95th ENG conducts convoy live fire, prepares for deployment

By CourtesyOctober 16, 2013

95th ENG conducts convoy live fire, prepares for deployment
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Staff Sgt. Shankar Tamang and Sgt. Matthew Charette, both with 3rd Platoon, 95th Engineer Company (Clearance), 84th Engineer Battalion, 130th Engineer Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, lay suppressive fire while bravo team bounds forward on t... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
95th ENG conducts convoy live fire, prepares for deployment
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. Adam Clements, soldier with the 3rd Platoon, 95th Engineer Company (Clearance), 84th Engineer Battalion, 130th Engineer Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, pulls a casualty to cover prior to performing first aid under fire during a convoy ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
95th ENG conducts convoy live fire, prepares for deployment
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers of Bravo Team, 1st Platoon, 95th Engineer Company (Clearance), 84th Engineer Battalion, 130th Engineer Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, conduct individual movement techniques as they bound forward while alpha team provides suppressi... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Story by 2nd Lt. William Hinkley, 95th Engineer Company, 84th Engineer Battalion, 130th Engineer Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command

SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii - The 95th Engineer Company (Clearance), 84th Engineer Battalion, 130th Engineer Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, conducted a convoy live-fire exercise Sept. 19 and 20 at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.

The purpose of this training event was to incorporate dismounted maneuver into a mounted support by fire position. It reinforced individual soldier movement skills and individual fire control measures, but, more importantly, this training event served to challenge small unit leaders who had to be flexible in controlling the movement of their squad and teams over a wide area while engaging the targets with live ammunition.

During this training, the unit conducted movement as a convoy to reach and engage the enemy targets. When the targets popped up, the gunners engaged the targets while leaders controlled the squad sized element as they dismounted and assaulted on the objective. This event served to build a foundation at the team and squad level, which future training events will build on.

The lessons learned for individuals and leaders will pay dividends as the unit progresses to larger and more complex training events in the months to come.

Soldiers and leaders came into this training from entirely different experiences and perspectives. All came out of the training with a better understanding of their own capabilities and the tactical expertise of the soldiers around them.

"Practice is the key," said Spc. Wade Francia, who served as a gunner in the 95th Engineer Company's 2011-12 deployment.

He has seen this type of operation conducted in combat under fire in Afghanistan multiple times.

"In order to have a successful execution of this kind of mission, you have to conduct deliberate rehearsals," he continued.

According to Francia, the soldiers of the 95th Engineer Company looked just as competent as the soldiers he observed in combat just over a year ago.

Sgt. Reynaldo Gonzalez said he found the training event to be a crucial stepping stone for himself as a new team leader.

"This was my first time managing a team - the first opportunity to lead as a team leader," said Gonzalez.

Other team leaders also had their first experience leading dismounted soldiers in a live-fire training event. They learned firsthand the level of leadership expected of them from their soldiers.

Sgt. 1st Class Jason Hellstrom, the noncommissioned officer in charge of the execution of the range, observed each squad as they went through the training.

"This training event really taught control and communication at all levels of the unit," he said summing up the event, "from the leadership down to the individual soldier."

Overall, this training event was a complete success.

Soldiers learned what to listen for from their leadership and when they need to make their own judgment calls. Leaders improved their ability to control their elements and practiced methods to effectively and concisely communicate to the soldiers they are leading.

Due to this training, the 95th Engineer Company is now better prepared for upcoming deployments.

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