WEST POINT, N.Y. - Every summer, trainers from the 104th Training Division’s 3-304th Battalion (USMA), take on the mission of preparing tomorrow’s leaders for today’s challenges.
This year, the 3-304th, out of Lewiston, Maine, traveled to the United States Military Academy at West point, N.Y., July 9 through Aug. 9 to validate with the Department of Military Instruction for a culminating, 3 day event known as fire team live fire.
During the summer camp, trainer’s take three days to instruct cadet leadership, usually juniors at the Academy, on numerous weapons systems, from hand grenades to the M203 grenade launcher, as well as individual and squad level movement techniques.
The cadets also receive the desired training outcome for the live fire exercise and in turn develop and execute a plan to train future cadets for the final mission under the watchful eye of the Army Reserve trainers.
Now in his third year performing the USMA mission, Maj. Michael Prudhomme, commander, B Company, 3-304th Battalion (USMA) says, “It’s great to see the cadets take ownership our model of outcome based training, where you give the desired outcome and let the cadets figure out how they want to achieve those goals,”
“These kids who are mostly incoming freshmen, come into this straight out of high school, with no military experience, and push themselves to the point where they’re effectively maneuvering and engaging targets down range with someone just as inexperienced in 48 to 72 hours. That’s a pretty significant point of pride for us.”
At the camp, approximately 1400 cadets and future cadets participate in the training that includes a six-mile foot march, individual movement techniques and live fire ranges.
Master Sgt. Ed Yurek, C Company, 3-304th Battalion (USMA), who first performed his USMA mission in 2001, says the outcome-based model of training grows a better leader.
“Here at the hand grenade range, the cadets are given a certain situation and then forced to access the situation, quickly make a decision, and then execute that decision.”
“What we’re finding on the battlefield is that Soldiers who have situational awareness, can think for themselves, and out of the box a little bit make better leaders than those that we just force feed doctrine into,” added Yurek.
Sgt. 1st Class Jeremy Bussiere, B Company, 3-304th Battalion (USMA), a 24-year veteran with the Army Reserve, instructs the cadets on camouflaging and individual movement techniques and says this is training, the future Army leaders can’t get anywhere else.
“This is my fourth year doing the live fire exercise mission. I’ve only seen parts of it but I’ve heard from everyone who comes out to see the training that it’s incredible all the way around.”
Bussiere also said,” I think its awesome working with the cadets. I think I have learned as much from them as they have from me. To the point where I am actually trying to get my son to come to West Point now.”
“I’m an 88 mike [motor transport operator] by trade and being in trans we get to travel a lot. But now I’m ready to train Soldiers and I don’t think there’s any better place to do that than right here at West Point.”
| Date Taken: |
08.01.2014 |
| Date Posted: |
08.05.2014 19:52 |
| Story ID: |
138388 |
| Location: |
WEST POINT, NEW YORK, US |
| Web Views: |
368 |
| Downloads: |
1 |
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This work, 104th Training Division (IET) prepares tomorrow’s leaders for today’s challenges, by MSG Brian Hamilton, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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