WASHINGTON - Soldiers from the District of Columbia Army National Guard (DCNG) honed in on their professional warfighting skills during the 2015 Annual Training exercise held at a training encampment site at Fort Dix, New Jersey.
Soldiers participated in squad-size tactical movements through simulated desert-like terrain, served hundreds of Soldiers using rapid mobile kitchen trucks during the two-week exercise. Some learned how to capture and convey the Army’s story as Unit Public Affairs Representatives (UPARs).
Second Lt. Leon Suvak with the 275th Military Police Company, observed and documented the activities of his Soldiers as they carefully executed tactical movements through the thick hot sand and dense brush.
For those Soldiers providing food services and support, the exercise provided an opportunity to gain valuable experience outside the confines of the dining facility (DFAC) at the DC Armory.
“As cooks, our team is getting a lot of field experience here,” said Army Staff Sgt. Shevonia Dawkins, a NCOIC with the 273rd Military Police Company. “We usually work in the DFAC and are not exposed to this type of real-world training.”
The exercise, Dawkins said, gave her Soldiers the chance to work with special equipment in a field setting.
“This training has sharpened our skills. It gives us the opportunity to use equipment we don’t normally use,” Dawkins said.
Her team employed MKTs (mobile kitchen trucks) and sanitizing stations to serve more 500 Soldiers who participated in the annual training exercise, she said.
One of the several meals prepared by her team included southern style fried chicken wings, peas and carrots with rice, garden salad, fruit juices and sodas and assorted desserts. During that meal, her team served more than 250 Soldiers in about 60 minutes, close to setting a new record, Dawkins said.
Army Pfc. Jamal Winfield, a Soldier assigned to collecting signatures at the mobile kitchen tent, said he appreciated the opportunity to shadow his senior leadership.
“This experience allowed the troops, like myself, to see my NCOIC working alongside their Soldiers,” Winfield said. “It was a great learning experience.”
Pfc. Gardella Brown, a D.C. native who has been in the DCNG for about four months, welcomed the high tempo training. She said she believes it will make her a better Soldier.
“I want to exceed at everything I do,” Brown said. “I can do that that right here with the right leadership and the right people and good leadership.”
She acknowledged that serving in the military is not for everyone, but did say she would recommend her friends join the DCNG to get a good start on life.
Some soldiers were also selected to work as public affairs liaisons for their units where they learned the value of information gathering and basic photography.
Johnson and five other Soldiers learned basic interviewing techniques skills such as applying the five Ws (the who, what, where, when and why) and basic photographic skills in a basic class taught by Army Staff Sgt. Natalie Hedrick, print chief for DCNG’s 715th Public Affairs Detachment.
“UPARs are an asset to public affairs. They are valuable to expanding unit coverage,” said Hedrick said.
Army Spc. Kevin Valentine, another Soldier with the 547th Transportation Company was enthused about the opportunity to serve as his unit’s UPAR during the annual training exercise.
“I was pretty excited. This is what I did during my first annual training,” Valentine said.
Valentine applied photojournalist skills to capture Soldiers and live helicopter conducting a 9-Line MEDEVAC training operation during the exercise.
Being able to capture and tell the stories of his fellow brothers and sisters in arms in the DCARNG is more than enough motivation for Valentine to be a successful UPAR.
“Just being able to capture and tell the stories of the Soldiers and all the unit and all of the guard.”
“My favorite story involves Army Private 1st Class John Hemsley, a 547th Transportation Company Soldier who has never been in leadership before,” Valentine explained.
“But, during this annual training he was made convoy commander. He was calm, cool and collected and made great command decisions,” he said.
Valentine said he was proud to see that and what especially ecstatic to be in a position to capture that moment of professional development.
“I was really proud. I saw him step up to the challenge,” Valentine said.
| Date Taken: | 08.07.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 08.11.2015 18:15 |
| Story ID: | 172814 |
| Location: | WASHINGTON, DC, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, US |
| Web Views: | 81 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, District of Columbia Army National Guard Holds 2015 Annual Training Event, by Robert W. Mitchell, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
