'Greywolf' Troopers Validate Squadron's Ability to Sustain Operations Under Operation Spartan Shield

By U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Francis O'Brien, 29th ID Public AffairsMay 5, 2017

'Greywolf' Troopers Validate Squadron's Ability to Sustain Operations - Operation Spartan Shield unit showcases capabilities
1 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers of Hotel Company, 6th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division listen as their non-commissioned officer briefs Brig. Gen. John M. Epperly, 29th Infantry Division Deputy Commanding General, on the capabilities of a M1A2 Abrams mai... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
'Greywolf' Troopers Validate Squadron's Ability to Sustain Operations - Operation Spartan Shield unit showcases capabilities
2 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A Soldier with Hotel Company, 6th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division conducts vehicle maintenance on an M1A2 Abrams main battle tank as part of vehicle recovery drills at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, April 21, 2017. The drills were part ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
'Greywolf' Troopers Validate Squadron's Ability to Sustain Operations - Operation Spartan Shield unit showcases capabilities
3 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A U.S. Army non-commissioned officer with Hotel Company, 6th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division briefs Brig. Gen. John M. Epperly, 29th Infantry Division Deputy Commanding General, on the capabilities of a M1A2 Abrams main battle ta... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
'Greywolf' Troopers Validate Squadron's Ability to Sustain Operations - Operation Spartan Shield unit showcases capabilities
4 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A Soldier with Apache Troop, 6th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division conducts vehicle decontamination drills as part of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive training at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, April 21, 2017. The ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
'Greywolf' Troopers Validate Squadron's Ability to Sustain Operations - Operation Spartan Shield unit showcases capabilities
5 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers of Hotel Company, 6th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division conduct vehicle recovery drills using a tow bar at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, April 21, 2017. The drills were part of a validation exercise to test the squadron's mainten... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
'Greywolf' Troopers Validate Squadron's Ability to Sustain Operations - Operation Spartan Shield unit showcases capabilities
6 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers of Hotel Company, 6th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division conduct vehicle recovery drills using a tow bar at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, April 21, 2017. The drills were part of a validation exercise to test the squadron's mainten... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
'Greywolf' Troopers Validate Squadron's Ability to Sustain Operations - Operation Spartan Shield unit showcases capabilities
7 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Hotel Company uses actor David Hasselhoff as their mascot, and has his face stenciled on their M1A2 Abrams tanks including one nicknamed: "Don't Hassle the Hoff." Soldiers of Hotel Company, 6th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division con... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

CAMP ARIFJAN, KUWAIT -- Troops of the 6th Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team "Greywolf," 1st Cavalry Division showcased their capabilities to Operation Spartan Shield Deputy Commander Brigadier General John M. Epperly during a 12-hour series of validation training exercises at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, April 21, 2017.

One of the exercises focused on decontaminating vehicles after a simulated chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or explosive attack.

Brig. Gen. Epperly, a former armor officer, talked to soldiers from Apache Troop about chemical attacks in Task Force Spartan's area of operations. Chemical weapons are designed to cause fear and slow down U.S. troops who must don Mission Oriented Protective Posture gear.

It was a theme echoed during an after action review with Apache Troop by chemical officer 2nd Lt. Kayla Long.

"You saw how hard it was to operate out there in MOPP gear," said Long. "The hasty decontamination is to get you all back into the fight."

Six miles away, H Troop trained on self-recovering disabled vehicles by performing hasty repairs and attaching a tow bar. Hasty repairs and vehicle recovery are often performed during real world combat or explosive device situations.

"We are validating our maintenance program and squadron's ability to sustain itself while focused on logistics, CBRNE, medical and communications," said Maj. Robert Cornelius, Operations Officer.

Epperly presented coins to squadron commander Lt. Col. Neil Smith and Command Sgt. Maj. Edward Bryant to recognize their outstanding contributions and leadership as part of Operation Spartan Shield.