Deployed or at Home Station, 2d Cavalry Regiment is “Always Ready”

Photo By Maj. Judith Marlowe | Soldiers from Nemesis Troop, 4th Squadron, 2d Cavalry Regiment, participate in a live fire exercise to validate ready troop alert and deployment posture, Rose Barracks, Aug. 12, 2017. The Soldiers trained on team dismounted maneuvers under day and night live fire conditions in order to prepare for a higher echelon certification and live fire exercises. (Photo taken by:1st Lt. Andrew Martin)  

VILSECK, BY, GERMANY

08.12.2017

Story by Capt. Judith Marlowe 

2d Cavalry Regiment

To meet the U.S. Army Europe commander’s initiative of being ready to “fight tonight”, 2CR has adopted a robust Regimental Ready Task Force program, where at any given time, one home station squadron is on a 96-hour alert posture, and one of its Troops is ready to deploy anywhere in Europe in 48 hours.

While there were some challenges associated with getting a Troop ready to deploy in 48 hours, Capt. Matt Whitehouse, Nemesis Troop commander, was proud of the Troops who successfully prepared for this mission.

“The greatest challenge was rapidly organizing and equipping personnel.” said Whitehouse. “Even with those challenges, the NCO's took ownership of the training; their motivation and ability to rally around the exercise, after a no notice shock, was impressive.”

Not only is the RRTF program about readiness and the ability to fight tonight, but it also lives up to a promise that the 79th commander of 2CR, Col. Patrick Ellis, made to Battle Group Poland when they deployed as part of the NATO deterrence mission on the north-eastern flank of the Alliance. That promise was simple, if BG Poland needs us, the Regiment will be ready to respond.

The current Task Force assigned to the RRTF mission is 4th Squadron, and they have accepted this battle ready posture in support of the Regiment and USAREUR.

In an effort to ensure that it’s Troopers live up to their Toujours Pret (Always Ready) motto, 4th Squadron has created a robust “shock” program to test its ability to alert, marshal and deploy.

Squadron leadership will accomplish its readiness objectives through a menu of events ranging from Soldier readiness updates (DD93 and SGLI checks, health and welfare inspections, or other Army readiness training), Mission Command validations, and even un-forecasted movements to platoon or troop training events, all tailored to enhance the squadron’s readiness and improve its Mission Essential Task assessment.

The Regiment’s overall shock program ranges in complexity from a no-notice weapons draw and equipment layout to assisting another unit’s training at the Joint Multi-National Readiness Center, or deploying to rehearse the reinforcement of BG Poland.

In the first twelve days of the RRTF, Troopers from 4th Squadron have risen to the challenge through two administrative events and one live fire shock event. The Nemesis Cavalry Troop team live fire on Saturday tested the skills of junior leaders, supported Whitehouse’s mission essential task training progression, and gave his leaders an opportunity to assess the readiness of the Ready Troop.

Lt. Col. Greg Campion, commander of 4/2, believes that the RRTF mission is not only a necessity here in Europe but serves as an incredible check on his unit’s readiness.

“Beyond our requirement to be the best trained cavalry squadron we can be, we must ensure that our Troopers fully adopt the “Always Ready” mindset and understand that we sit here in our wartime assembly area ready to deploy at a moment’s notice, fight if necessary, and win,” said Campion.

“Everything we do is about enhancing our readiness, both in support of the RRTF mission here in USAREUR, and in providing freedom of action to the Regiment as an adaptive and agile cavalry formation.”

• Date Taken: 08.12.2017
• Date Posted: 08.15.2017 09:03
• Story ID: 244887
• Location: VILSECK, BY, DE