Adjutant General of the Oregon National Guard visits exercise XCTC

Photo By Sgt. Jennifer Lena | Sgt. 1st Class Cheyanne Mortenson with the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team’s 141st Brigade Support Battalion receives a coin from Maj. Gen. Michael E. Stencel, Adjutant General, Oregon, after exceeding her unit’s expectations July 31, 2018 at Camp Roberts, California during the 41st IBCT’s eXportable Combat Training Capability (XCTC) exercise. XCTC is designed to certify platoon proficiency across the brigade in coordination with First Army. “Think about safety, stay focused on what you need to do to do your job and be ready in the event that this nation calls on you,” said Stencel. “There is no better opportunity to refine that, to be all in and work as a team and as one Army.” (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jennifer Lena, 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)  

SAN MIGUEL, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES

07.31.2018

Story by Sgt. Jennifer Lena 

115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

CAMP ROBERTS, California – The 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) welcomed Maj. Gen. Michael E. Stencel, Adjutant General, Oregon, and Brig. Gen. William J. Prendergast IV, Assistant Adjutant General, Oregon, to exercise Exportable Combat Training Capability (XCTC) at Camp Roberts, California, July 31, 2018.
Stencel and Prendergast surveyed tactical operation centers (TOCs) and met with leaders and Soldiers attending the exercise.
XCTC is a large scale, brigade-wide field training exercise that simulates a combat environment and is designed to test platoon proficiency in coordination with First Army. During this training, which took place from July 21 – August 12, Soldiers of the 41st IBCT conducted a variety of exercises meant to improve their individual job performance in real world situations.
“It’s important for me to visit large scale exercises because, being a general officer, I don’t get a lot of exposure to this,” said Stencel. “This also gives me an appreciation of the level and depth of training Soldiers go through and the readiness requirements that need to be performed so that they’re ready to deploy and meet the demands of the United States.”
This training exercise prepared the 41st IBCT for supporting federal mobilizations. Units exercised tactical, operational, communications, and decision-making skills while also focused on problem analysis.
“I want troops to gain an appreciation for the importance of readiness and realize what their strengths and weaknesses are,” said Stencel. “These exercises help Soldiers realize how they can be the best Soldiers they can be so that they’re ready to deploy.”
Stencel and Prendergast said they know just how crucial quality training like XCTC is for our Armed Forces. Training like this allows Soldiers to hone their proficiency in their military occupational specialties and Stencel felt confident that his Soldiers will be ready to perform if called upon.
The visitors were briefed on unit strength, training procedures and the individual accomplishments of Soldiers throughout the 41st IBCT. Stencel met with and presented coins to those who exceeded their unit’s expectations.
“I’ve just been amazed at the positive attitudes that these folks have,” said Stencel. “This is asking a lot from our troops because this is when a lot of people are out on vacation and they have sacrificed that to come down here for a few weeks in 110-degree heat to train for their federal mission. They’re doing an excellent job.”

• Date Taken: 07.31.2018
• Date Posted: 08.05.2018 13:22
• Story ID: 287278
• Location: SAN MIGUEL, CALIFORNIA, US