WEST POINT, N.Y. - Soldiers from Company B, 3rd Battalion 15th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, conducted an air assault and military operations on urban terrain, or MOUT, attack training exercise using UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, July 23, 2014, at Camp Shea, West Point, N.Y.
The training kicked off when the helicopters touched down near the MOUT site and the soldiers from the "Can Do" Battalion quickly and tactically moved off the birds and into their positions.
"The air assault was a big rush," said Pvt. Brandon Peddicord, an infantryman and radio telephone operator from Cincinnati. "Our training kicked in and everything seemed to flow once we hit the ground."
Once all soldiers were out of the helicopters and on the ground, the attack on Camp Shea began.
Using cover fire from a support element and concealment from smoke grenades, the soldiers of the assault element moved through the site, clearing all of the buildings in their way.
"The soldiers really enjoyed the air assault," said Staff Sgt. William Sanders, an infantryman and a weapons squad leader from Hesperia, California. "It was a great reward for all the hard training we had done in the days leading up to the mission."
After successfully seizing the final building, the exercise concluded and the soldiers gathered for a moment to remember soldiers who were missed at the training after making the ultimate sacrifice during their last combat tour.
This day was especially important for the soldiers of Company B. Exactly one year prior, the company lost four Soldiers to an improvised explosive device strapped to a donkey in Wardak province, Afghanistan. 1st Lt. Jonam Russell, Sgt. Stefan Smith, Spc. Rob Nichols and Spc. Nickolas Welch, all from 1st Platoon, Company B, lost their lives in the attack.
"There was no better way to honor the heroes of Bandit Company than by conducting an air assault to mark the one year anniversary of their loss," said 1st Lt. Bryan Crossman, a platoon leader in Company B from Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
As the soldiers gathered after the mission, it was clear that for many, the loss of those Soldiers was still fresh in their minds. Upon completion of an after action review, the soldiers participated in a prayer and moment of silence lead by Capt. Joseph Palermo, chaplain. As their adrenaline still pumped for the recently completed mission, the emotions of the moment were obvious.
Though the loss of their four brothers in arms still weighed heavily on their minds, the soldiers of Company B still managed to honor them in the most appropriate way they knew. The professionalism and precision execution of their air assault and attack were textbook examples of what a light infantry company is capable of with the right amount of planning, training and execution.
"The air assault mission taught all the soldiers how important it was to have a tight platoon," said Pvt. Zachary Wolowicz, an infantryman and M240B gunner from Kenton, Ohio. "It allowed us to see the big picture and how our platoon fits into the company mission."
The "Can Do" soldiers of Company B are scheduled to return to Fort Stewart, Georgia, and continue their training. Using the lessons learned from the air assault mission will no doubt help enable success in their future training.
Related Links:
The 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division DVIDS page.
The official 3rd Infantry Division and Fort Stewart Facebook page.
The official 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Facebook page.
The official 3rd Infantry Division and Fort Stewart website.
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