3-15 Inf. ends China Focus with family focus

Photo By Sgt. Joshua Laidacker | Soldiers of 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, join family members for the last mile of a 15 mile road march, an event which signified the end of the battalion’s training exercise. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Joshua Laidacker, 4th IBCT, 3rd ID, Public Affairs)  

FORT STEWART, GA, UNITED STATES

11.05.2014

Story by Sgt. Joshua Laidacker 

4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs

FORT STEWART, Ga. – Soldiers and families of 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, finished the final training portion of China Focus, a battalion training event, by reuniting with family members a mile short of completing their 15-mile foot march, Nov. 5, on Fort Stewart.

“After 15 days in the field, you can see how dirty and tired the guys are and obviously there’s nothing better than seeing your loved one’s when you get back,” said Lt. Col. Nathan Minami, the battalion commander of 3-15 Inf., and native of San Diego.

The China Focus training event included training missions ranging from situational training exercises and company maneuvers, to live-fire events and air assault missions, and concluded with the long march back to their unit.

The soldiers began their march from the training area at 4 a.m. After 14 miles, about 75 family members were waiting to walk the last mile with their soldier.

“It allows the family members to see the other side of their soldier, to be a part of that experience,” said Head Quarters and Headquarters Company 1st Sgt. Lloyd Pegues, a native of St. Louis.

“They are really excited to see their families support them,” said Melissa Minami, the battalion commander’s wife. “We had a great turn out too.”

China Focus is one of many train-up exercises for the China Battalion, named after the regiment’s 26 years in Tientsin, China. The exercise is leading up to the brigade field exercise and training mission at the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana.

Minami said the battalion only has a few weeks until China Focus II comes up and in the mean time they are refitting and will be participating in Marne Week with a winning attitude.

“We’ve got a lot of motivated guys,” said Minami. “We have to keep them busy.”

“The soldiers now, I think, are better trained,” said Pegues. “We are more prepared for Vanguard Focus and for the follow-on mission, JRTC.”

“Now we’re just enjoying some time with the families,” added Pegues.

• Date Taken: 11.05.2014
• Date Posted: 11.07.2014 13:20
• Story ID: 147354
• Location: FORT STEWART, GA, US