Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Brandon Aird | Sgt. Jacob Boyd, a combat observation lasing team leader, Headquarters and...... read more read more
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RODRIGUEZ LIVE FIRE COMPLEX, South Korea - Soldiers from the Combat Observation Lasing Team, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, trained and validated their standing operating procedures and their tactics, techniques and procedures in the first week of March during a training exercise at Rodriguez Live Fire Complex, dubbed COLT PENTOMIC.
The COLT platoon operates in small teams far from friendly forces, said 1st Lt. Colin Marcum, COLT platoon leader, and its mission is to venture beyond friendly lines to identify enemy soldiers and equipment, without being detected. Once enemy soldiers or equipment are identified, the COLT team guides indirect fire and bombs onto the enemy.
“Being on a COLT team is a great opportunity to enhance my skills as a forward observer,” said Pvt. Justin Bradford, a 20 year old from Grand Rapids, Mich.
Compared to other soldiers, COLT teams have a higher probability of capture or death. However, they have the ability to destroy an entire mechanized battalion; their capacity to achieve battlefield results is phenomenal, said Marcum.
The COLT teams spent five days at Rodriguez Live Fire Complex, training as if they were forward of friendly lines. The COLT teams — and soldiers pretending to be the enemy — used the multiple integrated laser engagement system, a high-end military version of Lazer Tag, to enhance the training.
While at Rodriguez Live Fire Complex, the COLT platoon spent two nights braving the elements, establishing observation posts to detect enemy movement, evading opposing forces, and trying to stay awake.
“We spent two nights outside,” said Sgt. Kyle Koch, a 27-year-old team leader from Freemont, Neb. “We slept in shifts to mimic how we would sleep during combat.”
During the night the COLT teams endured temperatures that hovered below freezing, and visits from the wildlife.
“It was definitely a learning experience to stay outside over night and endure the cold,” said Bradford.
The COLT PENTOMIC training exercise not only provided realistic training for the soldiers, but also prepared them for the months ahead, said Marcum.
“We have numerous training exercises coming up,” explained Marcum. “We will not only be training within 1st Brigade Combat Team, but also with the [Republic of Korea] Army and National Guard units from the [United] States.”
| Date Taken: | 03.07.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 04.05.2012 00:29 |
| Story ID: | 86258 |
| Location: | BUSAN GWANG'YEOGSI [PUSAN-KWANGYOKSHI], KR |
| Web Views: | 92 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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