Practice makes perfect

Photo By Staff Sgt. Alexander Skripnichuk | A Soldier from Company A, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division navigates the Bavarian woods during a blank-fire platoon attack training in Grafenwoehr, Germany, Nov. 15. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Alexander Skripnichuk, 7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)  

GRAFENWOEHR, GERMANY

11.15.2014

Story by Sgt. Alexander Skripnichuk 

7th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

GRAFENWOEHR, Germany – After conducting joint-multinational training with NATO allies in Grafenwoehr and Hohenfels, Germany, as part of Combined Resolve III, Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division continued to perfect their craft as they prepared for a platoon live-fire exercise, here, Nov. 15.

“My Soldiers have the rare opportunity to come to Germany and train in new environments,” said Staff Sgt. Michael Mathews, a squad leader in Company A, 2nd Bn., 12th Cav. Regt. “It makes us better prepared to accomplish the mission.”

The Soldiers spent hours in the cold yet sunny day honing their dismounted infantry skills like walking in formation in densely wooded terrain, crossing linear danger areas such as roads or meadows, and setting up proper security of their positions during stops.

For many Soldiers this training is new.

Consistent training in basic infantry maneuvers allows newer Soldiers to become accustomed to their peers as well as gaining trust in their superiors.

“We train so we can become comfortable with our fellow Soldiers in live-ammunition exercises,” said Pvt. Philip Dart, an infantryman with Company A, 2nd Bn., 12th Cav. Regt. “It allows us to trust each other in more serious situations.”

For the veteran Soldiers, consistent training refines their infantry skills allowing them to pass them on to their Soldiers.

“Every time I have conducted this training I learn something new,” said Mathews, a Gorham, Maine native. “It's a sure way for us to stay mission ready.”

The Soldiers from 1st BCT, 1st CAV, spent the last eight weeks training in Germany as part of the multinational exercise, Combined Resolve III. They took part in the maneuvers with their NATO allies, learning how to work together, build relationships and develop interoperability.

• Date Taken: 11.15.2014
• Date Posted: 11.20.2014 14:57
• Story ID: 148398
• Location: GRAFENWOEHR, DE