As Army Reserve Soldiers are often called to fill in gaps in deploying units, it only makes sense that they would want to fill in any gaps in their military training.
From June 6 through 11, Soldiers of the U.S. Army Reserve Command Augmentation Unit, performed their annual Warrior Task training on Fort McPherson.
"Some of these Soldiers may be deployed tomorrow," said Capt. Ivan Padua, training officer. "We need to keep them up to date."
According to Army regulations, all Soldiers must test proficient in the Army's Warrior Tasks each year, said Sgt. 1st Class Carl Scott, training NCO for the UAU.
These tasks include qualifying on the M16 rifle and M9 pistol and refreshing skills on military operations in a combat environment, Padua said.
Because the tasks are related to the wartime environment, Padua said the training was designed to be as realistic as possible.
"We brought in equipment such as a Hummer, dummy rifles, dummy grenades and ordnance," he said. "We wanted them (Soldiers) to see the same equipment as when they go to theater."
Many of the training aids and other support came from the 335th Signal Company at Fort Gillem, Padua said.
Lessons were also based on tactics, techniques and procedures taken from theater.
For his class on building hasty fighting positions during urban operations held on June 11, Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Ross, personnel NCO for the command shop of the UAU said that he pulled knowledge from Army and other service doctrine.
"Basically, my class was a combination of Army and Marine knowledge," Ross said. "In Iraq, they'll be in an urban environment, in cities, in towns. To prepare, we're giving them the basics."
Basic, yes, but graded on standards set by the DoD, Scott said. Though the training was geared toward meeting these standards, many trainers took the extra step to exceed the standards, he added.
"Our leadership was willing to go (the) extra mile to get better (and) try to make the training better," Scott said, adding that classes were well constructed and conducted to ensure Soldiers knew the essential tasks for warfare.
Though most of the tasks trained were the same as those last year, the training was still important because it provided good refresher training, Scott said.
"If you don't see it, you lose it. We can't let them (Soldiers) forget," Scott said. "We need to provide them these skills if they get mobilized."
Providing these skills will ensure that if mobilized, these Soldiers will be on the same sheet of music as whatever unit they get attached to, Scott explained.
Overall, unit leadership were pleased with the overall results of the weeklong training.
"I'm happy we completed the training safely," Padua said. "I trained my people and that's all that matters."
"We sharpened and honed skills," Scott said. "I'm glad to be a part of it."
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