Photo By Staff Sgt. Tina Villalobos | Pfc. Stephanie Granillo, a human resources specialist, works with Staff Sgt. Donald...... read more read more
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FRESNO, Calif. - More than 460 soldiers of the 40th Combat Aviation Brigade participated in a multiple unit training assembly 8 (MUTA 8), Nov. 1-4, with troops simultaneously training at Camp Roberts and Camp San Luis Obispo, Calif.
The CAB’s soldiers provided air assault support to Marines training at the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center near Bridgeport, Calif., worked on weapons qualification, online training, driver training, rescue hoist training, VIP transports and air movement and signal training, incorporating the Standardized Integrated Command Post System. The Brigade’s work significantly improved its state readiness levels, said Command Sgt. Maj. Bryon Robinson, the CAB’s top enlisted member.
“I am so pleased with what we accomplished over the drill,” said Col. Laura Yeager, 40th CAB commander. “All of the units came and accomplished their individual weapons qualifications and got caught up on the annual training requirements for suicide prevention, sexual harassment prevention and [Army Physical Fitness Test]. Some hoist training was also accomplished, among other things.”
The Brigade, which served in Iraq from March through November of 2011, is working toward achieving a higher level of training by incorporating its Iraq experience in order to surpass routine qualifications and make its troops the best aviation unit in the country.
“Usually, the hardest thing during a MUTA 8 is to keep solders busy; but leaders with a proper plan can accomplish a lot in four days,” Robinson said. “We look to train hard and use our realistic experiences to improve our readiness and accomplish our goals.”
During the Brigade’s deployment to Iraq, soldiers gained hands-on experience and had to work together to achieve results. These Joes therefore recognize the importance and value of camaraderie and teamwork. Cohesiveness was obvious throughout the Brigade during the MUTA 8 and was particularly evident among two soldiers working to qualify with their weapons.
Pfc. Stephanie Granillo, a human resources specialist, sought the help of her battle buddy, chaplain’s assistant Staff Sgt. Donald Dow, during M16 qualification. “When I first got there, I was nervous and a little hesitant about what to do, and he helped me out a lot,” Granillo said. “It had been a while since I had worked with the weapons. When I first started shooting, I was way off. He talked with me about trigger squeeze and how to hold the weapon. There are different kinds of leaders — there are the kind who tell you, and there are the kind that show you. He showed me, and I like that best.
“I scored sharpshooter. I feel really good about that.”
Dow said he enjoyed sharing his expertise with a junior troop. “I am coming to the end of my career, and it feels good to help a junior soldier that may be just starting out,” he said.
“If the soldier sees you out there actually working alongside them, it gains their confidence in you as a leader. She actually did quite well qualifying. Whenever anyone can succeed after some advice you have given them, it feels good.”
At Camp Roberts, Yeager talked to troops one-on-one and offered some on-the-spot mentoring to Spc. Rachel McDowell, a potential officer candidate in 3rd Battalion, 140th Aviation Regiment, 40th CAB.
“I really respect Colonel Yeager as a leader and as a female role model,” said McDowell, who holds a bachelor’s degree in aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. “She gave me some pointers on which route would be best for me based upon her own experience and knowledge.
“I would like to see a commission before I turn 27,” she continued. “I want to make a career out of this and become a helicopter pilot. I hope to one day retire as a general. Colonel Yeager gave me some great advice, and I am really looking forward to implementing it. … She’s a colonel — she obviously got there somehow!”
Soldiers throughout the Brigade valued the opportunity for more extensive training, and Yeager said she benefited from the training as well.
“Yesterday was a great opportunity for me to get out and see the soldiers from A Company, 3-140th,” she said. “They brought their LUH helicopters out, and they were doing live hoist training. So I had the opportunity to go out and experience a live hoist on that aircraft. I learned a lot about what the crew chiefs and the medics do in combat and here in the states to rescue personnel on the ground.”
“I am a pilot, and my experience has always been from inside the cockpit,” she continued. “I never really understood how challenging it was for the medics on the ground, taking care of patients with the wind, dust and noise. … They’re so competent at what they do. I felt very comfortable and safe the whole time being lowered 70 feet from the aircraft to the ground and back up again.”
Troops from the 40th CAB train extensively to prepare for any mission that comes their way. The Brigade’s training provides many opportunities to work with other units throughout the state in joint training exercises as well as engaging individual soldiers as appropriate.
“We do quite a bit of training in between drills and in addition to annual training,” Yeager said. “I would like to work with other units to get soldiers on board aircraft as much as possible.”
| Date Taken: | 11.04.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 02.19.2013 14:21 |
| Story ID: | 102225 |
| Location: | FRESNO, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 241 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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