Photo By 1st Lt. Patrick Maloney | Australian Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians detonate the simulated improvised...... read more read more
CAMP REDLEG, United Arab Emirates - Bravo Battery, 3-13 FAR secures Camp Redleg by guarding the main entry control points and ensures the defense measures that protect the camp are adequate in performing its mission. So far, Bravo Battery has done an excellent job, but on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013, 1st Sergeant Cary Adams, a native of Liberty, Ky., and senior noncommissioned officer for Bravo Battery, posed a hypothetical question in the form of a training exercise, what if something were to go wrong?
The day began with a "pop" and then a loud, thunderous “boom” as the Australian Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technicians detonated two simulated improvised explosive devices at the ECP. The IED triggered a chain reaction from the Soldiers standing guard who starting calling back the events that just transcribed at the gate. The radio transmissions directed to the Base Defense Operations Center led to the stirring of the “bee’s nest,” inside the BDOC, sending soldiers scrambling for their equipment and gear.
The countless number of radios on hand within the tent echoed the words “training event, training event, training event” as if that meant anything other than what Bravo’s soldiers have been training for ever since this deployment started. Bravo Battery has been training for this for months. Bravo Battery was well prepared to defend Camp Redleg. They were ready with not just their equipment, but if they were anxiously awaiting those blasts to go off for some time. This was the start of a training exercise meant to test the reaction skills of the SECFOR soldiers or as 1st Lt. Michael Green, a native of Newport News, Va., and a platoon leader in Bravo Battery, said, “Just a regular day.”
The event served its purpose in assessing the leadership skills within Bravo Battery. Overall, the day went smoothly especially when so much was built to go awry during the training event. Once the blasts went off at the gate, simulated casualties littered the entry control point area. First responders immediately took action by providing tactical casualty care and prepared the casualties for evacuation.
The BDOC sent other platoons to secure the area as well as the other gates on Camp Redleg. When Bravo secured the entire perimeter of the camp and treated every simulated casualty within Camp Redleg’s confines, Bravo Battery called a halt to their training. Having successfully completed the training, Bravo Battery can reflect on their job well done and also on how to make improvements for the next time. “It is through exercising your drills and plans that you are able to refine them and ensure everyone clearly understands what to do in an actual event,” said 1st Sgt. Cary Adams.
Even more impressive was the collaboration between Bravo Battery and the Explosive Ordnance Team from the Australian Defense Force. The Australians, “brought over actual props to be used, and when asked about using real (pyrotechnics) at the gate, they were all for it. They set everything up and detonated it themselves. I say they went above and beyond what was required of them,” said Sgt. 1st Class John Beteta, a native of Lawton, Okla., and a platoon sergeant with Bravo Battery.
The training enhanced the already well-organized security force on Camp Redleg and provided a valuable measuring stick for 1st Sgt. Adams to gauge the preparedness of his troops.
| Date Taken: | 01.29.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 02.27.2013 10:09 |
| Story ID: | 102611 |
| Location: | CAMP REDLEG, AE |
| Hometown: | FORT SILL, OK, US |
| Web Views: | 860 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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