Photo By Sgt. Robert Baumgartner | Sfc. Chris Patterson, commandant of the 82nd Sustainment Brigade's Combat Logistics...... read more read more
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By Spc. Robert H. Baumgartner
82nd Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs Office
CAMP ADDER, Iraq – The 82nd Sustainment Brigade (SB) has accomplished many impressive feats during its tour in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Whether pioneering coalition airdrops or providing critical support to major offensives like Operation Marne Torch, their logistical contribution to the security of Iraq has been considerable.
Arguably one of the most far-reaching and longest-lasting contributions has been their commitment to "growing the future." They are implementing realistic, reactive training programs designed to keep soldier's existing skills sharp, as well as teach new skills based on the most current information available.
The Black Scorpion Combat Logistics Patrol (CLP) Academy was created here to teach soldiers to deal with situations they are likely to face on the road. Since January 2007, the Academy has graduated over 50 classes and more than 1,000 students.
The instructors are specialists in their respective field, such as medics, communications, and mechanics. The students who attend the Academy are instructed in the most up-to-date methods of casualty extraction and treatment, improvised explosive device detection, and escalation of force procedures.
According to Capt. Robert Walls, 82nd SB CLP operations officer in charge, the Academy's intent is to give the combat escort teams the ability to evolve as the insurgency evolves.
"The insurgency is adapting to our tactics at a rate that is inconsistent with our deployments. The enemy has had four years to study us. We only have one rotation to get a step ahead of him," Walls said.
This lag in tactical knowledge creates a deficit that can increase soldier's susceptibility. Therefore, the Academy creates a bridge to provide soldiers the edge they need to be successful in a rapidly changing asymmetric environment.
"My personal experiences as a gunner in past deployments are translated to lessons learned and related to the students. All the instructors have experienced what we're teaching. Capt. Walls, for instance, has 10,000 miles in a tier one hot spot," said Sgt. 1st Class Chris Patterson, commandant of the CLP Academy.
"A lot of what we teach can be practiced in the unit motor pool, the squad leader or convoy commander can run them through the scenarios. But we allow a more in-depth range of possible scenarios. We can provide all the resources needed to conduct the training and make it a little more realistic," Patterson continued.
One of these realistic scenarios involves putting the students in their vehicles and forcing them to make sound judgments in real-time. The students drive down a road at convoy speed and one of the instructors will approach in a white pickup truck. Soldiers are expected to exercise escalation of force procedures, flexible to each unique situation. Sometimes the instructors comply with the soldier's overtures. Sometimes they do not.
"We try to drive home the point that their efforts to stop a vehicle may not be as effective as they think they are. Each of the students gets a chance to sit with us in the pickup truck while their buddies go through the escalation of force (EOF) procedures so they can get an idea of what it looks like. It gives them a better understanding of how to effectively communicate their intentions when time is so limited," Patterson said.
"I evaluate how they react when I am slowing down and complying as opposed to when I maintain speed or start driving toward them. Overall, we assess how the students operate up until that magic barrier when shots are authorized," Patterson said.
During the Vietnam War, American soldiers who were drafted or volunteered served a one-year rotation in that theater of operations. As such, it has been said that America did not fight a 10-year war there, but fought a one-year war ten times. Reactive and flexible training, like the Black Scorpion CLP Academy, can help ensure that when experienced soldiers rotate back to the United States the lessons they learned here remain to assist future soldiers.
| Date Taken: | 09.20.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 09.20.2007 08:14 |
| Story ID: | 12453 |
| Location: | TALLIL AIR BASE, IQ |
| Web Views: | 909 |
| Downloads: | 785 |
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