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    Fire marker training ensure readiness for upcoming training exercises

    Taking Cover

    Photo By Sgt. Julian Padua | Matteis Saet, assigned to the Joint Multinational Readiness Center Dragon team, stands...... read more read more

    HOHENFELS, BAYERN, GERMANY

    03.25.2021

    Story by Sgt. Julian Padua 

    Joint Multinational Readiness Center

    HOHENFELS, Germany- The Joint Multinational Readiness Center Dragon Team conducted fire marker training at the Hohenfels Training Area to certify their new personnel and continue enhancing the team’s interoperability and readiness. The training provided an opportunity for the personnel to showcase their fire marker skillset in time for training rotations.

    The fire marker training involves replicating threats such as roadside bomb blasts and indirect fire, and using smoke to simulate close-air support. Sven Baechtle, JMRC Dragon team fire marker training instructor, has been assigned in Hohenfels for over 30 years and understands the importance of what this training entails.

    “My team and I need to certify our new personnel for the fire marker training so they can support the rotational units during the training exercises,” said Baechtle. “They need to be ready for any support needed.”

    Since there is no live fire in Hohenfels, the observer coach teams have to make their training as realistic as possible. In this case, the Dragon team used M83 smoke grenades and airburst simulators for the ground-to-ground obscuring or ground-to-air signaling. Without these pyrotechnics, the training scenario itself wouldn't be as realistic and there wouldn't be a sense of urgency or pressure from the rotational units during exercises.

    Matteis Saet, a Dragon team fire marker trainee, has only been assigned in Hohenfels for 6 months but thoroughly enjoys this type of training. “I really enjoy throwing the grenades and driving the Humvee as if we are in a realistic situation,” said Saet.

    For the new personnel, it’s important they conduct the training not only to be certified, but also learn from mistakes being made and to improve their skillset and knowledge for the future. For this type of training it’s important for them to know what they’re doing, because the pyrotechnic equipment are of dangerous use. Having a proficient instructor always helps.

    “My role is to train our personnel of any inefficiencies and prepare them for mission success,” said Baechtle.

    The instructors also want to make sure this training has a sense of fun as that’s one way to learn better.

    “This training is interesting and fun for our new personnel as they are using explosive devices to practice with in a training that’s not conducted very often,” said Baechtle.

    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 03.25.2021
    Date Posted: 03.29.2021 04:01
    Story ID: 392238
    Location: HOHENFELS, BAYERN, DE

    Web Views: 283
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN