FORT STEWART, Ga. — As the sound of a M2A4 Bradley Fighting Vehicle firing pierces the air, Soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division move swiftly to capture their objective during a live-fire exercise at Fort Stewart, March 9-14, 2024.
"This is the first time we have conducted platoon sticks and platoon live-fires with our vehicles since returning from Europe," said Maj. Daniel Berryhill, battalion operations officer for 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment. "This is a crucial preparation for our combined arms live-fire exercises and future training rotations. Nothing can replace the experience of being out in the field. By doing this, we can identify our strengths and weaknesses, the most important aspect of our training."
In the last two weeks, the "Cottonbalers" have undergone a live-fire and a situational training exercise. This training has certified the platoon leaders and platoon sergeants of 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment in maneuvering their formations, and it has prepared them for future training rotations.
"Our goal is to train them to be lethal," said Lt. Col. Sean Hollars, battalion commander for 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment. "We are laying the foundation for higher levels of collective training for our platoons."
After modernizing their formation, the 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment completed gunnery certifications for their M2A4 Bradley Fighting Vehicles and M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams tanks. The unit has shifted its focus to platoon situational training and live-fire exercises for the infantry platoons.
During the live-fire exercise, the mounted and dismounted elements coordinated their efforts to take control of a specific objective. The mounted elements provided support by suppressing the enemy with support-by-fire, allowing dismounted Soldiers to move in to seize the objective.
The dismounted element overcame a mined wire obstacle using an improvised Bangalore or brazier and then entered and cleared a trench.
"The most exciting part for me was when we went through the trench,” said Spc. Michael Galey, a native of Ames, Iowa, and an infantryman assigned to 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment. “It was my first experience assaulting a trench, and it gave me a chance to see what trench warfare looks like. It was a very eye-opening experience. I saw the difference from normal cover fire in the woods. The trench differs significantly from open terrain.”
After securing the trench, the dismount element entered and cleared a building, defended, and held the objective.
"It's incredibly complex for Soldiers to perform a mounted maneuver with dismounts," said Hollars. "It requires a high level of coordination and synchronization between them, and they have to ensure that their Bradley Fighting Vehicles move to a position of advantage to support them. At the same time, their dismounts have to clear any obstacles or complex terrain.”
An important focus in recent weeks for 2nd Battalion has been effectively integrating drones into dismounted combat; incorporating lessons learned from the European theater.
“We intend to apply these lessons to our mechanized infantry and tank battles in our Combined Arms Battalion," said Hollars. "We are exploring different ways to utilize these assets fully, and our junior soldiers are eager to solve complex problems and discover new ways to use technology on the modern battlefield.”
Starting in April, 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment will begin battalion and higher-level collective training, such as Marne Focus. This battalion force-on-force operation will help the unit synchronize operations at the battalion level. Following this, they will move on to the NTC, where the entire brigade can operate together — ensuring success whenever and wherever the nation calls them.
Social Sharing