During the unit's post-mobilization training at Fort Hood Soldiers took part in a Mission Readiness Exercise that resembled a recent "Warfighter" exercise the brigade headquarters took part in at Fort Carson, Colorado, earlier in the year.
The difference? Refinement of their skills to better prepare the unit for how things are done in Kuwait.
The purpose of the Warfighter is to train Soldiers how to perform their duties in a combat environment. However, the MRX, conducted by First Army Division West and the United States Army Reserves 75th Training Division at Fort Hood, focuses on skill refinement and what units will encounter while deployed to Kuwait.
"They have Soldiers here (Fort Hood) from the current unit that are there (Kuwait) now to give some real world things that are going on there now," said Warrant Officer Claudiann A. Atkinson, 1st Sustainment Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, about the MRX.
Atkinson also emphasized the importance of the MRX because of how it gives the unit materials and experiences they need to be familiar with the areas they are going to so when they get there it's a more familiar place.
The importance of the training at Fort Carson, Indiantown Gap, and Fort Hood was not lost on the Soldiers of the 369th, especially those new to the ranks.
"As a newer Soldier to the unit, and the Army in general, our training was essential," said Spc. Kyle Beckley, an Intelligence Analyst for the 369th Sustainment Brigade. "The training provided life-like simulations in a tactical environment that helped me acclimate both to my duties as an Intel Analyst, and also as a member of the team," Beckley added.
When the 369th Sustainment Brigade's MRX kicked off there were some bumps in the road. As with any team or organization each section needed to find their rhythm and get in sync to work towards the end goal of becoming a cohesive team.
"I feel as unit you are better at the end of training then at the beginning," said Atkinson. "Initially there were some synchronization issues and some sections didn't really completely understand their roles and responsibilities," she added.
"From then until now there has been a drastic change," added Atkinson. "Everyone needs to understand their roles and responsibilities and they need to communicate together if they want to complete the mission effectively."
The intent of all the training the unit has conducted over the past year is to help prepare them for the mission ahead. Over the years things like political climate change making it difficult to train for every possible condition or scenario. But that doesn't make training less important.
"You need to be prepared because every war is going to be different, you can't train the same way that you did for your first deployment that you are going to do for this deployment. It is not always going to be the same. That is why this training is so important," said Atkinson.
At the end of the day readiness is the key to success and the Soldiers of the 369th feel they are ready to take on the challenge and are confident in their abilities to succeed.
"Our team proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that we are ready, willing and able to stand in the wake of real world events and adjust, adapt, and overcome anything that presents itself," said Sgt. 1st Class Charles Tomsella, assistant NCOIC, Current Operations Assistant.
Soldiers also completed training they didn't complete during the unit's pre-mobilization training conducted at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, August 8-27. Soldiers qualified on their assigned weapon and also completed counter-IED training.
Social Sharing