A Hot Day in Hohenfels for 1-40th CAV

Photo By Staff Sgt. Melissa Parrish | A Portuguese soldier throws a Molotov cocktail, a general name used for a variety of bottle-based improvised flammable weapons, at paratroopers from 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, stationed in Alaska. The Soldiers practice fire phobia training during a situational training exercise in Hohenfels, Germany, Oct. 4, in preparation for their deployment.  

HOHENFELS, GERMANY

10.04.2014

Story by Sgt. Melissa Parrish 

2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 11th Airborne Division Public Affairs

HOHENFELS, Germany - Paratroopers with 1st Squadron, 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, conducted fire phobia training for the first time at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, Oct. 4.

These paratroopers are preparing for their deployment to Kosovo as part of Kosovo Force.

“This is the first time we had Molotov cocktails in training,” said 1st Lt. Bill Sherod, platoon leader for the Apache Troop, 1-40th Cav. and a Sierra Vista, Arizona native. “It was pretty hot out there!”
The training began with paratroopers individually facing the Molotov cocktails but ended with them facing the Portuguese army as a platoon-size element.

“This type of training gives the Soldiers confidence in the techniques we have learned and with the equipment we will be using,” said Sherod. “It’s also great to work with the Portugal army because they were just over in Kosovo a few years ago so they know what we can expect to encounter while we are over there. They are bringing experience to the instruction.”

Pfc. Alonzo Adams, a cavalry scout with the 1-40th Cav. and a Raleigh, North Carolina native, participated in today’s training and said this was a powerful training event.

“It was pretty intense,” said Adams. “In the beginning we were pretty nervous, but after a few times it wasn’t as bad as we thought it would be.”

The paratroopers ran through training drills for most of the morning before the real fire came into play.

“The techniques we were taught worked very well, and I know with the non-stop training my unit has had over the last few days, we are leaving here extremely confident,” said Adams.

Adams is ready for his first deployment in the Army and feels his team is prepared for the mission.

“I think we are the best unit the Army has right now,” said Adams. “We have a great commander, because he has confidence in us and we all have confidence in each other as a team. We are ready for the mission in Kosovo.”

Throughout this JMRC rotation units prepare for peace support operations before their upcoming mission in Kosovo facilitating a safe and secure environment.

• Date Taken: 10.04.2014
• Date Posted: 10.07.2014 09:37
• Story ID: 144478
• Location: HOHENFELS, DE
• Hometown: RALEIGH, NC, US
• Hometown: SIERRA VISTA, AZ, US