Photo By Master Sgt. Brandon Bednarek | Capt. Tricia Clarke, an intelligence officer attached to Headquarters and Headquarters...... read more read more
FORT BLISS, Texas — As part of a well-executed plan to bolster fully trained soldiers for an upcoming deployment, the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, conducted Mine-resistant All-Terrain Vehicle training for nearly 50 troops, March 12-16, on East Fort Bliss, Texas.
The M-ATV, a highly-mobile, highly-protected, medium tactical vehicle, is specifically designed for the environment and terrain found throughout Afghanistan; where a large number of brigade soldiers are slated to deploy this summer.
Because the M-ATV is a fairly recent addition to the Army’s vehicle fleet, most of the trainees were unfamiliar with the vehicle system, said Staff Sgt. Fredrick Neal, master driver, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment.
“The purpose of the training is familiarization,” said Neal. “I want for them to know how the vehicle works and the capabilities of what it can do.”
Prior to positioning themselves in the driver’s seat, soldiers first received instruction on the basic preventative maintenance checks and services of the vehicle, as well as receiving a classroom lecture on the M-ATV’s DUKE jamming system.
By the second day of training, soldiers were gaining first-hand experience with the mobility, layout, and functions of the vehicle.
“What’s a little challenging is that anytime you drive a new vehicle, it handles differently,” said Capt. Tricia Clarke, an intelligence officer currently attached to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th Bn., 6th Inf. Regt. “You just have to get comfortable with the vehicle and pay attention to what your trainers are directing you to do.”
In order to receive certification on the vehicle, troops had to complete an online accident and avoidance course in conjunction with a cumulative total of 40 hours driving experience - which included both day and night components.
Due to the nature of the brigade’s upcoming Security Force Assistance Advisor Team mission, the overall majority of participants were officers and senior non-commissioned officers.
Although that population of leaders would not typically assume the responsibility of a driver, the limited personnel requirements of the SFAAT mission may put them in a position where they have to, said Neal.
“In general, people don’t expect officers to drive a vehicle,” said Clarke. “But in this mission, a lot less of us are deploying. We pretty much have to learn every single system and be able to do everything our junior soldiers would normally do.”
For Clarke, training with the same group of soldiers over the course of several weeks has helped improve the quality and effectiveness of mission preparation.
“I think we’re building rapport and a sense of teamwork,” she said. “All the extensive training we’re doing just makes us feel more confident in everything that we do. The more training you get, the more confident you feel.”
| Date Taken: | 03.12.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 03.21.2012 12:00 |
| Story ID: | 85539 |
| Location: | FORT BLISS, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 1,280 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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