53rd IBCT Leads the New Security Forces Training Effort

Photo By Sgt. Maj. Kimberly Cooper | Crews of the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles from the 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, line up in preparation for maneuvering through a training lane at Udairi Range Complex, Kuwait Oct. 4. The lane was a part of the Tactical Combat Force Training Exercise the 53rd designed to train future security force brigades coming into the area of operation.  

UDAIRI RANGE COMPLEX, KUWAIT

11.05.2010

Story by Staff Sgt. Kimberly Cooper 

1st Theater Sustainment Command

UDAIRI RANGE COMPLEX, Kuwait- The 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team completed a 15 day training exercise, which began Oct. 28 and concluded Nov. 5. The training prepared 53rd IBCT soldiers to train follow on forces for future security forces brigade training.

“This training is preparing two battalions [and] eight companies to conduct tactical combat force operations for ARCENT [Army Central Command] if ARCENT were to call upon the battalion to do so,” said Lt. Col. David Yeagers, 53rd Infantry Brigade operations officer. “It is designed to give ARCENT the flexibility they need to be the joint security coordination center in the operating environment.”

Movement to contact, defending and area security were the three main areas the platoons focused on during the tactical combat force training exercise. Leaders designed the lanes to focus on each of the three areas. The variety provided platoons with hands on practical training experience.

“What it does is expand upon the 15 warrior tasks [and] four battle drills the Army trains us on prior to getting [into country],” Yeagers stated. “It also ensures that our platoon sergeants, platoon leaders and company commanders have the necessary equipment and skills to be able to coordinate the efforts of their platoons related to acting as a tactical combat force.”

In the first training lane the platoons maneuvered through was set in an established area. Platoons had to move into the area and secure assets important to the command. On the other half of the training lane, the area was very densely populated and platoons had to decide what areas were pivotal to secure. The overall take away from the lane was to teach the planning and operational process for securing an area of importance.

The platoons going through lane two conducted a screen operation where they screened a line of communication. The lane was designed to teach the platoons to protect and provide early warning and detection for anything that could potentially affect the lines of communication. “That’s a collective training event that their not used to doing and it brings to light a lot of different collective skills that we haven’t thought of in the past and that we haven’t trained [on] in quite a while,” said Yeagers.

The movement to contact lane gave soldiers the opportunity to function as a platoon element and to conduct mounted fire distribution. In the practice scenario, ten Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles made their way into a fabricated city unaware of the enemy threat. Platoon leaders made critical split second decisions on every aspect to include how to enter the city, what formation to use and how to attack and destroy hostile enemy forces.

“What it does is makes the troops start to think again in a bigger picture. They have to operate as a team, as a platoon and as a company,” Yeagers said about the lane.

As the 53rd IBCT prepares for their Transfer of Authority, the lessons learned from the training exercise carry over and become a part of the training plan for the 197th Fires Brigade, from the New Hampshire National Guard.

“53rd got to validate the training plans set by ARCENT’s G-7,” said Col. Francis Flynn, 1st Theater Sustainment Command, assistant chief of staff for training and operations. “Once the After Action Review [AAR] is complete and the changes have been made, other security force brigades moving in will have a solid training plan.”

Pulling off a training exercise of this magnitude could take months of planning, but the 53rd IBCT was able to solidify the plan in approximately 14 days. “Considering the compressed timeline, they pulled off world class training in a short time. It shows the professionalism of the entire brigade,” Flynn stated.

While the training they conducted may be world class, the accomplishment of the training will have a lasting effect on the mission and training for future security forces missions in Kuwait and other areas of operation.

• Date Taken: 11.05.2010
• Date Posted: 11.09.2010 01:50
• Story ID: 59703
• Location: UDAIRI RANGE COMPLEX, KW