CBR XI Phase II: 2-5 CAV trains to fight

Photo By Sgt. Hannah Tarkelly | U.S. Army Lt. Col. Kelvin Swint, commander of 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division and U.S. Army Spc. Robert Espinoza a tank crew loader of 2-5 CAV maneuvers an M1A2 Abrams tank on the simulated battlefield at the Camp Aachen Training Area in Grafenwoehr, Germany, Jan. 22, 2019. IRONHORSE conducted CBR XI phase II in support of Atlantic Resolve, an enduring exercise to improve the interoperability between U.S. forces, their NATO allies and partners. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Hannah Tarkelly, 382nd Public Affairs Detachment/ 1st ABCT, 1st CD/Released)  

GRAFENWOEHR, GERMANY

01.24.2019

Story by Spc. Hannah Tarkelly 

382nd Public Affairs Detachment

GRAFENWOEHR, Germany – U.S. Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division completed phase two of Combined Resolve XI at the Camp Aachen Training Area in Grafenwoehr, Germany, Jan. 24, 2019.

CBR XI phase II was a multi-day brigade exercise intended to increase lethality and readiness under a single fighting force. IRONHORSE conducted CBR XI phase II in support of Atlantic Resolve, an enduring exercise to improve the interoperability between U.S. forces, their NATO allies and partners.

The 2-5 CAV played an essential role during the combined exercise by being one of the main maneuver elements to conduct live fire.

“Their role was not just destroying all the enemy here in the defense,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Brian McCarthy, the senior task force maneuver trainer working with the 2-5 CAV. “They lead the counter- attack for the IRONHORSE brigade.”

The 2-5 CAV brought their skilled Soldiers, M1A2 Abrams Tanks, Bradley Fighting Vehicles and their deadly aim to the fight.

The thick white smoke rose from the wood line in the distance simulating the enemy’s position. Their up-armored vehicles solidly in position, the 2-5 CAV Soldiers let the bullets rain upon the notional enemy utilizing the full effects of their combat power. The white smoke was quickly replaced with nothing but destruction and evidence of a deadly attack.

“This is where we actually get to shoot our big bullets,” said U.S. Army Spc. Robert Espinoza an M1A2 Abrams tank loader assigned to the 2-5 CAV.

The 2-5 CAV’s last live exercise in support of Atlantic Resolve provided an opportunity for Soldiers to increase their collective proficiency and generate readiness in a controlled training environment.

“They say train how you fight,” said U.S. Army Sgt. Ronald Wilson a battle non-commissioned officer assigned to the 2-5 CAV. “As a unit we’ve learned a lot about how to improve and adapt to future operations.”

As Soldiers begin the process of packing their bags to go home, they are taking an extensive amount of knowledge and an advanced skill-set with them.

“It’s one capstone event to finish off their Atlantic Resolve deployment and take a ton of lessons learned fresh in their mind as they go back to Fort Hood and move onto the next mission,” McCarthy said.

• Date Taken: 01.24.2019
• Date Posted: 01.28.2019 09:05
• Story ID: 308380
• Location: GRAFENWOEHR, DE
• Hometown: FORT CAVAZOS, TX, US