‘Manchus’ train with real-life scenarios

Courtesy Photo | A soldier with a 2-9th Inf. fire support team, looks over the roof of a building during urban operations training at the Korean Training Center Sept. 15. (Photo by: 1st Lt. James I. Maeng)  

CAMP CASEY, NORTH KOREA

09.15.2010

Courtesy Story

2nd Infantry Division/ROK-U.S. Combined Division

Story by: 1st Lt. James I. Maeng

CAMP CASEY, Republic of Korea – Scouts, snipers, and fire support teams from the 2nd Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, part of the 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, along with AH-64 Apache helicopters from 4th Battalion, 2nd Aviation Regiment, 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade conducted urban operations training at the Korean Training Center, Rodriguez Range, Sept. 15-17.

The Apaches from 4-2nd Avn. out of Camp Humphreys, provided close combat attack support with the 2-9th Inf. fire support teams.

The training also incorporated multiple other assets. “Manchu” snipers took their positions in the woods surrounding the Combined Arms Collective Training Facility, awaiting a signal to erase targets off of their scopes, while Manchu Scouts established observation posts to provide streaming reconnaissance updates.

The training provided was a first for most of the FST soldiers. To prepare for the exercise, the teams conducted simulated training at Camp Casey and rehearsed the day they arrived at the range.

“It’s one thing to train in a simulator, but it becomes a whole new environment when you’re in a building with the Apaches flying overhead,” said Sfc. Phillip Gipson, a FST platoon sergeant with 2-9th Inf. “To fight tonight as combined arms, this training was a valuable opportunity.”

The platoon leader from the FST described what happened during the exercise.

“For two days 4-2nd Avn. pilots were able to provide the Apaches to support the Manchu FST,” said 2nd Lt. Gregory Funk, FST platoon leader. “The teams established an urban observation post and conducted a continuous 36-hour operation, providing a sense of realism to their training. This training ensures the Manchu Death Dealers are always ready to fight tonight. It was good for the Soldiers to train in a manner they may have to face.”

For training purposes, Gipson established the OP on the roof top to provide a more open learning environment. There, the soldiers had room to participate and learn procedures to control the fire effects over radio communication. Communicating with the aircraft was done via radio with Gipson listening to their transmissions to provide immediate feedback and coaching.

“To facilitate training, we set up on the roof, but part of our training was setting up a proper OP within the building,” Gipson said.

Several of the FST soldiers stated that this was the best training they have received since coming to Korea.

This will not be the last time 2-9th Inf. and 4-2nd Avn. train together, Funk said.

“The more we train, soldiers with the FST will be able to become even more proficient in a skill that could one day save fellow soldiers’ lives,” Funk said.

• Date Taken: 09.15.2010
• Date Posted: 10.19.2010 04:51
• Story ID: 58392
• Location: CAMP CASEY, KP