Cobra Battery, 2CR conduct EDRE

By Staff Sgt. Jennifer Bunn, 2nd Cavalry Regiment Public AffairsJanuary 29, 2016

Cobra Battery, 2CR conduct EDRE
1 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – ROSE BARRACKS, Germany - Soldiers assigned to Cobra Battery, Field Artillery Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment prepare their equipment and vehicles after being alerted for an Emergency Deployment Readiness Exercise Jan 27. The exercise, which is being c... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Cobra Battery, 2CR conduct EDRE
2 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – ROSE BARRACKS, Germany - Soldiers assigned to Cobra Battery, Field Artillery Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment prepare their equipment and vehicles after being alerted for an Emergency Deployment Readiness Exercise Jan 27. The exercise, which is being c... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Cobra Battery, 2CR conduct EDRE
3 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – ROSE BARRACKS, Germany - Soldiers assigned to Cobra Battery, Field Artillery Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment prepare their equipment and vehicles after being alerted for an Emergency Deployment Readiness Exercise Jan 27. The exercise, which is being c... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Cobra Battery, 2CR conduct EDRE
4 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – ROSE BARRACKS, Germany - Soldiers assigned to Cobra Battery, Field Artillery Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment prepare their equipment and vehicles after being alerted for an Emergency Deployment Readiness Exercise Jan 27. The exercise, which is being c... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Cobra Battery, 2CR conduct EDRE
5 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – ROSE BARRACKS, Germany - Soldiers assigned to Cobra Battery, Field Artillery Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment prepare their equipment and vehicles after being alerted for an Emergency Deployment Readiness Exercise Jan 27. The exercise, which is being c... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Cobra Battery, 2CR conduct EDRE
6 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – ROSE BARRACKS, Germany - Soldiers assigned to Cobra Battery, Field Artillery Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment prepare their equipment and vehicles after being alerted for an Emergency Deployment Readiness Exercise Jan 27. The exercise, which is being c... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ROSE BARRACKS, Germany -- Soldiers assigned to Cobra Battery, Field Artillery Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment arrive to their unit before dawn Jan 27, 2016 after they received an alert to prepare for their movement to Lithuania for training.

The Battery is conducting an Emergency Deployment Readiness Exercise prior to their roll out to demonstrate their ability to rapidly deploy on a moment's notice. The exercise, called Dragoon Shock, is a realistic operation; testing all aspects of a unit's readiness which will showcase the capability and interoperability of USAREUR organizations.

Units usually have several stages of preparedness they go through before they depart for a deployment, but Cobra Soldiers have only a 96 hour window to complete the tasks, including receive their operation order, complete personal medical and administrative readiness, establish communications, draw ordinance, conduct maintenance and load vehicles.

The Battery has been on battery readiness status for several weeks. A time when the Soldiers knew they would be alerted but did not know when and what the operation order would be.

Capt. Brandon Cummings, commander for Cobra Battery, said that while in battery readiness status, the Soldiers were able to concentrate on those things that allow them to accomplish their mission without the normal distractions.

"Incorporating the EDRE training into the movement allows us to give the Soldiers an overarching purpose for the operation," Cumming said. "During the ramp up we stress the fact that the operation demonstrates not just our battery's capability to deploy rapidly but that we are sending the message to our allies and our enemies that the US has this capability in Europe."

"We can move combat multipliers, not just the infantry, but we can move the artillery anywhere we want to in Europe and put it into action as soon as we get there," he added. "That helps our Soldiers focus in on 'Hey, when you get there, there is a very real possibility you will have 20 minutes to turn your howitzer on and get going."

Also, while preparing for the EDRE, the battery's leaders, such as platoon and section sergeants, were able to get a real understanding of what mission command is. They are the ones who take the intent and execute within that intent to accomplish the mission.

"Many times without crucial information, like when or where, leaders need to take initiative and make decisions and be able to stick their chest out and say 'I made that decision based on what we have'." Cummings said.

Cummings is hoping all his Soldiers see this training as an opportunity and take advantage of and learn as much as they can to build the alliance and friendships and share those experiences with the next rotation of the unit.

"More importantly I want them to understand that although they don't always see the efforts at our level that this mission and their hard work is making a difference," Cummings explained. "A lot of times that escapes the individual Soldier. All they see is the sixth time I've done this and I do not want to do this again and when are we actually going to go. I want them to know that preparing well and executing well will have an overarching effect more than just at their level."

Cobra Battery will travel through Poland and stop at the Artillery and Armaments Training Center in Torun Feb 4-13 to conduct gunnery that will qualify them to provide fire support for 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment and multinational live fire exercises in Lithuania.

The training in Lithuania is part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, which provides the U.S. and allied forces the opportunity to train together to strengthen interoperability and friendships across national lines.