Infantry soldiers learning new way to use air power

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class David Edge | Capt. Brian T. Edwards, the senior captain for the 3rd Aviation Division, Joint Readiness Training Center, Operations Group teaches Air to Ground Operations in North Fort Polk, La., to the soldiers from the, 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division.  

FORT POLK, LA, UNITED STATES

03.14.2013

Story by David Edge 

4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Public Affairs

FORT POLK, La. - Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division attended an Air to Ground Operations class March 15, 2013, in North Fort Polk, La.

The Patriot soldiers had to learn quickly because the class wasn’t long but was packed full of information.

“The goal of this class is to inform ground personal of not only what our capabilities are, but also what kind of information that they can give us to help them on the battlefield,” said Capt. Brian T. Edwards, the senior captain for the 3rd Aviation Division, Joint Readiness Training Center, Operations Group.

With a deployment coming, Patriot soldiers were happy to learn about assets that can help them on the ground.

“Having talked to my platoon sergeant, this is definitely one of the most informative classes that we have taken. It opened both of our eyes to things that we weren’t fully aware of that we have at our disposal,” said 1st Lt. Ben Adams, 3rd platoon leader, Blackhawk Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade combat Team, 10th Mountain Division.

Fourth Brigade soldiers learned some new and surprising ways air operation could help them.

“As a team leader, it’s good to know that the Apache can provide support by fire from six clicks (kilometers) out, which is obviously awesome to have,” said Spc. Matthew Hokett, Bravo team, 3rd Squad, Blackhawk Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division. “Given the fact that we are light infantry, during a patrol there are areas that we can’t see. Air support can fly in and give us a heads up if anything is on the ground that we need to know about. If we happen to go into one of the cities, air support can help guide us around or away from high-traffic areas.”

As more soldiers from this light infantry brigade learn about the capabilities of other combat arms disciplines, the Patriot Brigade will become stronger with that knowledge and more capable to handle what the future holds.

• Date Taken: 03.14.2013
• Date Posted: 03.15.2013 21:45
• Story ID: 103569
• Location: FORT POLK, LA, US