By 2nd Lt. Derek Smith
4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division
FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY, Iraq – To remain an effective fighting force while deployed, Soldiers stationed in Iraq need to occasionally take time to train and refocus their basic Soldier skills.
Staff Sgt. Larry Wilson, a squad leader for Company A, Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light), engages his Soldiers constantly to ensure they are always ready and prepared for the rigors and duties of route clearance patrols.
Without taking time between missions to focus on training, deployed Soldiers can become complacent and lose some of the edge training provides them when they deploy. Leaders such as Wilson sometimes pull their Soldiers aside and verify they are staying focused and sharp, especially after eight months of conducting route clearance patrols in Iraq.
"Although we're already deployed we need to make sure that we don't get lazy or complacent," said Wilson, a Washington D.C. native. "We need to make sure our Soldiers are pointed in the right direction and are continuously ready for the mission."
Pfc. Christopher Garrett, a Soldier in Wilson's squad from Joseph, Ore., understands the importance of continuing to conduct rehearsals and training while deployed, and he knows his level of training directly affects the mission and his fellow Soldiers.
"Just because you're not in a garrison environment anymore doesn't mean you can't take the opportunity to fine tune your skills or TTPs (tactics, techniques and procedures)," said Garrett. "They're both fluid and can always be improved."
Wilson and Garrett deployed to Forward Operating Base Loyalty in November 2007. For Wilson, this is his second deployment with Co. A. Having experience from this and previous deployments, Wilson said he knows all too well the importance of remaining focused as a team here in Iraq. This keeps his Soldiers' abilities honed to continue conducting route-clearance missions as safely as possible. As a squad leader, it is part of Wilson's duty to instill that importance in his newer Soldiers to help them accomplish their missions on this and future deployments.
| Date Taken: |
07.20.2008 |
| Date Posted: |
07.20.2008 08:16 |
| Story ID: |
21657 |
| Location: |
BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: |
197 |
| Downloads: |
171 |
PUBLIC DOMAIN
This work, Soldiers keep skills sharp while deployed, by SSG Derek M. Smith, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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