Panther’s Focus on Training

Photo By Spc. Jonathan Wallace | An M1A1 Abrams tank with 2nd Battalion, 69th Armored Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, refuels in between operations during “Panther Focus” at Fort Stewart, Ga., Feb. 8.  

FORT STEWART, GA, UNITED STATES

02.11.2019

Story by Spc. Jonathan Wallace 

2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs

Soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 69th Armored Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry division, finished a battalion level training exercise this week, titled “Panther Focus” at Fort Stewart, Ga., Feb. 8.

Panther Focus is a two-week training exercise meant to certify the battalion’s ability to conduct company level maneuvers, and engage with a fictional enemy.

“[The Focus] teaches us how to maneuver on different terrain,” said Spc. Deavon Delgado, a tanker with Brave Company, 2-69 AR.

Tankers with 2-69 AR had already completed gunnery training, which ensured their ability to shoot live ammunition accurately at different targets from a fixed position.

Delgado added, “It differs from gunnery by providing a combat reference; how to stay in cover and move when you need to.”

Tankers were not the only Panther Soldier’s putting their skills to the test. While Tankers were training on maneuvering in combat situations, medics were simulating taking casualties that might occur on that same battlefield.

The medics trained on 9-line radio calls, and how to evacuate casualties with aviation platoons from 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 3ID.

“This is the first time we’ve incorporated track-to-bird medevac or hoist training,” said 1st Lt. Patrick McHale, Platoon Leader and Medical Operations Officer, HHC, 2-69 AR.

McHale continued, the hoist exercise validated the medic’s ability to move a casualty off the battlefield via helicopter. 9-line radio calls provided higher headquarters all the information about the status and location of a casualty to coordinate their timely evacuation.

Next for the Panther Battalion is a Brigade level training exercise, followed by a rotation at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California this spring.

• Date Taken: 02.11.2019
• Date Posted: 02.11.2019 12:23
• Story ID: 310307
• Location: FORT STEWART, GA, US