Photo By Master Sgt. David Johnson | A 412th Civil Affairs Battalion (A) paratrooper descends to the ground during an...... read more read more
The 412th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne) out of Columbus, Ohio, set up camp at Fort Knox for its Annual Training, August 8 to 21, 2016.
BY LAND, BY SEA, BY AIR
The 412th accomplished its intended training objectives: On land, the 412th conducted civil affairs reconnaissance, weapons qualification and land navigation; simulating the sea, basic water survival training, and the battalion culminated its rigorous two-week training with an airborne jump.
BUILDING SOLDIER PROFICIENCY – THE FOUNDATION
“Commanders have to ensure their Soldiers are proficient on the individual task before you can combine them in collective training,” said Maj. Rob Beat, the Public Safety Officer. “Annual training is the perfect forum to combine the individual skills learned during battle assemblies into collective training.”
The 412th started at home station with training, specifically marksmanship, drivers training and a combat lifesaver course (CLS).
The individual training paid huge dividends.
“I put to use immediately the training I received in the CLS class,” said Spc. Matthew Gurney, of Delta Company. “As soon as we engaged in night drivers training, I was occupying the medic position.”
Master Sgt. Cynthia Taylor, the medical non-commissioned officer for 412th, trained and graduated 19 Soldiers during the CLS course.
“By graduating so many Soldiers, the companies’ missions are not impeded waiting for medical support,” said Taylor. “The companies are ready to go train fully staffed, fully competent and well prepared.”
The preparatory training worked on marksmanship, as well.
The 412th achieved its expected 100 percent marksmanship qualification on the ranges.
All the individual training laid the foundation for the warrior skills.
The 412th emphasizes tactical training.
“A solid foundation of core Soldier skills must be built,” said Maj. Neil Chitwood, commander of Charlie Company. “We can't over emphasize how critical it is that Soldiers get plenty of repetition on these perishable skills.”
One such perishable skill in the age of GPS access on personal cell phones, is basic land navigation through terrain association and plotting on maps with a compass.
Captain Nicole Norris of Charlie Company organized the land navigation courses to be difficult. This was to facilitate the Soldiers’ gaining confidence.
“Without basic land navigation skills, CA Soldiers won't make it to the KLEs (Key Leader Engagements) location to perform their missions,” said Chitwood.
Surviving at sea is essential for an airborne battalion.
The 412th conducted Basic Water Survival Training in preparation for an anticipated water jump in February.
“We trained 40 paratroopers,” said Sgt. 1st Class Alexis Feliciano, a training NCO for Bravo Company. “The paratroopers are required to have BWS within one year of an anticipated water jump.”
With individual training complete, the battalion set off on its collective objective -- training the CAT teams for future deployments.
“The training the 412th conducted at Fort Knox benefited the Soldiers in several ways,” said Beat. “First, the Civil Affairs Soldiers were able to combine several collective tasks into scenario training that reinforced their abilities and gave the company leadership a chance evaluate their teams.”
The rigid training culminated in a successful airborne jump at Roszou Drop Zone on Godman Army Air Field.
After the convoy back to Columbus, Ohio, the tired Soldiers conducted post-training inventories and completed their DTS (Defense Travel System) vouchers.
Whether future missions involve land or air operations, or surviving in the ocean, the Soldiers of the 412th are better prepared after their 2016 Annual Training.
| Date Taken: | 08.18.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 09.07.2016 11:16 |
| Story ID: | 208964 |
| Location: | COLUMBUS, OH, US |
| Web Views: | 277 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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