FORT CARSON, Colo. — Infantrymen from Able Company, 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, participated in a training exercise from Jan. 20-26, 2023, at training areas on Fort Carson.
The Soldiers participated in a multitude of different events, from night shoots to anti-tank weapons training. These exercises were designed to accomplish several different tasks.
1st. Lt. Robert Still, an infantry officer from A Company, 4th Bn., 9th Inf. Reg., 1st SBCT, 4th Inf. Div., was looking forward to seeing how his Soldiers could handle a field environment.
“We’re training our squads in preparation for a platoon live fire,” said Still. “As a new platoon leader, this was my chance to evaluate my platoon and see how they would handle the cold, going down difficult terrain and knocking down a bunker.”
Meanwhile, events such as the buddy team live-fire focused on teamwork and unit cohesion. This event required two Soldiers to advance towards a target, one providing covering fire as the other Soldier advanced to a point where they could provide covering fire themselves.
Training like this encourages unit cohesion and teamwork, qualities that Soldiers like Sgt. James Deakyne, an infantryman from 4th Bn., 9th Inf. Reg., 1st SBCT, 4th Inf. Div., were most looking forward to.
“We need to make sure that our squads can operate cohesively so we can do the same as a company,” Deakyne said. “Getting out to the field, firing live rounds and training together strengthens the company’s cohesion as a whole.”
Other Soldiers cited preparing for situations they normally don't have the opportunity to encounter in training as important during this training event. Firing anti-tank 4s (referred to as AT4s) at targets in the distance was one of these less-regular opportunities. Infantrymen would take turns firing these anti-tank weapons, trying to hit targets hundreds of meters away. Most of the Soldiers participating in the exercise do not normally get to use such weaponry. Soldiers like Pfc. Cole Gregory, an infantryman from 4th Bn., 9th Inf. Reg., 1st SBCT, 4th Inf. Div., appreciated this opportunity.
“This training allows us to work with new people and prepares us for different circumstances that might take place,” Gregory said. “It’s good to just train up because you never know what’s going to happen. You want to train how you fight in the infantry.”
The field training exercise enabled the Soldiers to further their ability to shoot, move and communicate as teams and squads. While this training was a unique opportunity for the Soldiers, several future iterations will allow them to apply these further-developed skills at the platoon and higher levels.
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