Fit and Focused, HQ ARRC builds on individual readiness

IRT provides all members of the deploying headquarters with a range of decision-making skills so they can be better prepared to manage potential, actual events under stress.

The week long training covered topics including hand-to-hand combatives, First Aid, land navigation, reporting procedures and reacting to various attacks, and many other basic tasks. Many soldiers completed the week with weapons qualification.

Centralized training conducted at Imjin Barracks saved time and expense.

"It is imperative to be up to date when it comes to training and follow the training guidelines to the Army standards" said Capt. Danielle K. Cork, commander, B Company, AFNORTH Battalion, in Belgium, who came to observe and evaluate the training of US personnel stationed at the ARRC. "We can bring new information to the table but everything has to go by Army basics regardless.

She said being in a NATO environment can be difficult when mirroring tasks, however if the basics techniques are followed then training can permeate through all participating national elements.

Although IRT tries to marry instructors to their Military Occupational Specialty, all instructors must have a working understanding of all the tasks here, said 1st Sergeant Dilworth Braithwaite, B Company, AFNORTH Battalion, Belgium. No one can just be a SME [subject matter expert] for a task; everyone has to be able to teach.

Each of the 17 participating HQ ARRC nations conducts their own version of individual soldier readiness training. The British Mandatory Annual Training Test (Matts) for example includes physical assessments, weapon handling, navigation and first aid.

"That is why I am so impressed today," said Braithwaite. "You can see that every instructor was prepared to give instructions on their task, and have done a really good job."