216th stays sharp with new techniques

Photo By Sgt. Brian Johnson | PC Ralph Shaw, of Chillicothe, instructs Spc. Brandon Adkins, of Columbus, during Common Task Training, Oct. 1, in Chillicothe. Common Task Training is a series of 15 different tasks a soldier has to be retrained/refreshed on every year.  

CHILLICOTHE, OH, UNITED STATES

10.01.2005

Story by Sgt. Brian Johnson 

216th Engineer Battalion

Spc. Brian Johnson, unit public affairs representative

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio - With the calendar year winding down, the members of Company A, 216th Engineer Battalion, are busy doing common task training, or CTT.

Common Task Training is a series of 15 different tasks a soldier has to be retrained/refreshed on every year. Items trained on include first aid, weapons maintenance and basic soldiering skills. These are all skills every soldier is required to be trained/retrained on, no matter if they are a carpenter, truck driver, or office worker.

"The soldiers trained with a purpose. A lot of the tasks we can directly relate to situations we encountered in Iraq like first aid and locating improved explosive devices," said Staff Sgt. Kevin Wallace, the unit's Readiness NCO.

Unit Commander Capt. Donald Westfall said that a soldier's training never stops.

"Common Task Training ensures that all of the soldiers can perform tasks needed to accomplish the mission," said Westfall. "Although we were active for a year and performed our military jobs while in Iraq, threats and doctrine change as time goes by. We can't be expected to perform antiquated tasks when the threats have changed and the tactics used against us are different."

Westfall explained that CTT allows leaders to test their soldiers' knowledge, find out what they are strong in and identify what should be trained in the future.

“The process is done in the beginning of the training year to allow us to prepare follow on training to correct for deficiencies found during the testing,” Westfall explained.

This year’s training was performed in the park.

“This will be one of the last drills we spend in the park, our future home is almost ready and plans to move are coming to a head. We wanted to enjoy the park one last time,” said Westfall.

During the weekend, members of the unit had a chance to let some children see some Army equipment. They were able to try out talking on an Army radio, called a SINCGAR. The SINCGAR is the Military’s new form of communicating between people or vehicles in the field.

The weekend was not all completely about CTT training. The unit also did more preparing for their move to the new armory along Narrows Road. Because being fit is also key to being a soldier, the unit conducted Physical Training during the drill weekend.

The unit is looking for new members. If you would like to join the unit, or discuss the benefits associated with being a member of the Ohio National Guard, please contact us at 614 336 6832 or 1-800 Go Guard.

• Date Taken: 10.01.2005
• Date Posted: 04.23.2015 18:48
• Story ID: 161044
• Location: CHILLICOTHE, OH, US