European rotational brigade exercises artillery during Combined Resolve IV

Photo By Sgt. Juanita Philip | Soldiers with the Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 41st Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team of the 3rd Infantry Division, medically evacuate a fellow team member during a real-world combat scenario, May 21. The scenario was very realistic with the Soldiers reacting rapidly once the attack began.  

HOHENFELS, BAYERN, GERMANY

05.22.2015

Story by Sgt. Juanita Philip 

7th Army Training Command

HOHENFELS, Germany -- Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 41st Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team of the 3rd Infantry Division conducted one part of their multi-level training exercise during Combined Resolve IV at Hohenfels Training Area, May 21.

The Situational Training Exercise entailed a war-time scenario where a field artillery unit's convoy reacts to an improvised explosive device, or IED, that detonates near a Paladin M109A6 armored track vehicle.

Once the vehicle was hit by the IED, Soldiers secured the area while others recovered the casualties and equipment from the downed Paladin. Emergency medical aid was rendered to the casualties in the battlefield and then a call for medical evacuation and vehicle recovery were completed. Once the casualties were airlifted, focus was then placed on recovering the downed vehicle while maintaining tight security against enemy combatants.

"We are evaluating the unit and the Soldiers to make sure they are doing the proper things based on the tactical operations of the unit, and validating the training methods that they use," said Sgt. 1st Class Edgar Covarubbias, senior observer-coach trainer for the Vampire Team at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels.

The observer coach/trainers, or OCT, analyzed the training on two fronts, evaluating the unit based on their standard operating procedures and validating the overall training.

"Overall, I'm taking care that the Soldiers are doing the correct thing in the proper way of doing it, and the unit is actually going along with the tactical operations that they have developed," said Covarrubias.

The scenario was very realistic and the Soldiers reacted rapidly once the attack began.

"The training was actually good, I messed up a little bit, but all in all it was very good," said Pfc. Kody Zaleski, a combat medic with the unit. This is Zaleski's first real world scenario training with the unit.

Numerous OCT's were available throughout the training to assist and advise unit members during the scenario. Whether it was on who to alert for the medical evacuation or how a casualty was evaluated, everyone worked together for a safe and successful training.

Combined Resolve exercises train the Army's rotational forces in Europe to be more agile, flexible and better prepared to operate alongside our NATO Allies. The more realistic the scenario is, the better it will prepare the Soldier for combat.

"This training is beneficial in that it prepares the unit to know how to react, so when they're hit with a real world scenario in combat, they'll know how to react to it and fully understand how to recover themselves and personnel to get to their objectives," said Covarrubias.

• Date Taken: 05.22.2015
• Date Posted: 05.27.2015 10:53
• Story ID: 164659
• Location: HOHENFELS, BAYERN, DE