Photo By Sgt. Keven Parry | Soldiers from the 601st Aviation Support Battalion, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st...... read more read more
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SALINA, Kansas - Practice, intense training, and overcoming challenges are key factors in building a good team. Teams of soldiers often face a myriad of obstacles, which they overcome through strong teamwork.
Soldiers of the 601st Aviation Support Battalion, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, spent the week of Sept. 10 to 14 at the Great Plains Joint Training Center in Salina, Kan., strengthening their teamwork skills during the battalion field training exercise.
The “Guardian” team focused on developing basic soldier skills and practiced deployment operations while enduring field conditions together as a battalion as part of continuing training for their upcoming deployment.
“We’ve got a week out here of nothing but focused training to get them ready to go,” said Maj. J.B. Davis, the 601st ASB executive officer.
The FTX included training in marksmanship, reflexive fire, battle drills, roll-over procedures, convoy operations, radio communications, air-ground integration, downed aircraft recovery, and reacting to contact, Davis said. Soldiers who are new to the Army and the unit had the chance to learn from those who have deployment experience.
“We’ve learned a lot of new techniques from the older [non-commissioned officers],” said Sgt. Malcom Coulter, a water treatment and refueling specialist with Company A, 601st ASB. “Each day we just add those on to our normal routine.”
Soldiers faced simulated deployment situations daily. Although each company has different responsibilities within the battalion, they all shared the difficulties of dealing with a field environment.
“When we get out here to the field everybody is on the same team,” said Spc. Joshua Lawson, a hydraulics repair specialist with Company A, 601st ASB.
The ability to work well as a team was tested during the FTX through missions that involved Downed Aircraft Recovery Teams and the battalion’s recently created Guardian Security and Reconnaissance Cell, teams of soldiers who are prepared to react in case an aircraft lands unexpectedly in a dangerous area.
“I’ve found out how to work better with my teammates,” said Spc. Kenya Clark, an aviation power plant repairman with Company B, 601st ASB. “We’re just coming together as a unit.”
The 601st ASB had the opportunity to put their training and teamwork to the test during this FTX. Situations similar to what they could find during their deployment gave the Guardian soldiers a chance to gauge what they are capable of.
“We’ve had some excellent training,” Davis said. “This is a world-class training event.”
| Date Taken: | 09.12.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 09.17.2012 22:49 |
| Story ID: | 94863 |
| Location: | SALINA, KANSAS, US |
| Web Views: | 74 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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