SCNG SAPPERS shake up McCrady

Photo By 1st Lt. Tracci Dorgan | Sappers from the 1222nd Engineers, South Carolina Army National Guard, trained in multiple mission essential skills during their annual training June 6-20, 2015, on McCrady Training Center in Eastover, S.C. (U.S. Army National Guard Photo by 2nd Lt. Tracci Dorgan/Released)  

EASTOVER, SC, UNITED STATES

06.17.2015

Story by 2nd Lt. Tracci Dorgan 

South Carolina National Guard

EASTOVER, S.C. — SAPPERs from the 1222nd Engineers (EN), South Carolina Army National Guard, trained in multiple mission essential skills during their annual training (AT) June 6-20, 2015, at McCrady Training Center, Eastover, S.C.

“This job is the best of both worlds,” said Spc. Keith Rawlinson, a combat engineer with the 1222nd EN and a business student at South University. “ I get to help blow up stuff, lay detonation cord and provide security; it’s engineering and infantry in one.”

Rawlinson has been in the National Guard for two years and prior to that was a radio operator in the Marine Corps.

“Overall, this AT has been a lot of great training,” said Rawlinson. “As a unit, we have pulled together better than ever before. We have learned from our leaders who have deployment experience.”

“Besides being hot, it's been a very good AT. Our morale has been high because we are all eager and out here to learn. This has made us stronger engineers but also a stronger family,” added Rawlinson.

Rawlinson excitedly spoke of their final training event, “It’s not every day we get to ride on the Chinook. Usually we walk to missions.”

Rawlinson’s teams mission was to load on a CH-47 Chinook helicopter, fly to the engagement area, dismount the Chinook, and then secure the outside of a building using their infantry tactics. Once the building was secured and the other team entered the building, Rawlinson’s team assaulted a bunker where the enemy was hiding and firing upon them.

“Our refresher training on reflexive fire and engaging enemies at close range was very helpful for this event. We trained on knowing how to fire at targets, where to go to avoid return fire and where to fire rounds to achieve the most effects,” said Rawlinson.

“My 4-year-old son really likes my stories of blowing stuff up. I show him videos after my training event,” added Rawlinson.

Pvt. Albert Neely-Cousar, also a combat engineer with the 1222nd EN and a nursing student at Coastal Carolina University said, “I helped breach the doors of the first building and I was the gunner of the squad automatic weapon (SAW) for the assault on the bunker while providing security for the Chinook. I love having the big weapon; it puts more rounds down range.”

“We trained with two different types of exploding charges to blow open the doors of the building; a linear charge and a water impulse charge,” continues Neely-Cousar. “Then we breached the doors, checked for traps, cleared the room, gathered any intelligence left by the enemy and then provide security for the other team to assault the bunker.”

“This AT has been like basic training and advanced individual training all together,” added Neely-Cousar. “We completed land navigation courses, emergency extractions from crushed cars using the Jaws of Life, training on demolition and infantry tactics. Our main goal was to work together and stay focused. It was tough, but we all looked out for each other. 
The infantry knowledge and tactics are what I learned the most about and I am grateful that we have great leadership that provided insight and guidance.”

Capt. Justin Self, commander of the 1222nd EN, a Citadel graduate and a prior service Army Infantry officer said, “I'm very pleased with every Soldiers efforts during AT. We have really gelled together. My main goal was for my leaders to pull together a robust and aggressive training schedule because this is our year to be available for a deployment and I wanted my men to be ready. We developed a vigorous plan: classroom training then practical exercises. This last field exercise put the past two weeks of training into action and evaluation.”

“Since I have been in command, we have really come together,” added Self. “The hard training times are what Soldiers remember proudly. We put together demolition, aviation maneuvers, and an array of different weapons. It has been very worthwhile training. I know now that we can go anywhere and be an effective combat team.”

• Date Taken: 06.17.2015
• Date Posted: 06.24.2015 14:29
• Story ID: 167949
• Location: EASTOVER, SC, US