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Soldiers with the 1st Battalion, 77th Armored Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division concluded their validation exercises during Bulldog Focus here, Feb. 28.
Bulldog Focus is a six-week training exercise meant to test and prepare 3rd ABCT’s Soldiers for a rotation at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California, later this year.
“The training will prepare our units to excel in Iron Focus and at NTC,” said Lt. Col. Mark McClellan, the commander of 1st Bn., 77th Ar. Regt. “This training will certify our companies as ‘go to war’ ready.”
The “Steel Tiger” Soldiers conducted company level attacks, movement to contact, a combined arms live fire exercise, and a battalion level attack to certify the companies, said McClellan.
McClellan took command of the battalion in late January and holds his Soldiers in high regard after seeing them perform during the exercise.
“The battalion was already pretty far along in its training progression,” said McClellan. “They have participated in a number of 1st Armored Division and 3rd ABCT command post exercises, executed vehicle crew gunnery, and platoon evaluations late last year. There was a level of expertise already present.”
The Soldiers appreciated their leaders and the learning experience of Bulldog Focus.
Pvt. Triston Hernandez, an armor crewman assigned to Company A, 1st Bn., 77th Ar. Regt., and a native of Lubbock, Texas, graduated Basic Combat Training in December 2017 and felt he benefitted from Bulldog Focus.
“I definitely learned more than I did in basic,” said Hernandez. “The leadership was pretty good with getting me up to speed. They knew that I was pretty new, so they gave me some leniency. When it was time to conduct missions, they made sure that I was trained and comfortable.”
His teammate, Pvt. Samuel Chapman, an armor crewman with Company A, 1st Bn., 77th Ar. Regt., and a Gloucestershire, England, native, also appreciated the learning experience.
“Now, I know about phase lines and where we’re supposed to be,” said Chapman. “I feel proficient in communications, maneuvering, orienting a map, and how to prioritize directions.”
“The Steel Tiger Soldiers worked tirelessly to execute their missions,” said McClellan. “They can hold their heads high knowing that they are prepared for Iron Focus, our next major training event.”
| Date Taken: | 03.05.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 03.15.2018 16:59 |
| Story ID: | 269576 |
| Location: | FORT BLISS, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 51 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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