In preparation for 3rd Brigade Combat Team's rotation at Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Polk, La., Soldiers in every battalion are training up and getting qualified on their weapons systems and tactics. Infantry battalions, using the "crawl, walk, run" method of training, moved from individual-level training to squad-level training and live-fire exercises Aug. 25.
Training Soldiers in a unit to function successfully not only as individuals, but as a cohesive unit, requires many stages. First, every individual Soldier must know the weapons systems and tactics.
"We are starting at the lowest levels and building up," said Sgt. Maj. Bryan Coleman, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment.
Individual knowledge can then be built upon, and Soldiers can be trained to use their individual skill sets together to accomplish a mission, whether in a training environment such as JRTC or in combat.
Soldiers in 1-32 Infantry performed mounted section live-fires and combat logistics patrols to help them prepare for JRTC.
"(This is) section qualification," said Capt. Thomas Overmyer, commander of D Company, 1-32 Infantry. "We did individual training and Expert (Infantryman) Badge training last month; now we are going through collective training."
Soldiers in 1-32 Infantry took turns rotating through the different positions in a truck while on a mounted mission.
"The goal is to have multiple gunners on (every) weapons system," Overmyer said. "We try our best to rotate (during training)."
They were required to go through a series of lanes with pop-up targets, designed to simulate enemy forces. Soldiers had to maneuver their way over a hostile road while receiving and returning fire. They also had to employ bounding techniques to get two trucks through the "danger zone."
"Combat veterans are the (ones) teaching the new (Soldiers) how to do this," Overmyer said.
Every moment of the exercise was a learning experience for the Soldiers. More experienced Soldiers went through the lanes with the new Soldiers, providing instant feedback and helpful insight.
Soldiers in 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment are employing many of the same crawl, walk, run strategies in their preparation for JRTC.
"We are doing squad react-to-fire exercises," said 2nd Lt. Jake Murphy, a platoon leader in A Company, 2-87 Infantry. "It is a good way for us to maneuver and practice marksmanship."
Soldiers first learned individual skills and a basic working knowledge of various tactics vital to combat. Then they put their training to use and learned to function as a squad-sized element in a combat situation.
"This is a good way to evaluate our squad leaders, (and prepare) for platoon live-fires," Murphy said.
At the range, 2-87 Infantry Soldiers were expected to perform a dismounted mission similar to one in combat. Soldiers employed dismounted movement techniques along a road. On their patrol, they received simulated enemy contact from an open field.
"We are clearing a road of a potential improvised explosive device," Murphy said of the training exercise. "On the way, we take contact from our flank, and our squad leader has to react to that and make a decision."
The exercise required Soldiers to use the utmost caution and accuracy while shooting. While one group of Soldiers fired at the "enemy," another group of Soldiers moved through the open field. With live ammunition being fired across the entire training area, everyone had to rely on trust, teamwork and communication to successfully complete the mission.
With this method of teaching Soldiers from the ground up, leaders ensure every tactic and method of fighting and surviving is thoroughly understood before advancing to the next topic.
After completing squad live-fires, Soldiers in 1-32 Infantry and 2-87 Infantry plan to advance to platoon-sized maneuvers and live-fire exercises and continue preparing for the brigade's rotation to JRTC.
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Infantry Soldiers in 3rd Brigade Combat Team complete squad live-fires
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