2-17 Cavalry Soldiers stay trained while in fight

Photo By Master Sgt. Ryan Matson | Staff Sgt. Rodney Miller, D Troop, 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment (left) points...... read more read more

Photo By Master Sgt. Ryan Matson | Staff Sgt. Rodney Miller, D Troop, 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment (left) points out the ideal locations to set up a Traffic Control Point during recertification training at Forward Operating Base Warrior April 13 in Kirkuk.  see less | View Image Page

04.19.2006

Story by Staff Sgt. Ryan Matson 

101st Combat Aviation Brigade

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Sgt. Ryan Matson
101st Combat Aviation Brigade

The 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, has been busy.

The pilots have flown over 16,000 flight hours, more than any other unit in the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, which supports two different infantry brigade combat teams in aerial operation over Iraq. The Troopers at the Forward Arming and Refueling Point have pumped over a million gallons of fuel since arriving in Kirkuk just seven months ago.

The mechanics and crew chiefs who work on the Squadron's Kiowa Warrior helicopters have maintained an 88-percent combat readiness rating of the aircraft.

With all this going on, the Cav still has made time with training, and to incorporate their new infantry partners in that training. Company C, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, the infantry company attached to the squadron for joint operations in Kirkuk, recently joined the Cav in some recertification training at Forward Operating Base Warrior from April 9 to 13. The Cav went over convoy operations and Traffic Control Point (TCP) training, while the infantry taught the Rules Of Engagement segment of training.

"This is their job and they do it well," Staff Sgt. Rodney Miller, D Troop, 2-17 Cav, said of the infantry ROE class. Miller started the day's training with the TCP block of instruction/demonstration. The class re-created the steps and procedures of searching people and vehicles stopped at a TCP and the roles of all Troopers, from flaggers to Platoon Leaders, in the TCP.

The training covered what to do when people comply or resist being searched and how to properly and thoroughly search a vehicle for weapons, explosives, intelligence documents, detonation devices and other things commonly used by the enemy against coalition forces. Every facet of setting up the point and the materials used in so doing was covered. It also emphasized the value of common sense and sound judgment by Troopers during TCP operations.

"Not everybody coming through the point is a terrorist, more often than not it may be an innocent person just trying to take some sheep to the market, but we always have to be vigilant and on the lookout," Miller said.

Sgt. Matthew Clark, D Troop, 2-17 Cav, covered searching personnel and what to do when the person resists. He also covered detaining subjects found with dangerous items on their person or in their vehicle for interrogation.

All 2-17 Soldiers were required to go through the training.

"I really didn't know too much about TCPs, so this training was very good," Spc. Chris Schmitt, a Trooper in D Troop, said. "It showed what to look for when searching vehicles and personnel and the distances of a TCP. The demonstrators did a god job and I definitely could be part of a TCP now."

Next, Company A, 1-327 briefed the Troopers on ROE and escalation of force. The training including several hypothetical situations to gauge Troopers responses, such as what to do when being attacked at night without positive enemy identification, or how to react to people digging by the side of the road and other situations Troopers might commonly encounter during daily activities in Iraq.

"Their class showed how the situation and environment can influence the ROE, and why it's important to talk to get the intelligence brief before you go out," Sgt. Vivian Golley-Morgan, Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 2-17 Cav, said after the day's training. "The training was all good, in fact, I didn't think it would be that good."

In the final piece of training, 1st. Sgt. John Hendricks went talked about convoy operations and the myriad of details associated with each convoy.

"Every convoy that goes out of the gate now is a combat convoy," Hendricks told the Troopers. "And every convoy is different; they're constantly changing as the enemy adapts his tactics."

"If you do convoys and you aren't talking to everybody else out there doing them, you're wrong. Nobody knows everything, you've gotta learn and this war is ever-changing."

Hendricks talked to the Troopers about the various types of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) they might encounter on a convoy and how they are changing. He also emphasized checks prior to leaving on any convoy.

"When's the last time you cleaned your toe straps? Have they been snatch-tested or are they going to snap when you have to use them under fire? When's the last time you cleaned the mud off your toe bars and made sure they work? When's the last time you changed a tire with your Basic Issued Items?" Hendricks asked, noting that is why automatic crew drills are conducted every 30 days. He said details save lives.

"Gunners need to be trained to remain at eyeball-defilade each time they go out on a convoy, so that the only thing visible peaking out of the turret is the top of that Soldier's helmet," Hendricks said. "When we talk to the pilots and other people who see other units gunners in action, they say there are too many people standing up in the turret. That is someone asking to get shot."

At the conclusion of his class, Hendricks" Troopers demonstrated a tight-line halt, getting into a box formation, a 'snatch and grab" (using a strap to quickly retrieve a grounded vehicle in a convoy) and using a toe-bar for vehicle rescue. The Soldiers hooked up the toe-bars in under 30 seconds and performed each action correctly and expediently.

"These convoy operations are constantly changing, so it's good to train to refresh on them," Sgt. Eric Barna, D Troop, 2-17 Cav said.

Command Sgt. Major Miguel Ortiz, 2-17 Cav's command sergeant major, said the training was beneficial not only because it re-enforced the 101st Airborne Division's mandated training points, but also allowed the Soldiers to train with the infantry Soldiers they support.

"At FOB McKenzie (the previous AO of the Cav), we supported the infantry but they were apart from us," Ortiz said. "Here, they augment our squadron which brings further air/ground integration. It's becoming a pretty tight routine " the Soldiers are starting to bond together."