Soldiers battle it out with MILES gear at NTC training

Photo By Spc. Julia Dennard | Spc. Yung Chang, military police officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 123rd Battalion Sustainment Brigade, assists Spc. Charles C. Rowe, military police officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 123rd Battalion Sustainment Brigade, with Multiple Integrated Laser Equipment System gear April12 at the National Training Center. MILES gear has laser receivers, which are placed the torso and head of soldiers and determines what kind of damage or injury a soldier or vehicle would sustain.  

CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES

04.11.2011

Story by Spc. Julia Dennard 

24th Theater Public Affairs Support Element

Early on a chilly morning, soldiers with 4th Brigade, 1st Armored Division, waited in lines as their vehicles got Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System gear installed April 11 during their rotation at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, Calif.

MILES is a system of simulated warfare gear that is similar to laser tag exercises. The information recorded by the gear is very specific and can determine what kind of attack or weapon has been simulated when lasers hit receptors placed on Soldiers and vehicles.

Mario Figueroa and Pvt. Shayne Resendes, cavalry scouts with 2nd Squadron, 13th Cavalry Regiment, prepared their Bradley M3A3 Cavalry Fighting Vehicle to be uploaded with MILES gear.

“I am so excited and ready to deploy,” said Figueroa. “This training exercise is going to be good. We will be set up in our MILES gear and we are going to get a chance to use all our skills and training. We are ready to call for fire, reconnaissance and intelligence, raid buildings, and set up listening and observation posts.”

Scouts training at NTC will also run patrols, provide security, and react to various forms of enemy contact.

"I provide security and am the gunner during convoys," said Rowe. "Being the gunner leaves me vulnerable because I am up sticking out of the vehicle. I want this oppertunity to train with MILES gear so I know exactly where and when I've been hit, if I've been hit."

“The MILES gear will give us an accurate representation of what we may experience in combat or out on patrol,” said Resendes. “We don’t know exactly what is going to get thrown at us each day and that makes our job fun and challenging. We are finally getting the opportunity to do what we train for everyday.”

• Date Taken: 04.11.2011
• Date Posted: 05.13.2011 18:33
• Story ID: 70347
• Location: CALIFORNIA, US