Sustainers take on Burcham Urban Assault Course

By 3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) Public AffairsApril 18, 2011

Sustainers take on Burcham Urban Assault Course
1 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Spc. Brian Davidson, the wheeled vehicle mechanic with the 3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), looks to acquire a target during training at Fort Knox's Burcham Urban Assault Course on Thursday, April 14. The Sustainers conducted the training to l... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Sustainers take on Burcham Urban Assault Course
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Staff Sgt. Etta Tuttle, a materiel management noncommissioned officer with the 3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), signals to her teammates the number of enemy assailants visible during training at Burcham Urban Assault Course on Thursday, April... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army)
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Sustainers take on Burcham Urban Assault Course
3 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Staff Sgt. Etta Tuttle, a materiel management noncommissioned officer with the 3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), signals to her teammates the number of enemy assailants visible during training at Burcham Urban Assault Course on Thursday, April ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Sustainers take on Burcham Urban Assault Course
4 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Sustainers take on Burcham Urban Assault Course
5 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Private 1st Class Jose Valentin, an Intel analyst with the 3d ESC, uses an exploded car as cover during training at Burcham Urban Assault Course. During the course, Soldiers were often surprised by simulated explosives and booby traps. (U.S. Army pho... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Sustainers take on Burcham Urban Assault Course
6 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A Soldier from the 3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) fires at a hidden assailant during training at Burcham Urban Assault Course. The course provided the Sustainers with real-life scenarios and training aids that simulated combat operations in ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT KNOX, Ky. (April 18, 2011) - Soldiers from the 3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) trained at Fort Knox's Burcham Urban Assault Course on Thursday, April 14.

The Sustainers trained at the urban assault course as part of the 3d ESC's sergeant's time training, which is hands-on, practical training for Soldiers given by their noncommissioned officers.

Throughout the urban assault course, Soldiers trained on the proper methods of clearing buildings, negotiating obstacles and crossing open terrain, all the while enduring constant paintball fire from hidden assailants.

"Today's training was a way to get the Soldiers away from the ordinary slideshow presentation class and get them out to have some fun... while still training effectively and accomplishing the mission," said Sgt. 1st Class Alvin Porch, the 3d ESC's Headquarters and Headquarters Company operations NCO.

Porch, who coordinated the training, said that while the day's events were fun for the Soldiers, they were still an effective method of the 3d ESC training for upcoming missions and deployments.

"Even though we were here having fun, we were training and preparing to go to Afghanistan or Iraq if we're called."

The Burcham urban assault course provided the Sustainers with real-life scenarios and training aids that simulated combat operations in a deployed environment. Throughout the course, Soldiers were often surprised by simulated explosives and booby traps. To successfully navigate the course, Soldiers were required to use the training they received earlier from 3d ESC NCOs with combat experience.

"This course allows Soldiers to receive the training they need for real-world missions," said Mark Sweetman, the range manager at Burcham urban assault course. "We try to make this course as life-like as possible so that can get the real-world training here so that it benefits Soldiers in their real-world missions."

Overall, the Sustainers were pleased with the training held at the urban assault course and look forward to conducting this type of training again in the future.

"This training was good and I learned a lot," said Pvt. Craig Abel, a generator mechanic with the 3d ESC. "This course provided learning situations that could help you in the future if you're actually getting shot at."

Related Links:

3rd ESC Website

Fort Knox Website