Ironhorse prepares for future exercises

Photo By Sgt. Bailey Kramer | San Luis Obispo, Calif. native, Pfc. Steven Brown (left) and Pfc. David Crosswell (right), both signal support specialists assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Troop of the 1st BCT, 1CD, place tent stakes in the ground using a mallet during a Tactical Operations Center Exercise, here, Dec. 5. Tent ropes are attached to the tent stakes for general stability, especially during adverse weather conditions. (Photo by Spc. Bailey Kramer, 1BCT, 1Cav Div PAO)  

FORT HOOD, TX, UNITED STATES

12.05.2012

Story by Sgt. John Couffer and Spc. Bailey Kramer

1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division

FORT HOOD, Texas – The 1st “Ironhorse” Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division prepares for future missions with a Tactical Operations Center Exercise, here, Dec. 3 to 6.

The Ironhorse Brigade executed readiness training by putting together the Deployable Assembly Shelter and establishing communications as part of the TOCEX.

“Being prepared and mission ready is important to the success of any unit,” said Philadelphia native, Sgt. Maj. Robert Leimer, the operations sergeant major for the Ironhorse Brigade. “If you aren’t mission ready, you can’t execute your commander’s intent.”

“You never know when you are going to need this set up, you never know when your mission will change or where you will be that you will need to know how to set up and work out of a DRASH,” explained River Falls, Wis. native, Spc. Koehl Heebink, a forward observer assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Troop of the Ironhorse Brigade.

According to drash.com the DRASH is, “a quick-erect shelter system that integrates shelter, mobility, lighting, heating, cooling and power in one package. Part of the US Army's Standard Integrated Command Post System, DRASH Systems have helped military personnel establish rugged, user-friendly facilities for more than 25 years.”

The Soldiers organized the equipment, identified necessary equipment to take to the field, inspected and transported the chosen equipment to the site, and then set it up, Leimer went on to explain the planning process.

“We wanted to inspect and ensure we still had all our equipment from before we deployed,” explained Leimer. “I wanted to make sure we still had all the tents and connectors that put this whole thing together.”

After completing the set up, the perimeter and communications equipment were installed.

“You have to have a plan before boots hit ground and be ready to implement it right away,” Leimer explained. “Communications is what ties everything to a plan, so if you can’t establish communications, your plan will fall apart. That’s why we start here. If you are not mission ready it will go bad from day one and when it goes bad you can’t crawl from out of that hole.”
Leimer, who has lead the brigade in the DRASH set up since 2008, said that it takes about 25 soldiers to properly construct the equipment, but 50 is a more ideal number.

“The more soldiers helping, helps make the process quicker and smoother,” Leimer added.

"The more you set it up, the more it becomes second nature,” said Heebink, who has been involved in more than seven set ups. “Every time you set it up, you become faster and more proficient at it.”

Due to deployment, this was the first time in nearly two years Ironhorse soldiers have constructed the DRASH, but Leimer believes that their hard work ended in success.

“I am proud of what the soldiers accomplished,” Leimer concluded. “It looks great.”

Following a six-month reset period, Ironhorse will resume field training exercises in February.

• Date Taken: 12.05.2012
• Date Posted: 12.10.2012 14:06
• Story ID: 99040
• Location: FORT HOOD, TX, US