Courtesy Photo | A North Dakota Army National Guard Soldier from the Recruit Training Battalion...... read more read more
DEVILS LAKE, N.D. - The North Dakota National Guard's Recruit Training Battalion (brought its three companies from Bismarck, Devils Lake and Fargo to Camp Grafton Training Center for a day of team building exercises and hands-on military training, June 12.
Nearly 128 new and potential North Dakota Guardsmen had the opportunity to participate in unique training exercises that are not normally afforded to them on typical drill weekends. The Soldiers were introduced to Camp Grafton's rappel tower as well as the Engagement Skills Trainer and Humvee Egress Assistance Trainer.
Similar to a room-sized video game, the Engagement Skills Trainer simulates situations in which Soldiers practice their shooting techniques with a variety of crew-served weapons. The Egress Assistance Trainer simulates a Humvee rollover, introducing trainees to the sensation of a potential rollover accident while teaching them how to safely exit the vehicle should they ever be in a rollover situation.
Soldiers also participated in team-building exercises provided through a ropes course and a paintball course in which the recruits practiced Army squad maneuvers.
RTB cadre members awoke the Soldiers at 4:30 a.m. Saturday to conduct a physical fitness test, which includes a timed 2-mile run, sit-ups and push-ups. From there they were divided into four groups and shuffled to the various training areas.
Concurrently, the RTB held a "Best Warrior" competition for its members. Five of the best Soldiers from each company faced each other in a series of events to determine the top Guardsmen. Participants were quizzed on a variety of military knowledge topics, completed a land navigation course, fired in a marksmanship competition and raced to see who could disassemble and reassemble an M16 rifle the fastest.
The winner, Pvt. Dale Stockdill, of the Bismarck Recruit Training Company, was declared the "Best Warrior" winner on Sunday.
Joining the Soldiers were 48 of their guests - potential recruits who have expressed some interest in the North Dakota National Guard.
Casey Hamann, a potential North Dakota Guardsman, said he enjoyed attending the training and was glad to have the opportunity to see how the organization works.
"I think it's really important we are learning teamwork and military values," he said.
Haman is awaiting his seventeenth birthday so he can enlist in the North Dakota National Guard.
This is the first time that all three companies in the RTB have come together for group training since 2005.
Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Mittleider, of Bismarck, said that both this year's event and that in 2005 were extremely successful.
"If we can get even two or three new Guardsmen out of these events, then it is definitely worth it," he said.
Planning for the event is extensive and requires a number of personnel to support it. More than 50 support staff attended the weekend, including trainers and safety personnel.
"Any time you have an event like this, safety plays an important part. We had three medics and numerous emergency medical vehicles strategically placed around the training site in case of any possible injuries," Mittleider said.
The RTB prepares Army National Guard Soldiers for the successful completion of Basic Combat Training, and subsequent military occupational skill qualification, by giving them the type of hands-on training they can expect to experience at those initial entry courses.
"The RTB has helped me so much. I was a step ahead of everyone else when I went to my basic training," said Pfc. Ashley King, of Minot, who recently returned from her Advanced Individual Training, where she learned her military occupational specialty. "The little things helped and it was fun."
| Date Taken: | 06.15.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 06.15.2010 10:31 |
| Story ID: | 51418 |
| Location: | DEVILS LAKE, US |
| Web Views: | 188 |
| Downloads: | 141 |
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