Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Jessica Littlejohn | Villagers of the training village of Zaminia, protest U.S. presence during Network...... read more read more
Subscribe
FORT BLISS, Texas – If it’s not broken, keep trying. It’s a science the opposing forces of the Network Integration Evaluation 15.2 have been applying liberally.
More importantly it’s why NIE exists. NIE 15.2 is the ninth Soldier-led evaluation designed to integrate and progress the Army’s tactical intelligence network and test its battlefield communication equipment.
And nothing tests communication like a trained force, fighting tooth and nail for every square inch of the battlefield.
“We are replicating, realistically as possible, the combat effects of the weapons systems,” said 1st Lt. Brett Schuck, opposing forces executive officer, 1st Battalion, 35th Armor Regiment. “We’re expanding the fight outside of the village, we’ve created interdiction zones and disruption zones. It’s more than just clearing a building, or clearing a village.”
A fight that takes time to develop, and for Pfc. Lawson Stanfill, one of the opposing forces Soldiers, 1st Bn., 35th Armor Reg., the fight started days before the assault. Stanfill and his squad set traps, road blocks and built their fighting positions until 4 a.m., May 12, when the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division rolled into town.
“We take it serious, we block passage ways, we funnel them in with (concertina) wire, trucks and obstacles,” said Stanfill.
The battle raged across the training village of Zaminia, pyro technics simulated improvised explosive explosions, laser systems simulated bullet trajectories and the battlefield casualties they inflicted, and the opposing forces met the assaulting mechanized force with mechanized forces of their own.
The scenario went beyond just the firefight, peaceful protests, civil structures and a village filled with civilians gave the 2nd ABCT a more diverse battlefield.
“It’s as realistic as we can make it,” said Stanfill.
As the sound of blanks filled the air and simulated rounds exploded across the village, Stanfill reveled in his opportunity to put his training against the most advanced Army in the world.
“The firefight, it’s a thrill it’s a rush,” Stanfill said. “Every minute of it is worth it, it’s a lot of fun.”
A rush Schuck said translates into the dynamic test 2nd Brigade and the communication equipment tested at NIE needs.
For Stanfill it was just his mission.
“We give resistance, we fight hard, we provide the training they need.”
| Date Taken: | 05.12.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 05.20.2015 12:14 |
| Story ID: | 163957 |
| Location: | FORT BLISS, TX, US |
| Hometown: | EL PASO, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 95 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, You break it, you build it, by Marcus Fichtl, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT