By Spc. John Onuoha, 6-8 Cav., 2IBCT, UPAR
"A situational training exercise is a mission-oriented exercise designed to train Soldiers on battle drills through practice," said Staff Sgt. John Rogers, a cavalry scout squad leader with HHT. "It consists of different tasks linked to form a realistic scenario of military operation and it's usually for training and evaluation."
This exercise was divided into seven stations: conducting visual signaling techniques, reacting to direct fire while dismounted, selecting a hasty fighting position, moving under direct fire, conducting voice communications, practicing combat life saver techniques, and learning how to submit a spot and situation report.
Soldiers with combat experience discussed the exercise's training value and applicability to real world missions.
"I understood the importance of this exercise back in 2007 when I was in Iraq," Rogers said. "Movement techniques are fundamentals and are very useful in combat drills. The bottom line is that Soldiers will never know when they'll be out there and have to use any of the battle drills."
Training exercises help teams bond and show Soldiers how to communicate in different combat situations.
"Communication using visual signaling techniques is good for telling Soldiers what to do by using hand signals," said Staff Sgt. Erika Ortiz, an intelligence analyst with HHT. "During combat missions it's very important to be silent and communicate at the same time."
Practicing combat life saving methods gives Soldiers a better understanding on how to reduce death in combat.
"Saving lives is very important and it's something Soldiers will always value," said Sgt. Andrew Worcester, a health care specialist with HHT. "[Combat life saver training] shows Soldiers how to treat an injured battle buddy before they can get professional care by a doctor. In 2012, when I was in Afghanistan, I experienced the importance of being a combat life saver when I had to use my knowledge on the course to stop a Soldier from bleeding to death."
Learning battle drills plays a significant role in survival during combat.
"Sometimes Soldiers might not understand the advantages of battle drills till they practice it in training," said Capt. Imelda Rodriguez, a signal officer with HHT. "It's a huge advantage to learn the drills till it becomes a second nature and that's the purpose of this training, to get Soldiers completely ready before combat."
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