First Strike platoons tested in adaptive training and live fires

Courtesy Photo | Soldiers from Company D, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) provide cover fire during Eagle Flight II training. During the training, the battalion trained their platoons through platoon attack live fire and situational training exercises in mounted patrol, key leader engagement, time sensitive target raids and forward operating base security.  

FORT CAMPBELL, KY, UNITED STATES

10.28.2009

Courtesy Story

2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (AA) Public Affairs

By 2nd Lt. Daniel Plumb, 2nd Lt. Adrian Gonzalez, and 2nd Lt. Cory Donohoo

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. — The insurgent leader, his bodyguards and their families are settling down for the night. Suddenly, they hear the quick approach of helicopters and humvees. From inside their compound, it sounds like forces are surrounding the house. The platoon leader and his platoon sergeant array a myriad of assets — their vehicles cordon the house, infantry squads prepare to enter the house, military intelligence teams are postured to conduct questioning and analyze the enemy's equipment, and helicopters are standing by to exfiltrate the platoon.

In a couple of minutes, the insurgents hear an interpreter say, "Come out of the house with your hands up and weapons slung." They now have a decision to make — fight a "First Strike" infantry platoon or surrender.

The scenario is one that happens in Iraq, Afghanistan and other places around the world, but Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), are replicating this training here on Fort Campbell, Oct. 14 — 30, as part of the battalions Eagle Flight II training.

During the training, the battalion trained their platoons through platoon attack live fire and situational training exercises in mounted patrol, key leader engagement, time sensitive target raids and forward operating base security.

The training is realistic, demanding and brought a number of enablers to train with the infantry platoons. In the end, First Strike had dramatically increased the lethality of its platoons and the agility and flexibility of its platoon leader teams.

"Eagle Flight Two affords us the opportunity to validate lethal platoons by integrating many of the combat enablers such as company and battalion mortars, Apache attack weapons teams, helicopter lift, unmanned surveillance, human and signals intelligence teams and much more," stated Lt. Col. Johnny K. Davis, commander, 1st Bn., 502nd Inf. Regt. "This training also reminds everyone why we are the best trained Army in the world."

The training was broken into two parts, platoon live fires and STXs lanes. The platoon attack live fire on Range 52 reinforced the fundamentals, the "blocking and tackling," for platoons. Leaders integrated battalion and company mortars and the attack helicopters in a platoon attack against an enemy training camp. It was the culmination training over the summer and early fall on individual marksmanship, team and squad live fires, and LPDs on controlling direct and indirect fires.

When asked what was the best part of this training, 1st Lt. Justin Ridgely, a platoon leader with Company B, said, "For us it was seeing the immense lethality a full strength infantry platoon as all the systems come together."

For many leader teams, it was the first time they employed their platoon as a complete unit and worked with attack aviation.

While the live fires reinforced the fundamentals, the STX lanes tested leaders and the platoons' ability to adapt and react to changing situations. Each platoon completed three lanes — a mounted patrol to conduct a key leader engagement, a time sensitive target raid, and base security. During each lane, the platoons were required to employ multiple assets, such as unmanned surveillance, human and signals intelligence teams, female searchers, local police, gun trucks from another company, fires and more.

During the mounted patrol, the respective platoon had to inspect a local police checkpoint and engage a local leader to determine who he supported. During the raid, the platoon was told a high value individual was expected to bed down in an isolated compound, and they had five hours to plan and execute an air assault to kill or capture him.

Finally, while other platoons were planning or executing their missions, one platoon was tasked to defend FOB Talon from mortar and direct fire attack.

1st Lt. Andrew Moehl, with Co. D, remarked, "The key leader engagement and talking with the village elder" were the most realistic, a direct result of the hard work provided by the battalion's intelligence section and opposing forces.

Each mission was different with each platoon facing an ever-changing situation as their decisions drove the OPFOR to react differently. If they helped the police, the police introduced them to the local leader. If the platoon failed to cordon the compound, the high value individual tried to slip away. The OPFOR provided a thinking enemy and gave the exercise a realistic touch.

Many of the battalion's combat veterans stated it was very realistic and some of the best training they had conducted prior to deployment.

The First Strike battalion also took the opportunity to exercise its command and control, medical platoon and support teams as the battalion's tactical operations center helped the Soldiers monitor and control the training, the forward support company provided two hot meals a day for the much hungry platoons, while, finally, the medical platoon honed its skills in mass casualty drills, patient evacuation and treatment.

Back at the enemy compound, the insurgents tried to both runaway and defend their home. The person of interest tried to flee while his bodyguards covered his escape. They used the women as human shields. The platoon leader and his leaders reacted to each event, attempting to bring all their training and assets to bear to achieve mission success.

In the end, each platoon was successful, as they all conducted hard, realtistic training that stressed their ability to react to a changing situation. When it comes to combat operations, training or deployed, Soldiers of First Strike know there is no substitute for victory.

• Date Taken: 10.28.2009
• Date Posted: 10.28.2009 15:20
• Story ID: 40779
• Location: FORT CAMPBELL, KY, US