Sharpening the spear

Photo By Sgt. Belynda Faulkner | Two soldiers from the Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Infantry Division, simulate the evacuation of a casualty using a Skedco litter Jan. 20, as part of the squadron’s stress shoot live-fire exercise at Assistance Platform Rushmore in Paktika province, Afghanistan. The exercise was designed to stress the bodies and minds of the soldiers in order to simulate the effects of sustained combat. (Photo by U.S. Army Sgt. Belynda Fullerton, 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Infantry Division)  

ASSISTANCE PLATFORM RUSHMORE, AFGHANISTAN

01.22.2014

Courtesy Story

3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division

By U.S. Army U.S. Army Capt. Jonathan E. Garvey
3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Infantry Division

ASSISTANCE PLATFORM RUSHMORE, Afghanistan – In a remote portion of eastern Afghanistan’s Paktika province, nestled in between the snow-capped mountain peaks, the Titans of 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry Regiment’s Security Forces Advise and Assist Team 5 conducted rigorous, skill-sustaining small-arms training Jan. 20 to enhance their readiness for the unexpected days ahead during this deployment.

Four months into their tour, with the mission of advising and assisting the Paktika province’s Afghan National Security Forces, the soldiers of 3rd Squadron, 71st Cavalry, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Infantry Division, have strived to maintain their vigilance in an unpredictable and ever-changing environment.

A Troop, known as Ares Troop, led by U.S. Army Capt. Scott Westcott, is charged with providing security teams for each advisory mission. For the security force platoon, the missions are often repetitive by nature. This can set conditions for bad habits to emerge if the unit becomes complacent.

“Rotating the security force’s responsibilities among the platoons is one method we use to keep fresh eyes out there,” said Westcott. “But to keep the troopers from getting too comfortable, we emphasize continuous, mission-focused training.”

Ares Troop, recently conducted a small-arms training event at the weapons range on Assistance Platform Rushmore. The event was geared toward sharpening the observation and reactionary skills of both the security force platoon, which consists of soldiers serving as guardian angels, and the advisers they protect.

“Conducting training that forces soldiers to fire their weapons from nonstandard positions builds muscle memory,” said Westcott, referencing how advisers are often seated in chairs, or on the floor during their engagements with their Afghan National Security Force counterparts. “The various scenarios which both the security force advise assist teams and their security force members conduct are designed to be as realistic as possible, and geared toward the potential threats they could face while on a mission.”

The members of Security Force Advise Assist Team 5 and their protectors face any number of unknowns each time they leave Assistance Platform Rushmore. The combined training that occurs here every week furthers the cohesion and trust between the security forces and their advisers, increasing the overall effectiveness of the team. In reality, the term security force advise assist team refers not only to the advisers, but also the team that forms when both the security force and the advisers come together.

The Titans will continue to hone their skills by adding variables into their existing training program during the duration of their tour in Afghanistan. They know a team united toward mission accomplishment will prevent redundancy and allow the security forces advise and assist team to maintain the high standards they’re known for.

“You have to continually change your approach toward training,” said Westcott, “Changes not only keep it interesting and worthy of the soldiers’ time, but it also allows the ability to adapt to evolving enemy tactics.”

• Date Taken: 01.22.2014
• Date Posted: 01.22.2014 06:54
• Story ID: 119445
• Location: ASSISTANCE PLATFORM RUSHMORE, AF