Staff Ride Raises Support Battalion Awareness

By Sgt. Steven Galimore (82nd Airborne)December 15, 2016

Questions and Answers
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers from 122nd Aviation Support Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, participated in a question and answering discussion during a staff ride training event at the Training and Education Center on Fort Bragg, N.C., Dec. 5. (Photo by Army Sgt.... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Listen Up
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers assigned to 122nd Aviation Support Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade listen attentively to Retired Army Lt. Col. Michael Moran, with the combat studies institute during a staff ride training event at the Training and Education Center o... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Story Time
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Retired Army Maj. Charles Collins with the combat studies institute lead Soldiers of 122nd Aviation Support Battalion 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade through a scenario base tour of the Battle of Palm Sunday to during a staff ride training event at the ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Fort Bragg, N.C. -- The 122nd Aviation Support Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade refined their skills on convoy operations and situational awareness at a staff ride training event held in the Training and Education Center on Fort Bragg, N.C., Dec. 5.

In attendance were Retiree's, Lt. Col. Michael Moran and Maj. Charles Collins with the combat studies institute of Fort Leavenworth, Kansas who educated the Soldiers.

Practicing proper land navigation skills, maintaining accountability of soldiers, critical fatigue, and understanding environmental conditions were among the topics presented to the Soldiers.

Too many, military deployments and convoy operations are considered high-risk, that can put soldiers in harm's way.

The staff ride conveys the lesson of past event, which helps develop professional leadership for efficient use on the air-land battlefield during deployment.

"The objective of this training is to help make soldiers, Army-wide, become more efficient by applying safety and learn from past events during convoy operations," said Moran.

The staff ride presented the soldiers with a virtual scenario base tour vignette of the 507th Maintenance Company Ambush and Palm Sunday Ambush, which were located in Iraq.

"The 507th Maintenance Company was ambushed during the Battle of Nasiriyah while convoying with limited communications toward Baghdad during 2003 invasion of Iraq," said Moran.

With a lack of communication due to a shortage of radios and larger vehicles in the order of movement, the 507th Maintenance Company had numerous of ailments that restricted movement.

"The Ambush of Palm Sunday lead various units into battle, making it one of the most complicated ambushes in war," said Collins.

While being the Brigades sustainment ground force,

122nd ASB understands how not to be complacent and stay watchful to prevent occurrences similar to 507th Maintenance Company.

"Being vigilant while training as a unit prepares soldiers assigned to 122nd ASB for any chaotic situation once deployed," said Command Sgt. Maj. Johnathan Logan, 122nd ASB Battalion CSM.

War can be chaotic, and there are no solid solutions for reacting to chaos, said Staff Sgt. Camille Cage, a noncommissioned officer with 122nd ASB.

Displayed by a screen projector and speakers surrounding, virtual explosions and simulated gunfire echoed the room, which placed the Soldiers in a simulated chaotic scenario.

"This training event helped us as leaders and soldiers of 122nd ASB to become better communicators, train hard to help prevent complacency and bring awareness to our unit," said Cage.