Photo By Lt. Col. Charles Calio | On Sept. 18, 2017 Soldiers of the Michigan National Guard’s C Company, 1st...... read more read more
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SENNELAGER TRAINING AREA, Germany – On Sept. 18, 2017 Soldiers of C Company, 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry Regiment and tanks of the Royal Wessex Yeomanry (RWxY), a British Reserve armor regiment, successfully completed a combined arms exercise (CAE) at Sennelager Training Area (STA), Germany.
The CAE was completed at the Urban Drills Training Area (UDTA), a mock village used by British forces to simulate military missions in an urban environment. The CAE was designed so that RWxY tanks provided overwatch and simulated fire support to C-1-125IN Soldiers as they cleared buildings, destroyed opposing forces (OPFOR), and seized an OPFOR command and control outpost.
“We have to train as we fight, and in today’s engagements throughout the world we are very often working in a joint environment, and with combined arms” said Sgt. Major Brandon Post, the 1-125IN’s battalion operations senior non-commissioned officer. “This combined arms exercise was invaluable for our troops in that it effectively checked all the boxes. It was joint in that we trained with our British allies, and it was combined in that infantry and tanks worked together to achieve a designated objective. I’m really happy with the training.”
2nd Lt. Michael Pilcher, C Co.’s 2nd platoon leader participating in his first annual training with C Co., agreed with Sgt. Maj. Post’s assessment. “Today’s exercise provided great training. The Yeomanry’s cavalry scouts played the role of OPFOR, and they were top notch, very skilled. This was my first time participating in an urban operations exercise, and my first time working with tanks. The exercise forced me to think and react quickly in a chaotic environment. I definitely learned a lot.”
1st Lt. Timothy Moreno, C Co.’s executive officer, echoed the shared thoughts and sentiments of C Co., “This was a great experience for the Soldiers and leadership of Charlie Company. Planning this joint exercise took many hours, and a lot of rehearsing. At the end, though, we had a solid plan that we executed flawlessly. By use of doctrinally sound infantry tactics, supported by armor provided by the Yeomanry, we took on a simulated enemy that was fortified in a defensive position. The OPFOR didn’t know what hit them at first, and we just kept pushing and pushing, and through our aggressiveness, we eliminated all simulated enemy forces and seized the command and control outpost with very minimal casualties. This operation was a successful demonstration of how NATO allies, despite having different weapons systems and tactics, can come together and successfully execute a mission.”
There were several dignitaries present to watch the CAE, including Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, Brig. Gen. Douglas Crissman, deputy commanding general of the 3rd (United Kingdom) Division, and Col. Shawn Harris, commander of the Michigan Army National Guard’s 63rd Troop Command. In addition to watching the CAE, the dignitaries visited with troops, and the Earl of Wessex presented British combat marksmanship badges to Soldiers of C Co. that achieved a score of 40 or higher out of 50 during qualification shooting on the British SA80 assault rifle.
| Date Taken: | 09.19.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 09.19.2017 15:44 |
| Story ID: | 248861 |
| Location: | SENNELAGER, DE |
| Hometown: | BATTLE CREEK, MI, US |
| Hometown: | GRAND RAPIDS, MI, US |
| Hometown: | LANSING, MI, US |
| Hometown: | SAGINAW, MI, US |
| Web Views: | 507 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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