Photo By 1st Lt. Fiona Riley | Tanks from 1st battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment pull security during Combined Resolve...... read more read more
Subscribe
HOHENFELS, GERMANY- Training in a tactical environment can be stressful. It can push a Soldier and their equipment to the limits. It can put a Soldier into uncomfortable and unfamiliar situations, but as a result of that training, the Soldier has a new set of knowledge and increased readiness that they can bring to the field. When a Soldier is able to train as they fight with our allies and partner nations we increase our interoperability and overall readiness.
Combined Resolve is a training exercise at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC). The exercise involves soldiers from multiple countries working together during a 10-day exercise to find solutions and overcome situations in a tactical environment.
“The training that’s occurring in Combined Resolve is a decisive-action training exercise that allows us to take a critical look at the way multinational operations occur within NATO,” said Capt. David Saxton, Task Force Fire Support Trainer, Warhog Maneuver Task Force, JMRC, Hohenfels, Germany.
NATO consists of 29 countries, and according to their website, is open to any other European state in a position to further the principles of this treaty and to contribute to the security of the North Atlantic area.
“One of the greatest strengths of NATO is our size,” Saxton said. “It’s imperative to take a critical look at how we train together from the human, procedural and training perspectives. If deterrence fails and we transition to crisis, it’s important that we are trained and responsive to any threat we may encounter.”
When Soldiers enter the exercise, they are given battle tasks and objectives to meet. While the Soldiers try to meet their goals, an opposing force, OPFOR, try and deter their efforts to simulate what a soldier would experience in a battlefield environment. Soldiers are often met with simulated attacks, ambushes and in-direct fire that they must react to in a timely manner.
“As OPFOR, we play the enemy, we come out here and run simple operations, such as an ambush and make it complicated for (training units) to follow us,” said Pvt. 1st Class Joshua Osborne, 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, JMRC, Hohenfels, Germany. “Right now, it’s hectic and we are pushing them, but that’s what makes them better warriors and Soldiers.”
The 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, based at JMRC, Hohenfels, Germany, acts as OPFOR during Combined Resolve exercises. Many of the Soldiers assigned to the unit have been through the rotation multiple times and are very knowledgeable in the battle tactics and landscape of the area, which helps make them experts in their role.
Along with the stressors of OPFOR, the unique climate and terrain at the JMRC is something most countries will not find in any other training environment. JMRC is also the only U.S. Army Combat Training Center outside of the United States.
The environment in the “box,” which is the area where exercise occurs, includes many hills, wooded areas and other terrain features, which can make it difficult for Soldiers to navigate. Add these elements and tactical movements can become extremely difficult.
“Something as simple as refueling can take up to an hour due to poor road conditions,” said Saxton.
Recently, the weather conditions shifted during the exercise, which caused delays in movements and vehicles getting stuck. Although this can be difficult, these issues give Soldiers the unique opportunity to gain training experience dealing with issues they don’t experience on a regular basis.
Through all of the obstacles and difficulties, Combined Resolve offers an extremely unique experience for NATO ally and partner forces that increases readiness, interoperability and cohesion.
“We have a lot of countries who could benefit from this training,” said Osborne. “We try to show them what we can help them do to improve their fighting skills. We want them to be able to defend themselves like we are able to defend ourselves.”
| Date Taken: | 02.02.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 02.05.2020 08:35 |
| Story ID: | 361658 |
| Location: | HOHENFELS, BAYERN, DE |
| Web Views: | 126 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Combined Resolve pushes Soldiers Limits-Training to Win at Joint Multinational Readiness Center, by 1LT Fiona Riley, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
