Photo By Staff Sgt. Megan Leuck | A wolf logo, representing the unit’s call sign - Wolfpack - adorns every Stryker...... read more read more
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RUKLA, Lithuania – Depending on the length of a Soldier’s military career, it is often advised to diversify and acquire more than one occupational specialty and not become complacent in one skillset. But after leaving a job you love and one in which you’ve developed an expertise, it doesn’t take much persuasion to return when the opportunity presents itself.
“I chose to come back to a Stryker brigade combat team (SBCT),” said Sgt. 1st Class Adam Insco, platoon sergeant from 3rd Platoon, Lightning Troop, 3rd Squadron, 2d Cavalry Regiment. “I saw that the 2 CR had a spot that I could take, so of course I jumped on it.”
Insco began his military career with the 5th Battalion, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 20th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division out of Fort Lewis, Washington, now known as Joint Base Lewis-McCord.
The 3rd SBCT was the first U.S. Army Stryker unit, and they had recently returned from their first deployment with the Strykers when Insco joined their ranks in 2004.
“I was a young private first class going into a new unit where they had just gotten back from their first deployment with the Strykers,” said Insco. “My learning curve was quite high and had a lot of expectations to fulfill.”
Insco described how, as a young private, he constantly trained with the Strykers and remembered how everything felt new to him.
“I knew I was part of a new platform that the Army had started to institute and it was exciting,” he said. “The NCOs (non-commissioned officers) at that time were great. They taught me everything I needed to know and made me the NCO that I am today.”
With the Strykers being newly introduced into the Army, there was much that still needed to be addressed on the tactics, techniques and standard operating procedures of the vehicle.
“They were still developing the SOPs, at that time, on even how to utilize and use the Stryker in a combat situation,” said Insco.
Throughout his time working with Strykers, he witnessed numerous improvements the Army implemented.
“One of the first changes, that made a big difference, was putting a stabilizer on our weapons station, so that provided stability to the weapons platform,” he said. “They have upgraded the armament to help protect against IED (improvised explosive device) threats as well as the seats inside the Stryker.”
In early 2011, Insco decided to volunteer for drill sergeant duty at Fort Benning, Georgia. During the summer of 2014, a position opened in the 2 CR, and he chose to return to a SBCT.
Despite being away from an SBCT for a few years, Insco was able to use his prior experience and knowledge in training his Soldiers to meet and exceed the standards.
“The Soldiers in my platoon work very well with the Strykers, “ he said. “I try to teach at the lowest level, so that everyone understands the capabilities and components on the Stryker.”
Lightning Troop is currently conducting training with Lithuanian land forces in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve. OAR strives to improve interoperability and demonstrate U.S. commitment to NATO and Eastern Europe to include Poland, Latvia, Estonia as well as Lithuania.
“Being part of OAR here has been great to actually get the guys out and simulate the real-world training as well as the interoperability training we’ve been doing with the Lithuanian Army,” said Insco.
“Our counterparts are definitely enthusiastic about working with the Strykers and wanting to conduct operations with the U.S. Forces,” he added. “We operated very well with them.”
Insco is uncertain how long his stint with the 2 CR will last, but he hopes to pass along his knowledge and expertise to his peers and subordinates.
“There’s not many people who have been, to my knowledge, with the Strykers from the inception of the program,” Insco said. “I was given the opportunity of becoming a subject-matter expert on the Stryker and can influence the 2 CR with my knowledge base to the best of my abilities.”
“I think that my platoon, and hopefully Squadron, will benefit from having me and my expertise.”
| Date Taken: | 03.10.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 03.13.2015 01:49 |
| Story ID: | 156890 |
| Location: | RUKLA, LT |
| Web Views: | 627 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Trooper uses Stryker expertise to benefit Lightning Troop, by SSG Megan Leuck, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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