‘Brave Rifles’ Troopers prepare for NTC rotation

Courtesy Photo | Thomas Kirkbride, a mission command systems integration team network specialist, instructs troopers on the crew access unit system and its capabilities at Fort Hood, Texas. (Photo by 1st Lt. Matthew C. Jincks, 1st Squadron, 3rd Cavalry Regiment Unit Public Affairs representative)  

FORT HOOD, TEXAS, UNITED STATES

09.22.2015

Story by Sgt. Travis King 

3d Cavalry Regiment Public Affairs Office

FORT HOOD, Texas - Troopers with the 1st Squadron "Tiger," 3rd Cavalry Regiment assembled their deployable rapid assembly shelter at the Fort Hood Mission Command Training Center here Sept. 14-18.

This mission directly supported their squad training and tested their equipment for their upcoming rotation to the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California.

Currently, the majority of the unit is in the field conducting squad and live-fire training exercises in preparation for more complex operations later in the year.

Several classes were taught this week on the proper use and capabilities of the installed systems. These classes included power generation, overviews of the command post platform and crew access unit system, and joint capabilities release operations.

"The capabilities of the technology we can bring to the table now provides the ability to integrate multiple systems into one easy to use system,” said Thomas Kirkbride, instructor for the CAU class. “A good functional TOC [Tactical Operations Center] that uses all its digital systems will have no problem at NTC or on any deployment."

This is the squadron’s first decisive action rotation since the start of the war, and their first NTC rotation without a confirmed follow-on mission.

"It would be great to have a confirmed follow-on mission, so we can focus our gated training towards that mission set,” said Capt. Josh Smith, an intelligence officer. “However, with the NTC DA rotation 16-04 on the horizon, this allows for us to train towards the DA fight."

Despite the Squadron's shortened reset timeline after returning from Afghanistan and Cuba followed by an accelerated training timeline for NTC, Soldiers will be prepared for whatever happens at NTC.

Even without a follow on mission, a unit's overall readiness is an important factor that must always be taken into account, and any chance to get out and train leadership as well as Soldiers' skills is a great opportunity that should not be wasted, said Smith.

"We are working to ensure 100 percent readiness for the upcoming NTC rotation, and are very fortunate to have both experienced analysts and new analysts ready to learn and adapt their skill sets." said Staff Sgt. Sarah Horton, a Tiger squadron Trooper. "I have no doubt that the Tiger Squadron S2 [Intelligence] shop will be one of the most prepared shops in the regiment upon deployment to the National Training Center."

• Date Taken: 09.22.2015
• Date Posted: 10.16.2015 14:55
• Story ID: 179121
• Location: FORT HOOD, TEXAS, US