"We have to train our Soldiers on how to live in below freezing temperatures and how to use their cold weather gear properly," said 1st Lt. Ryan Rances, information collecting platoon leader.
Training included land navigation, how to identify and prevent cold weather injuries, first aid, securing and transporting a simulated casualty on a medical sked (a kit designed for rapid emergency evacuation of hospitalized patients,) moving under fire and how to properly wear the extended cold weather clothing system.
For one of the Dark Knights, this is their first time experiencing arctic weather conditions.
"I'm from Las Vegas and this is my first winter here," said Spc. Jasmine Santos-Felix, linguist. "This training is helping me adapt to the cold weather environment and how to use my equipment properly."
With service members now trained on how to operate in arctic conditions, they feel they have a better understanding on how ground troops operate and will be able to provide better intelligence for future operations.
"As intelligence Soldiers, we help provide information to infantry and cavalry," said Capt. Josh Haseltine, military intelligence company commander. "If we don't understand on what they are going through, how can we provide proper intelligence?"
Haseltine stated that this arctic training will help his Soldiers prepare for a winter competition in March, where they will be competing against teams from across the battalion.
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