Train the Force: Lifelong Trainers Help Prepare Today’s Army

Photo By Sgt. Tanya Van Buskirk | Observer, Coach/Trainers watch a rotational unit Soldier and role playing civilians participate in a simulated exercise at the National Training Center on Fort Irwin, Calif., on Aug. 20, 2017. NTC provides a tough, realistic, joint and combined arms training that focuses on the battalion task force and brigade levels. NTC has been used as the premiere training center and has continued the legacy to ensure the U.S. Army remains prepared to face any adversary. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Tanya M. Van Buskirk)  

FORT IRWIN, CA, UNITED STATES

08.20.2017

Story by Sgt. Tanya Van Buskirk 

Exercise News Day

FORT IRWIN, Calif. - Preparing for success on the future joint battlefield is part of the mission here at the National Training Center.
Retired Soldiers and current well-qualified subject matter experts answered that call and are here providing tough, realistic, joint and combined arms training to all rotational training units from around the globe.
The Observer, Coach/Trainer Academy at NTC has 14 teams providing the institutional knowledge governing the “Be, Know and Do” of training techniques and procedures designed for combat trainers.
Former OC/Ts are assisting in providing insight during the RTUs’ role playing exercises. Pete Presley, native of Newark, Ohio, and Sacramento, Calif.-native Isaac Bundy, have been providing threat mitigation and military intelligence service at NTC for more than 25 years.
“We start helping the current OC/Ts out at the academy,” said Presley. “We give them a one-hour class on improvised explosive devices and IED adjudication so they know what their part is when an IED goes off.”
“We have briefings and we continue to mentor throughout the rotations,” said Bundy. “At the NTC, the most important part is that the OCTs are well versed and well trained in what they have to do, and our part is to assist them as subject experts.”
Bundy said the OC/T training continues after the academy.
“Understanding missions and how it fits with the unit being trained means the OC/T has to be very quick on his feet because safety is number one priority,” said Bundy. “Their job is pretty difficult.”
When an OC/T candidate arrives at NTC, there is a four-day class to train on their specified job, and that certification lasts two years.
Army Sgt. 1st Class, David P. Smith, native of Tucson, Arizona, a former drill sergeant and current civil affairs OC/T, is part of the brigade training team called Broncos.
The mission of the Broncos is to coach, teach and mentor brigade commanders, staffs and separate companies on the applications and execution of combined arms doctrine to improve the warfighting skills of the brigade combat team.
“I love the fact of training people,” said Smith. “After being a drill sergeant I became a platoon sergeant which was a lot of sitting behind a desk, and I do not like sitting behind a desk. So, when given the opportunity to train again, I jumped on it.”
Bronco team's knowledge of Army doctrine and tactics, techniques, and procedures along with its supervision and enforcement of the exercise scenario, exercise operating procedures, live fire procedures, range and post policies are essential in accomplishing this role.

• Date Taken: 08.20.2017
• Date Posted: 08.27.2017 20:41
• Story ID: 246208
• Location: FORT IRWIN, CA, US