Michigan Army National Guard’s C Company, 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry Regiment Successfully Completes Platoon Live Fire Exercise

Photo By Lt. Col. Charles Calio | A soldier of C Company, 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry Regiment of the Michigan Army National Guard remains at the ready prior to engaging targets simulating enemy combatants. The Soldier is using blanks as part of the "walk" phase of training leading up to a live fire exercise at Sennelager Training Center, Germany.  

SENNELAGER, GERMANY

09.14.2017

Story by Maj. Charles Calio 

126th Theater Public Affairs Support Element

SENNELAGER TRAINING AREA, Germany – C Company, 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry Regiment (C-1-125IN) spent the last two days at Sennelager Training Area (STA) going through the “crawl, walk and run” phases of a platoon live fire exercise (PLFX), successfully completing the PLFX today.

A PLFX gives a unit, and specifically a platoon, the ability to train under warlike conditions and to improve and sustain combat readiness. It is such a vital aspect of the training conducted by infantry units throughout the U.S. military that the PLFX was the culminating event for the training C-1-125IN was to conduct not involving the British Royal Wessex Yeomanry, C-1-125IN’s training partner at STA.

On Sept. 13th, C-1-125IN spent the day in the “crawl” phase of the PLFX. “During the crawl phase of a PLFX, we effectively orient our troops to the terrain, go over fire commands and fire control measures, and remind them of their basic infantry skills to ensure a safe and productive PLFX,” said Capt. John Roland, commander of C-1-125IN. “My guys were attentive and dialed-in, and I could tell they understood the importance of the training.”

On Sept. 14th, C-1-125IN spent the morning going through the walk phase of the PLFX, adding complexity to the training by using artillery simulators and smoke grenades while the Soldiers fired blanks at targets on objectives in the training area. “The walk phase begins to ratchet up the stress and anxiety level of the training,” said Sgt. 1st Class William Call, C-1-125IN’s acting first sergeant. “It is amazing how loud noises and obscuring the training area can really help to recreate battlefield conditions. I’m proud of my troops; their morale and energy level has remained high throughout our training.”

The final test for C-1-125IN came in the afternoon, when they completed the PLFX while firing live ammunition in addition to the artillery simulators and smoke grenades used earlier in the day. “Obviously, the run phase of a PLFX is high stress because of the use of live ammunition, but we go through a lot of planning and implement a lot of control measures to ensure the safest possible training experience,” said Lt. Col. Raymond Stemitz, commander of 1-125IN. “Like everything in life there is always room for improvement, and in this unit we strive for perfection, but I saw very high-level infantry skills today and great comradery, which tells me that Charlie Company is doing the right things. I’m very happy with today’s training.”

• Date Taken: 09.14.2017
• Date Posted: 09.14.2017 15:23
• Story ID: 248290
• Location: SENNELAGER, DE
• Hometown: BATTLE CREEK, MI, US
• Hometown: GRAND RAPIDS, MI, US
• Hometown: LANSING, MI, US