72nd IBCT integrates force, develops teamwork during urban ops

Photo By Lt. Col. Deanna Bague | Staff Sgt. Larry West of A Company, 3rd Battalion, 141st Infantry Regiment, 72nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, provides cover during urban operations training at McGregor Range, N.M.  

MCGREGOR RANGE, UNITED STATES

11.01.2009

Story by Maj. Deanna Bague 

Fort Bliss Public Affairs Office

MCGREGOR RANGE, N.M. — Texas Guardsmen assigned to the 72nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team trained urban operations and learned how they will work with Iraqi security forces through the integration of force.

"They do a joint forces patrol with role players posing as the Iraqi army," said Sgt. 1st Class Eddie Gonzales, an observer controller/trainer from the 1st Battalion, 360th Infantry Regiment, 5th Armored Brigade. "They also integrate their patrols with the Iraqi police and do a leader's engagement in order to put a face on the Iraqi army and the Iraqi police."

According to Gonzales, the training teaches Soldiers how to engage local nationals in country and how to develop relationships.

"It helps them to think from a direct fight to a non direct fight with the Iraqis leading the way," he said.

Observer controller/trainers said even though the negotiations are a significant part of the training, Soldiers also received instruction on how to defend themselves should a situation arise where the use of force is necessary.

Sgt. Alejandro Ortiz , a team leader from the 3rd Battalion, 141st Infantry Regiment, 72nd IBCT, said the scenarios he underwent included clearing buildings, identifying threats, treating and evacuating casualties.

"In order for [the instructors] to make it more realistic for us, they popped smoke — yellow, green — it didn't matter," said Ortiz. "[The smoke] was to give us concealment and to confuse us .We were confused at first because we hadn't worked together. We actually learned how to move as a team."

The Guardsmen said teamwork is an important element they had to develop and continue as they progress through their mobilization here.

Cohesiveness can be a challenge when a unit comprised of 3,000 plus Soldiers from across a state link up for the first time to execute critical tasks, said Ortiz.

"Once we went through the lanes a couple of times, I think we came out looking pretty good — working with each other and knowing exactly how it feels," he said.

Pfc. Victoriano Monico, also from the 3rd Bn., 141st Inf. Regt., who is from south Texas, said he feels comfortable with the other Guardsmen regardless of where they are from.

"We had some fillers from different parts of Texas," said Monico. "Some came from Fort Worth; some came from the Austin area. You adapt to it and you get to know the person. It doesn't matter where they come from — a Soldier is a Soldier."

• Date Taken: 11.01.2009
• Date Posted: 11.05.2009 13:50
• Story ID: 41149
• Location: MCGREGOR RANGE, US