FORT POLK, La. -- Soldiers from 5th Battalion, 25th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division conducted training at the Improvised Explosive Device Defeat lane near the woods at Fort Polk's Ar-Nasar training area on December 10, 2015.
The forest seems to be alive as a light fog clings to the forest. Sounds of gun fire and explosives echo around the Soldiers coming from nearby ranges. Soldiers from the Thunder Battalion move at a snail's pace as they scan the woods for anything that looks out of place. After a distant explosion rocks the forest, the Soldiers all jump, but laugh when they realize the explosion is on a different range. Nerves clearly on edge, the patrol continues slowly towards Ar-Nasar.
The patrol makes it no more than 20 yards through the woods when another explosion rips through the forest. The Soldiers know immediately that this explosion was meant for them and that they missed something hidden deep in the woods.
The Soldiers take this training seriously because they know it could mean life or death while deployed. With this in mind elements of the Thunder Battalion spent the better part of a week learning how to operate and maintain Electronic Warfare equipment.
"We found out that the THOR III can save lives downrange if the Soldiers know how to use it correctly," said Spc. Albert Smith, Battery C, 5th Bat., 25th FA Reg, 3rd BCT, 10th Mtn. Div. "This training not only shows you what to look for but how to defeat hidden threats. I believe that the more Soldiers know about this system the more lives will be saved in combat."
Electronic warfare is not a new concept to the Army, but having the ability to train all its Soldiers how to combat electronic warfare is a very important to the Patriot Brigade.
"This training is important because not a lot of units conduct this type of training and when Soldiers go downrange IEDs are a big threat to Soldiers," said Sgt. Michael Taddeo, Electronic Warfare Non-commissioned Officer, 5th Bat., 25th FA Reg, 3rd BCT, 10th Mtn. Div. "This training helps Soldiers to eliminate the enemy from using the electronic magnetic spectrum to American Soldiers."
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