First Army OC/Ts, Evaluating at Crimson Dawn 3.0

Photo By Sgt. Tyler Morford | First Army OC/T, Sgt. 1st Class Jason Hutchinson, with the 1-393 120th Infantry Brigade, participates in a briefing at Fort Custer, Michigan, during the validation exercise, Crimson Dawn 3.0, on March 23, 2021, where Civil Affairs Soldiers from the 308th CA BDE and 415th CA BN are certified before being deployed to support Atlantic Resolve.  

FORT CUSTER, MICHIGAN, UNITED STATES

03.23.2021

Story by Spc. Tyler Morford 

First Army

Crimson Dawn 3.0, a validation exercise conducted at Fort Custer, Michigan, marks the beginning of a deployment for Soldiers from the 308th Civil Affairs Brigade and the 415th Civil Affairs Battalion. Operated by the 308th CA BDE, this exercise will test the unit’s readiness through evaluations, certified by OC/Ts.

Being a U.S. Army OC/T, an observer, coach, and trainer, is a crucial role in the development of these Soldiers before their mobilization ends and their mission begins; the OC/Ts mentor through real-time feedback with their own experiences and can help Soldiers find better or more efficient ways to accomplish objectives they will see when deployed.

While OC/Ts from different units, who are partnered with the 308th CA BDE, are performing the evaluations, First Army OC/Ts form the foundation of the validation exercise. First Army OC/T, Sgt. 1st Class, Jason Hutchinson, of the 1-393 120th Infantry Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas, provides that mentoring to the different units being evaluated, “We’re here to ensure that the training is done, and it’s done to standard, and that they meet the intent.”

While the 308th CA BDE OC/Ts are assigned to and evaluate the CAT teams, or Civil Affairs Teams, the First Army OC/Ts observe, coach, and train between the teams and partnered units. “First Army is involved because Fort Hood, where I am stationed with the 1-393, is the actual mobilization site, that is where the unit’s destination is going to be after their pre-mobilization CTE, it’s basically the last stop for them before their on their way to do their mission.”

The First Army OC/Ts, and the partnered OC/Ts from the 308th, will perform evaluation checks on Mission Essential tasks, training objectives, and other skills that meet the commander’s intent before the units deploy to support CA missions for Atlantic Resolve. As the First Army OC/Ts say, their observing, coaching, and training includes mentoring, “Mentoring and training go hand-in-hand."

• Date Taken: 03.23.2021
• Date Posted: 04.13.2021 12:49
• Story ID: 393549
• Location: FORT CUSTER, MICHIGAN, US