Fort Riley and the Big Red One showcased one of the post's cutting-edge facilities to nearly 20 leaders from Fort Leavenworth's Combined Arms Center on Oct. 26.
The guests toured several facilities located on Fort Riley's digital training campus, highlighting the capabilities of the site's Mission Command Training Center.
The visitors, led by Col. (promotable) Robert White, received a guided tour through the $30 million state-of-the-art facility.
White is currently serving as the Deputy Commander for the Combined Arms Center -- Training. Fort Leavenworth's Combined Arms Center, or CAC, is a major subordinate headquarters of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command. The organization's primary mission is preparing the Army and its leaders for war…and Fort Riley's center is doing just that, added Tim Livsey, director for Fort Riley's plans, training, mobilization and security.
With its state-of-the-art, computer-based training capabilities, the facility offers Soldiers the use of hundreds of computers to interface with simulations specifically tailored to their training needs. Upon its opening in 2009, the facility became the Army's first computer-based facility and has offered training to not only Fort Riley's Soldiers but service members from active and reserve-component branches in 26 states, as well as cadets in the Reserve Officer Training Corps.
"We're working hard training Soldiers every day, but that makes our ability to tell the story of what work we're doing kind of hard," Livsey said. "Visits such as these allow us to show the people responsible for the Soldiers' training - the key players in the training and evolution of the systems - exactly what services and programs are being offered to the Soldiers. It's easy to see power point presentations, but these visits allow them to see the products and capabilities first hand."
The 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division is scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan next year and recently utilized the facility during the brigade's field training exercise, or FTX, this past August.
"The 'Dragon' Brigade had a very successful FTX this past August. The MCTC provided great support in enabling the brigade's headquarters and subordinate units to achieve a successful training mission," said Maj. Scott Thomas, the brigade's executive officer. "The training we've achieved from the MCTC was critical in training our staff and preparing our personnel for deployment."
The MCTC is just one of the revolutionary facilities located on Fort Riley's digital campus, Livsey added. The contingent also toured the Medical Simulation Training Center and Close Combat Tactical Center.
"(The visit) has been great. This is an impressive facility; this whole complex is," Col. White said.
White applauded the facilities and personnel for their achievements in providing cutting-edge training to thousands of Soldiers since its establishment.
"We really came out to kind of get a feel of what a medium-sized mission training complex can do," White said. "And these guys are doing a great job at taking it a little further than what the charter says. So it's good to see them using their innovation and imagination to help train Soldiers, which is what it's all about."
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