Daggers arrive; prepare to take on Kuwaiti partnership missions

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Tamika Dillard | Soldiers of the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, “Daggers,” arrived at Camp Buehring, Sept. 13, 2015. The brigade will work closely with its Kuwaiti partners over the next 9 months to increase partner capability while fostering close professional and personal relationships between the U.S. and Kuwait and remain an indispensable tool for building long-standing military-to-military relationships.  

CAMP BUEHRING, KUWAIT

10.19.2015

Story by Staff Sgt. Tamika Dillard 

2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division Public Affairs

CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait - With less than two weeks on Kuwaiti sand, the Soldiers of the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division are conducting reception, staging, onward movement and integration, or (RSOI), as they prepare to take on the Kuwait mission from 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division in a transfer of authority ceremony set for early next month.

“Reception and integration training is one of the most important tasks we conduct,” U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Michael Hall, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd ABCT senior noncommissioned officer said. “During this period, Soldiers will learn about their area of operations and get the opportunity to hone those core combat skills necessary to keep them in the fight.”

The RSOI process for the Dagger brigade includes right-seat ride and left-seat ride with their 3rd ABCT, 4th Inf. Div., counterparts as well as U.S. Army Central’s theater specific training in counter improvised explosive devices or (C-IED), Humvee Egress Assistance Trainer or (HEAT), driver’s training and range safety.

More than 100 Soldiers experienced the HEAT trainer course this past week. Five Soldiers wearing helmets, body armor, combat gloves and eye protection entered a shell that replicated the interior of a standard Humvee. Once the occupants were strapped in, the doors locked and the operator kicked in the hydraulics, sending the HEAT spinning from a 30-degree angle to a 180-degree angle replicating a vehicle rollover.

“The HEAT is designed to show Soldiers what it’s like to be in a vehicle roll over either from an accident or an IED [improvised explosive device] attack,” U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Adam Johnson, the training room noncommissioned officer for HHC, 2nd ABCT said. “The training teaches Soldiers the best way to survive a vehicle rollover…ultimately saving both his/her life as well as the lives of everyone in the vehicle.”

Johnson added, “Soldiers must work together to ensure that everyone gets out safely and quickly.”

“This is what all our training is about,” added Hall. “Educating our Soldiers, from private to colonel, and providing them the right tools to effectively shoot, move and communicate no matter the situation they may encounter.”

These Soldiers will continue RSOI training until next month’s transfer of authority ceremony. Upon completion of the ceremony, joint-training exercises will begin with their Kuwaiti partners.

The brigade will work closely with its Kuwaiti partners for the upcoming nine months to increase partner capability while fostering close professional and personal relationships between the U.S. and Kuwait and remain an indispensable tool for building long-standing military-to-military relationships.

“We look forward to working with our Kuwaiti partners to help ensure peace while promoting security and stability in the region,” said Maj. Douglas F. Baker, the executive officer of 2nd ABCT, 1st Inf. Div. Our partnership activities and shared training exercises will provide valuable bilateral military training to all participating service members while strengthening tactical proficiency in critical mission areas.”

• Date Taken: 10.19.2015
• Date Posted: 10.20.2015 12:22
• Story ID: 179400
• Location: CAMP BUEHRING, KW