3IBCT conducts ECP procedures

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Maurice Smith | Pfc. Tamara Smith and her team charge the tier front and prepare to draw fire during ECP training at Camp Buehring, Kuwait.  

KUWAIT

08.28.2006

Courtesy Story

3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division

by Sgt. Maurice Smith
3rd Brigade, 25th ID PAO

Soldiers, civilians and family members pass through them all the time traveling on and off post. To the Schofield community, these rights of passage to the post are known as Macomb, Lyman, Foote, and McNair gates, but for a unit from the 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, these entryways are now known as Entry Control Points.

Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3IBCT conducted ECP training Monday morning in the deserts of Kuwait, preparing for future missions in Iraq.

"Today we are honing our entry control point procedures and skills," said 1st Sgt. Angelo Lisondra, first sergeant, HHC, 3IBCT.

The 3IBCT is currently training in Kuwait to help support Operation Iraqi Freedom. For weeks, the brigade will conduct training on various ranges, vehicle movement techniques, improvised explosive device (IED) classes and more to sharpen their skills prior to continuing into Iraq.

Before performing the live-fire portion of the ECP range, the unit received a short class on the potential threats Soldiers may face at the gate, how to recognize those threats and respond to possible enemy actions against a Forward Operating Base (FOB).

Soldiers reviewed different procedures for verifying personal identification and inspecting vehicles. The Soldiers surrounded an old, blue sedan positioned on the range and walked-thru various methods to conduct a thorough vehicle search.

After the class, the Soldiers then separated into teams designated as the Quick Reaction Force (QRF). The QRF team is called into action when an enemy threat has clearly been determined and the protection of the FOB is threatened.

As members of the QRF, the Soldiers of HHC, 3IBCT learned valuable teamwork and respect for the location and position of their fellow team members. The Soldiers worked side-by-side to engage a quickly approaching enemy. With such close proximity, each member of the team had to consider how individual actions could impact the Soldier to their left or right, while staying focused on the enemy.

"It's good that we got out here to do this [ECP] training because the Soldiers who will be put on ECP detail will be safer and they'll have a little better idea of what to do," said Sgt. Samuel Allen, Colt team chief, Team 2, HHC, 3IBCT.

Along with keeping the FOB safe, the Soldiers agreed that there were a lot of good lessons learned during ECP training.

"The best thing about the training was the coaching and team building," said Lisondra. According to him, his unit learned how to communicate with one another better while broken down into teams and giving each other commands, and they were also able to learn from one another and train other Soldiers.

"It was pretty good training," said Pfc. Tamara Smith, supply, HHC, 3IBCT. "It was hands on, and we were doing clearing procedures and firing. It teaches you clearing and muzzle awareness," said Smith.

"I already know it [muzzle awareness], but since we're out here, I have to think about it and I know that it is really needed. We are taught safety first."

• Date Taken: 08.28.2006
• Date Posted: 08.28.2006 13:24
• Story ID: 7566
• Location: KW