3-69AR takes village during Raider Focus

Photo By Staff Sgt. Christopher Blakeslee | Soldiers assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, prepare to assault a key-tactical building while their Bradley Fighting Vehicle provides cover during Raider Focus, May 7.  

FORT STEWART, GA, UNITED STATES

05.07.2014

Story by Staff Sgt. Christopher Blakeslee 

1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division

FORT STEWART, Ga.- Soldiers assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division recently secured the village of Colmar during the Raider Focus field training exercise, May 7.

The Colmar Urban Training Center (or the “village" as it is commonly referred to as) was occupied by several enemy forces who were ready for a long drawn-out battle. The enemy forces were met by the “Speed and Power” Battalion, who proved to be more than capable of tackling and defeating them.

The assault started with heavy armor and Bradley Fighting Vehicles taking the center of the town and setting up a security perimeter around the outskirts of the village. As the Soldiers dismounted from their fighting vehicles, they assaulted several key tactical positions and quickly overtook the town building-by-building and street-by-street.

As the Soldiers pushed and fought through the streets and structures, additional friendly forces were marshaled onto the battle field by Chinook helicopters. These much-needed reinforcements landed a final haymaker punch onto the opposing forces, landing the town into the safe hands of friendly forces.

At the end of the day, the mission was deemed a success. Soldiers gained valuable skills, teaching and talking points, and experience to add to their already-impressive repertoire of war fighting skills. While this was a training scenario, it could take place on any battlefield around the world in any Operations on Urbanized Terrain (MOUNT). The 3-69AR Soldiers have proven once again that they can handle themselves in any war, battle or fight thrown their way.

• Date Taken: 05.07.2014
• Date Posted: 05.14.2014 11:21
• Story ID: 129742
• Location: FORT STEWART, GA, US