198th Armored Regiment Fronts a Deliberate Attack

Photo By Cpl. Justin Humphreys | 1st Lt. Alex Pentergrast, the executive officer with Company D, 2d Battalion, 198th Armored Regiment, communicates with his company headquarters June 10, 2016, while in a Bradley Fighting Vehicle during a training exercise at Fort Hood, Texas, during the Multi-echelon Integrated Brigade Training (MiBT). A MiBT is a multicomponent event that sustains readiness of reserve and active components in accordance with the U.S. Army’s Total Force policy. Total force training benefits include increased individual Soldier and collective battle staff proficiency, standard operating procedure exchanges, and stronger cross component relationships. (Mississippi National Guard photo by Pfc. Justin Humphreys, 102d Public Affairs Detachment/Released)  

FORT HOOD, TEXAS, UNITED STATES

06.10.2016

Story by Pfc. Justin Humphreys 

102d Public Affairs Detachment

FORT HOOD, Texas – While on the look out for enemy troops, tank commanders have to direct their gunner, loader, and driver while communicating with their company in order to complete their frontal assault.
Soldiers with the 2d Battalion, 198th Armored Regiment practiced a deliberate attack mission during a Multi-echelon Integrated Brigade Training exercise, or MiBT.
“Our deliberate attack mission is where our forces come together on one lane and we have to utilize each individual to defeat the enemy,” said 1st Lt. Deandre Eiland, company commander of Company D, 2d Battalion, 198th Armored Regiment.
The training mission is important because it simulates an actual offensive mission, except without real ammunition.
“The mission is important because it trains Soldiers for survivability and contact, and it shows troops what they need to work on if they ever deploy,” said Staff Sgt. Patrick Ross, an observer-controller-trainer (OCT) with the 177th Armored Brigade, from Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center.
The 177th is an element of the First U.S. Army, which not only provides OCTs for the exercise, but was also instrumental in the planning and execution of the event.
Preparation for the training requires a lot of planning and is unpredictable. Equipment breaks down and people can’t be found; yet the company commander stays positive about completing the training mission.
“The planning phase is usually the hardest part of preparation,” said 1st Lt. Eiland. “We just have to change our plans so every piece of the unit can work together efficiently.”
For young Soldiers, the training experience was helpful in developing learned skills.
“Thanks to this training, I’ve got better at working the gunner station in the Bradley and I’ve got more driving and loading practice,” said Pfc. Willie Ramsey.
“At the end of the day, the mission was completed successfully and I believe my guys did really well out in the training field,” said 1st Lt. Eiland.

• Date Taken: 06.10.2016
• Date Posted: 06.10.2016 23:29
• Story ID: 200733
• Location: FORT HOOD, TEXAS, US