FORT HOOD, Texas- Often traveling with 20 or more vehicles, a supply convoy can be a tempting target for terrorist, which makes lifelike training all the more important.
For the Soldiers of 15th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Oct. 14 was a chance to train like they fight in a realistically replicated Iraqi village on Fort Hood, Texas.
During the training, Soldiers drove in a convoy through a small town where they encountered both Iraqi Police and civilians. The Soldiers were then exposed to threats like improvised explosive devices, 50 caliber machine guns and small arms fire.
"We had everything we needed to really put a lot of noise and distraction there to get the Soldiers thinking about what they need to do to survive," explained Staff Sgt. Matthew Dickson, a Dallas native and the noncommissioned officer in-charge of the training.
"This is teaching the Soldiers how to react with the gun truck crews and how to react in different scenarios when they move through an urban area," he said.
This training is about getting these Soldiers ready to conduct an assortment of missions in a wartime environment, he continued.
For many of the Soldiers who took part in the training, the training felt pretty close to real.
This is the best training I've been in since I've been here," said Sgt. Eugene Shaffer, a truck commander for the training.
"We have a brand new gunner and this is a chance for him to see what he will be doing," he said.
While conducting the convoy, Soldiers encountered "Iraqi citizens" who were in the way, tried to open truck doors and tried to distract the Soldiers.
This is as close as you can get to real without being there, said Shaffer.
As 15th BSB continues to prepare for upcoming deployments, it's Soldiers will continue to train on convoy operations to ensure they are ready for combat movement no matter what their mission is or what they encounter while on it.
Social Sharing