Developing our leaders

HOHENFELS, GERMANY

10.25.2014

Story by Sgt. Alexander Skripnichuk 

7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

GRAFENWOEHR, Germany – As our military continues to adapt to a period of change, the Army is always training leaders to be the best in the world—in any terrain under any circumstances. Upcoming leaders from 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, have an opportunity to learn and develop from multiple training rotations to foreign lands during exercises such as Combined Resolve III.

The Soldiers come from Fort Hood's dry, relatively flat, semi-desert environment to Germany's very wet, forest-covered, mountainous training grounds and will have the chance to prove their abilities as leaders during Combined Resolve III, a multinational exercise designed to develop interoperability and build relationships with our NATO allies.

Deep in the woods of the Bavaria, Soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, train their leaders and their leaders-to-be during their two-month stay in the Hohenfels Training Area.

“We teach our Soldiers how to maneuver in different terrain,” said Sgt. 1st Class Joe Burton, a platoon sergeant with Company A, 2nd Bn., 12th Cav. Regt. He said that training in Germany with its varied terrain improves the Soldiers' ability to lead others into combat.

Leaders develop their skills in exercises such as a platoon attack.

Soldiers train to attack an enemy position using both vehicles and infantrymen. Leaders practice moving their Soldiers on the battlefield, learning the basics of crossing a road in a tactical manner and maintaining proper noise discipline.

Soldiers manning a fighting vehicle such as the M1A2 Abrams tank or Bradley Fighting Vehicle learn important functions such as: how to properly scan for enemy targets, monitor and relay important radio communications and the maneuvering capabilities of their vehicles.

According to 1st Lt. Johny White, a tank platoon leader with Company A, 2nd Bn., 12th Cav. Regt., Soldiers are able to come to Hohenfels and train in realistic environments and learn from their mistakes to become better leaders for today's Army.

The Soldiers from 2nd Bn., 12th Cav. Regt. will get a chance to work with members from NATO allied countries such as Moldova, Romania and Armenia.

“As Soldiers progress in the different environments of Germany, they become ready to work with troops from other countries,” said White. “Our training abroad will only enhance our ability to work with our NATO allies.”

• Date Taken: 10.25.2014
• Date Posted: 11.01.2014 07:59
• Story ID: 146748
• Location: HOHENFELS, DE