Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Brian Scott | Staff Sgt. Cristian Contreras, observer controller/trainer with Task Force Outlaw, 5th...... read more read more
MCGREGOR RANGE, N.M.- As the Army’s premier trainers, First Army Observer Controller/Trainers are always striving to improve. Recently, soldiers from First Army Division West’s 3rd Bn., 362nd Regt., “Stallion,” 5th Armored Brigade, travelled to the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to ensure their training is up to date.
The purpose behind the trip is to ensure the training the OC/T’s do at McGregor Range is current and satisfies the needs of the deploying joint war fighter performing detainee operations at Guantanamo Bay.
“We want to make sure that what we teach here transitions easy once they hit the ground at ‘GITMO’,” said 1st Lt. Brian Mangano, team chief, 3rd Bn., 362nd, Regt., “Stallion.”
Currently, Task Force Outlaw is teaching a blanketed approach to the detainee operations mission which includes Iraq, Afghanistan and GTMO. TF Outlaw will consolidate with “Stallion” soon to take advantage of transformational efficiencies.
“We identified it needs to be separated into different lanes of training per detainee operations site,” added Mangano, “and one being ‘GITMO’ since we have a lot of sailors come through here, we need to have [training lanes] that hone in on the specific needs for ‘GITMO’.”
What the deploying joint war fighters are trained on is heightened security. They are taught the basics of what to do in case of a riot or the chance detainees get physical with the guards.
Another lesson learned from the trip was tnot only does the actual training need to be updated, but interacting with the detainees in different living situations has to be considered. The detainees either live in a maximum security setting or in a more communal type environment.
The battalion stays in contact with the soldiers and sailors stationed at the detention facility they trained for the mission, constantly looking for ways to improve the training.
“We sat down and had a roundtable with all the previously trained units; they already had their questions and recommendations on how to change training here,” added Mangano, “we did hear some good feedback on the training we had here; they appreciated that it easily translated down there and they were able to fall into the positions.”
The “Stallions” are taking their notes, and up until the transfer of authority with Task Force Outlaw, there are no plans to change the training. They are currently updating the training procedures so they will be ready to continue the training once the mission is transferred over.
The battalion is planning to send one of their soldiers to Bagram, Afghanistan to observe what Mangano saw at GTMO and bring back notes to evaluate what they are training and make adjustments to that mission.
| Date Taken: | 05.24.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 06.13.2011 15:03 |
| Story ID: | 72023 |
| Location: | MCGREGOR RANGE, NEW MEXICO, US |
| Web Views: | 123 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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