Photo By Drew Shipley | A Talon Unmanned Ground Vehicle sits ready for action during counter-improvised...... read more read more
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FORT POLK, La. – As technology evolves into the 21st century, the threat of the improvised explosive device, or IED, still remains a deadly problem in today’s overseas contingency operations.
More than 2,000 Soldiers of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, Iowa Army National Guard are currently training at the U.S. Army Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) at Fort Polk, La. Counter-IED operations are just one piece of the rigorous, relevant and realistic training the Iowa Soldiers will receive during their three-week rotation.
Iowa Army National Guard Maj. Evan Starcevic, a Force Integration Readiness Officer at Joint Forces Headquarters, Johnston, Iowa, deployed to Iraq from 2004-2006 with Company C, 224th Engineer Battalion, Iowa Army National Guard. He said the training from that time frame wasn’t as in-depth as it is now.
“We didn’t have the equipment to use during pre-mobilization training,” said Starcevic. “We had IED awareness training. A lot of our training was through contact from the unit we were relieving and getting feedback.”
A total of more than 5,300 Soldiers and Airmen from active duty, reserve and National Guard components are now cycling through the current JRTC rotation. They are receiving the training necessary to defeat IED threats through electronic and robotic technology the Army has developed and implemented.
Roger McIntire, a counter-IED training integrator at Fort Polk, as well as a 22-year Army veteran, says he’s seen first-hand the danger of IEDs during his deployment to Iraq in 2003-2004. He decided to continue the fight by training Soldiers after his military retirement.
“The biggest threat in the world today is the IED,” said McIntire. “The world has learned they can hurt us. My job is to save lives. Anybody that wears the uniform needs to have full knowledge of these systems to mitigate these threats.”
McIntire says this Counter-IED Home Station Training Program has been in place for about three years and covers a variety of different equipment and techniques the Army uses today.
“We train on all hand-held detection equipment, metal detectors, Counter Radio-Controlled IED Electronic Warfare systems, robotic systems and unmanned aerial surveillance systems,” said McIntire. “Since the War on Terror, the advances of technology, especially with the introduction of ground-penetrating radar, has been huge. Necessity breeds invention.”
McIntire, who is currently on his tenth JRTC training rotation, says he and his team train anywhere from 200-500 Soldiers per rotation. However, even with the emerging and evolving technology, he said the equipment they train on is not the most effective they have.
“The most effective thing we have is a well-trained Soldier,” said McIntire. “It’s a Soldier that’s aware; they know what the risks are and know what the indicators are. You get a well-disciplined Soldier who knows what they’re doing, they’re the ones who can spot IEDs faster than technology can.”
Starcevic, an Albia, Iowa native, said his unit was responsible for identifying and disarming 82 unexploded devices during their deployment in Iraq. He said he believes continual training to counter the threat of IEDs should be at the forefront.
“It’s important for us to always be one step ahead,” said Starcevic. “IEDs won’t be going away anytime soon.”
The Counter-IED Home Station Training Program is not only specific to Fort Polk. This Army-wide program includes active duty, reserve and National Guard components across the country.
As technology continues to evolve on an almost daily basis, the training on counter-IED equipment will remain an integral part in defeating such attacks across the globe.
| Date Taken: | 07.31.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 08.03.2015 14:20 |
| Story ID: | 171974 |
| Location: | FORT POLK, LA, US |
| Web Views: | 293 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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