Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Carlos Burger | Soldiers from Company E, 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 2nd...... read more read more
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By Staff Sgt. Carlos M. Burger II
2nd Brigade Combat Team,
4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office
FORT CARSON, Colo. – A convoy moves at a slow, steady pace down a dirt road. The lead vehicle comes to a stop after detecting what might be a possible improvised explosive device. After setting up a blockade, the team deploys a small robot to identify the IED and determine the next course of action. They are placed a safe distance away from the bomb, because the loss of a robot is extremely less significant than the loss of a human life.
These are some of the tactics that units from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division learned as they were trained on route clearance by the 4th Engineer Battalion during the Gauntlet II exercise from March 2-21. Company E, 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment and Company E, 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, spent time in the classroom and in the training grounds as they prepare for their upcoming exercise at the National Training Center, in Fort Irwin, Calif.
"Route clearance is a tactic that was developed to clear the roads of IEDs so that mission capable units could move down the road unimpeded," Sgt. Charles Lanning, a team leader with 569th Engineer Battalion.
This is the first time that 4th EN BN has conducted joint training with the Warhorse brigade on route clearance and their expertise has been valuable, both as a learning tool and what to expect when the units deploy.
"What we've been doing here is training on what to look for: IEDs, indicators of IEDs, spotting triggermen and the like," said 2nd Lt. Colon B. O'toole, a platoon leader for Company E, 1-67 AR. "Right now we're building a base for what will eventually be a training sprint to NTC and eventually our deployment."
"Most of my company has not worked with route clearance packages so the techniques they are showing us can enable us to judge what we need to do when we go to Iraq," said 1st Sgt. James Powell, Company E, 2-8 IN first sergeant.
"The training, working on spotting IEDs and assuming different formations are great," said Spc. Brandon Harris, from Company E, 1-67 AR. "Not a lot of Soldiers and leaders in our unit has experience with this, but they are taking advice from those who have."
O'Toole also stressed the importance of units training together as part of the overall mission.
"Engineers being incorporated with others are a combat multiplier. When you place units together, you increase their volatility on the battlefield," he said.
Although the classroom and lane training were tedious, Both units felt better about what their roles are overseas and confident about going forward and doing a job they aren't used to doing.
"I'm full of confidence in my Soldiers and NCOs in my company. They are or will be getting all the training they need to be able to go out and be successful at route clearance," Powell said.
"I'm confident in my leadership and when the time comes to deploy, we'll be ready. Everyone here knows their job well," Harris said.
"Training like this is more specialized," O'toole added. "I think that this type of training would be critical for more units, not just engineers."
| Date Taken: | 03.14.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 03.14.2008 13:42 |
| Story ID: | 17367 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 358 |
| Downloads: | 263 |
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