FORT STEWART, Ga. - With their weapons locked and loaded, "Cottonbaler" Soldiers are preparing for the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team's upcoming deployment. Given realistic combat scenarios, 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment Soldiers tackled a squad level, live-fire training exercise here, Nov. 10-18.
This was the battalion's first collective training since the 4th IBCT redeployed from Iraq last December.
"The purpose is to gain squad-level proficiency in urban offensive operations," said Maj. Ioannis Kiriazis, battalion executive officer, who added that the 3/7 Inf. Soldiers completed individual-level tasks and are now ready for the next step.
He explained that battalion's infantry Soldiers must be sound in key tactics such as movement to contact, entering and clearing buildings, and engaging the enemy.
"This is our bread and butter right here," said Staff Sgt. Ricky Martinez, range safety officer assigned to Headquarters Company, 3/7 Inf.
Staff Sergeant Martinez helped validate squads during the close quarters combat portion of the field exercise. He said the shoot houses, located on Fort Stewart's training grounds, provide soon-to-deploy Soldiers with a realistic, modern day battlefield environment. The two and three story, multiple room complexes are equipped with both hostile and friendly dummies, dummy-weapons, even video cameras that monitor troops' performance.
Furthermore, leaders can even observe their Soldiers in action above the ceiling-less set-up.
"This really is the best training," Staff Sgt. Martinez said. "This will definitely help prepare these Soldiers for deployment."
In addition to the shoot houses, the Soldiers practiced reacting to improvised explosive devises, evacuating a casualty, firing mortar rounds, searching detainees and pulling security.
After validating infantry Soldiers at the squad level, the Cottonbaler Battalion plans to conduct platoon-level training in January 2010.
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