen an improvement in his Soldiering skills and that of his battalion by the end of the FTX.

"They've come a long way in developing their individual patrol skills," said Angullo, "so it was definitely time well spent."

Quickley credited Mustang Soldiers for not only the planning and preparation which was involved in the six-day FTX, but for the fervor they carried it out with, and in agreement with Angullo, he said he felt it was time well spent.

"We didn't come out here and talk about it, or just 'check a block,'" said Quickley, "we actually made something happen that was important to our unit. I would do it again without hesitation."