The 509th Clearance Company spent a week challenging the technical skills, tactical logic and mettle of its Soldiers during a field exercise at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, Feb. 6-12.
During the exercise, the 509th Clearance Co., part of the 5th Engineer Battalion, 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, worked toward an end goal of conducting three days of back-to-back route clearance missions, in order to refocus the company's primary mission task, since it had been awhile since the 509th had conducted that type of training.
Soldiers spent the first two days receiving instruction and hands on training with the latest hand held detection systems, which are designed to detect metal, but not specially bombs. Their purpose is for detection of metallic portions of explosives and command wires. The troops also operated remote controlled robots, dubbed TALON Robot Counter Explosive Operations, that allow Soldiers to identify possible improvised explosive devices from a distance and then place explosives to clear the route, if necessary. The company also worked on IED device identification and Tactics, Technics and Procedures, or TTP.
The instructors for these classes consisted of personnel from the Counter-Improvised Explosive Device Integration Cell. Most of the Soldiers had received training on TALON robots prior to the exercise, but February's excursion focused on allowing Soldiers to reach a new level of operator skills.
"TALON robots are great to work with," said Pfc. Justin Wood. "They minimize the threat level to the individual Soldier while investigating possible IED threats on the battlefield."
Sgt. Michael Hansen touted the benefits of the training.
"These skills are perishable" said Hansen. "Without proper instruction, these tools become a hindrance. These types of FTXs are an integral part of our training, allowing our Soldiers to develop that muscle memory reflex for equipment operations results in mission accomplishment with zero casualties."
After the Soldiers finished their refresher courses, it was time to move on to the main event, clearance missions.
As the first day of missions began, two platoons prepped for route clearance missions while two more set up the lanes as role players portraying the enemy, known in military parlance as OPFOR.
"It is one thing to perform clearance operations from our normal everyday viewpoint, but when you look at it from the other side you glean more information," said Sgt. Anthony Noda, who was working as OPFOR. "I gained a clearer mindset of how I want my team to operate when we come across complex route clearance obstacles. As OPFOR I was able to sharpen my skills in dismounted operations and that in turn allowed me to test my own ideas for route clearance operations and refine SOPs within my team."
As the platoons rotated through the lanes over the course of the three days, each platoon would be afforded the opportunity to act as OPFOR and perform Route Clearance.
"Each day you can see the platoons adjusting their tactics ever so slightly so they can perform more proficiently," Sgt. Ivan Heesh said. "Everything is not perfect and sometimes we can fall flat on our faces and fail, but that is the beauty of training. Training is where we want mistakes to be made known so Soldiers can learn, grow, and strengthen their resolve. That is what makes us professionals."
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