FORT IRWIN, Calif. – As the 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team's National Training Center rotation enters the final phase, Soldiers with 2d Battalion, 114th Field Artillery Regiment, begin their live fire exercises June 7, 2017.
This NTC rotation has demanded a lot from the Soldiers of the 2-114th as it prepares them for future combat missions.
“The 2-114th is a demanding unit because we are in the field while other units might not be as much, but the reward is to know that you’re getting the training that you need to succeed when you go on missions,” said 1st Lt. Paul Armana, the platoon leader for 1st platoon, Battery A, 2-114th.
The 2-114th, also known as the Dragon Battalion, is an important part of the 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team.
The unit’s mission is to make sure that we are the most efficient at providing fire support for maneuvering units within the 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team, said Armana.
With a 1,200 square mile training area known as “the box,” the Dragon Battalion had more area to train in than they have at their normal training area, Camp Shelby, Miss.
“We’re very restricted at Camp Shelby, so here at the National Training Center it gives me as the commander a better picture of how my unit operates in different types of terrain or in a stressful environment,” said Capt. Ian Scroubelos, the commander of Battery A, 2-114th.
This NTC rotation has helped the Soldiers of 2-114th adapt to stress as they prepare for future missions.
“This has been a stressful event but it’s also been an eye-opener and a lot of my guys have handled the stress well,” said Scroubelos. “This has given me a positive outlook of how my unit will do in combat.”
As the rotation comes to an end, Scroubelos believes that his Soldiers are ready for future missions.
“NTC is the closest thing we get to combat,” said Scroubelos. “They’re supposed to make it hard over here so it’s easy for us when we go overseas, and I feel very confident that my unit can perform in combat situations.”
Soldiers with the 2-114th will be able to take the knowledge they obtained at NTC back home with them as they continue to drill and train at their home station.
“I know they’re going to appreciate Camp Shelby a bit more, but they have definitely learned a lot from this training environment,” said Scroubelos.
Date Taken: | 06.08.2017 |
Date Posted: | 06.09.2017 02:29 |
Story ID: | 236974 |
Location: | FORT IRWIN, CALIFORNIA, US |
Hometown: | BILOXI, MISSISSIPPI, US |
Hometown: | BRANDON, MISSISSIPPI, US |
Web Views: | 238 |
Downloads: | 3 |
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