PINON CANYON MANUEVER SITE, Colo. -- High intensity combat training began for Soldiers of 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, after they moved to Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site, Feb. 19 - 23 in preparation for a month-long field training exercise.
As Soldiers arrived, their vehicles were staged in a marshalling area, they were assigned sleeping tents, additional vehicles were off-loaded from railcars and they received mandatory classes before moving to their assigned training site.
"As the brigade arrives at Pinon Canyon, we are replicating the procedures that we would follow as we enter a combatant theater using reception, staging, onward movement and integration training," said Master Sgt. Phillip Cornell, brigade master gunner, Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 2nd Special Troops Battalion, 2nd BCT.
Units will have time, resources and personnel to conduct a variety of training ranging from offensive and defensive maneuvers to stability operations during the month-long training.
"The units are in a crawling, walk stage," said Capt. Luke Bowers, deputy current operations officer, HHT. "When they leave, they should be at a brisk walk or a nearly running phase. Companies should be effective in connecting their operations and mission essential task list."
Bowers said he knows the units will have obstacles to overcome.
"Units will have to be self-sustaining and have a general understanding of the mission, the intent and be able to accomplish that within the boundaries provided," said Bowers.
Communicating orders quickly and concisely to convey the intent and not be reliant on always having the means or robust communications systems is essential, said Bowers.
For many of the junior leaders, this is the first time operating away from counter insurgency operations, which have been used to fight the war on terror for the past ten years.
"A lot of junior leaders have not done many of these tactical tasks," said Cornell. "The only time they have done them was during initial training, basic officer and noncommissioned officer courses or a professional school. This is an opportunity for leaders to actually get down on the ground, execute these tactical tasks, take away lessons learned and go back to Fort Carson with knowledge that will drive our onward training into the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, Calif. and preparation to enter the central command area of operations."
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