Photo By Staff Sgt. Coltin Heller | Soldiers with the 252nd Engineer Company, 103rd Engineer Battalion, 213th Regional...... read more read more
FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – In preparation for a scheduled deployment, soldiers with the 252nd Engineer Company, 103rd Engineer Battalion, 213th Regional Support Group, Pennsylvania Army National Guard, conducted various training exercises beginning Nov. 5, 2013.
“We’ve gotten a lot of good training here,” said Spc. Ryan Keenan, heavy equipment mechanic with the 252nd Engineer Company. “I never knew [Fort Indiantown Gap] had this type of stuff here,” he added, speaking about the various training lanes.
The soldiers participated in Individual Movement Techniques, learning how to move in squads over various terrains and under simulated enemy fire.
“We began the lane; first vaulting over a low wall, and crawling to a covered position, where we each threw grenades at enemies in the open,” said Pvt. Irahn Batts, a heavy equipment operator with the 228th Engineer Company, 728th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 213th Regional Support Group, deploying with the 252nd Engineer Company. “After that we moved using cover to another position and threw more grenades at enemies in cover.”
While two soldiers threw grenades, the other members of the squad maintained a 360-degree perimeter, providing security to those throwing grenades.
After each soldier threw grenades, the squad moved out, where they received simulated enemy small-arms fire and indirect fire, as well as a mission to go into and clear a mock village.
“The training showed us each position in the squad and how to do your job in that position,” said Batts, who calls Philadelphia home. “Things get crazy when you start to take fire. The training gives us that muscle memory to do what we have to do and get the mission done.”
After the learning how to move individually and as a squad, the 252nd soldiers transitioned to a mounted improvised explosive device lane, where they learned how to identify and neutralize roadside bombs while driving in vehicles.
“The IED lane was good. We were told IED’s where scattered on the lane, but not where they were. This was good training because that’s how it is when you get out there,” said Keenan, who calls Hollidaysburg, Pa. home.
In addition to IEDs, the training tied in with previous day’s training, as the soldiers encountered other soldiers posing as local nationals and indirect fire.
“I like how, before, we learned each part before putting it all together here, It was a great way to show us how all the pieces of the training tied together,” added Keenan.
Regardless of their Military Occupational Specialty, all soldiers must be trained and proficient with their weapons, and252nd soldiers spent a day on the range, where they zeroed and qualified with their weapons.
“It’s always good to get on the range to [qualify],” said Spc. Nicholas Whitney, heavy equipment operator assigned to the 252nd Engineer Company. “Knowing your weapon, how to operate it, knowing how to maintain it, will not only potentially save your life, but the lives of your battle buddies.”
After training here, the 252nd soldiers will travel to Fort Bliss, Texas, where they will continue to train.
| Date Taken: | 11.14.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 11.15.2013 08:57 |
| Story ID: | 116787 |
| Location: | FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, PA, US |
| Web Views: | 255 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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