Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Robert Freese | Spc. Teresa Lovato, a cook with the 3666th Maintenance Company returns fire from her...... read more read more
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PHOENIX – The 158th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion spent three days conducting squad training exercises at Florence Military Reservation, Nov. 5-8, 2015.
Seventeen squads from the battalion’s eight units marched through 16 different training scenarios that challenged Soldiers and junior leaders in basic Soldier skills. The battalion’s roughly 300 Soldiers participated in varied events such as suicide prevention, media engagement training and react to contact.
“The purpose of this exercise is to remind members of the battalion that they are Soldiers first. Whatever rank they hold is secondary," said Lt. Col. Erik Schroeder, 158th CSSB commander. "The training event is an opportunity to get back to basics – troop leading procedures, Army warrior tasks, [battle] rehearsals and operating in an austere environment."
The weekend exercise took squads through the desert paths while officers and senior noncommissioned officers worked together instructing the lanes. The training focused on a small number of Soldiers per iteration of FTX lanes.
“The end-state is that we are strengthening the leadership of the core of our battalion, who are sergeants, staff sergeants, second lieutenants and first lieutenants," Schroeder said.
The FTX lanes consisted of Soldiers preparing a situation report, initiating a medical evacuation request, reporting to higher, reacting to an unexploded device, evaluating a casualty (tactical combat casualty care), reacting to direct fire and other troop saving techniques Soldiers need in battle.
"It's about trust. There's a few ways to build trust – over a long period of time, or in a field environment. When Soldiers see leaders doing what they're doing you build trust and you empower them to be more, do more," said Command Sgt. Maj. Aaron Buelow, senior non-commissioned officer for the 158th CSSB.
One of the classes was on how to build a hasty fighting position and finding good cover and concealment.
“This is a skill level one task and every Soldier should know this. So, this training helps to fine tune those skills,” said Sgt. 1st Class Dwyane Thompson, platoon sergeant with 366th Maintenance Company and instructor for the hasty fighting position lane.
“Teaching these lanes helps to do the same thing as well as instill confidence and experience in the instructors as leaders.”
| Date Taken: | 11.08.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 11.10.2015 17:47 |
| Story ID: | 181638 |
| Location: | PHOENIX, AZ, US |
| Web Views: | 72 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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