6­-8 Cav Soldiers share battle drill proficiency with Ukrainians

Photo By Staff Sgt. John Onuoha | YAVORIV, Ukraine - Troopers of 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division demonstrate battle drills to the Ukrainian counterparts during platoon STX (Situational Training Exercise) August 23, 2016. Troopers of 6-8 Cav are here training Ukrainian Soldiers in support of the Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine. JMTG-U focuses on building a sustainable and enduring training capacity and capability within the Ukrainian land forces. (U.S.Army photo by Spc. John Onuoha / Released)  

YAVORIV, UKRAINE

08.23.2016

Story by Spc. John Onuoha 

2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs

By Spc. John Onuoha, 6­-8 Cav., 2IBCT UPAR

YAVORIV, Ukraine -­ The ability to accomplish missions often depends on
Soldiers and leaders to execute key actions quickly. Troopers of 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division trained Ukraine Soldiers on battle drills during platoon STX (Situational Training Exercise) here August 23.

Battle drills are collective actions that are rapidly executed without applying a deliberate decision­-making process. Soldiers learn how to immediately react to enemy contact as well as follow­up actions. They practice the drills until it becomes almost second-­nature.

There are eight different battle drills: squad attack, react to contact, break contact, react to ambush, knock out bunkers, clear a room, clear a trench and breach a mined wire obstacle. During this training 6­-8 Cav Soldiers conducted battle drill four (react to ambush) with the Ukrainians.

“We conducted near and far ambush with the Ukrainians to help them learn what to do in such situations,” said Pfc. Steven Dresher, a scout with 6-­8 Cav. “First we ran them through a quick demonstration of how we do it and then we brought them out to the field and let them experience a hands­-on against us as OPFOR (opposing force).”

Mustang Soldiers demonstrated simulated ambush scenarios to give Ukrainians a good understanding of how to properly conduct battle drills and how effective it can be in different combat situations. They also practiced how to assault through an ambush using fire and movement techniques.

Spc. David Calkins, a section leader with 6-­8 Cav. said the Ukrainians do their operations differently and introducing them to the way U.S. Soldiers conduct battle drills is another way for them to advance their combat power. “You take everything together and put it into one cohesive plan. This is something that they can use to improve their skills,” he said.

According to Dresher, an after action review was held following the training.
AARs are a professional discussion of an event, focused on performance standards, that enable soldiers to discover for themselves what happened, why it happened and how to sustain strengths and improve on weaknesses.

“We sat down with the leaders and asked if they had any issues or sustains for the training,” Calkins said. “And they all said they like the training and enjoyed the simulated real life situations because it gave them a realistic idea of what it would be like when they face different battle situations and how to handle them as a unit.”

6­-8 CAV is deployed in support of Joint Multinational Training Group­-Ukraine
whose mission focuses on building a sustainable and enduring training capacity and capability within the Ukrainian land forces.

• Date Taken: 08.23.2016
• Date Posted: 08.29.2016 09:28
• Story ID: 208404
• Location: YAVORIV, UA