Photo By Cynthia McIntyre | University of California, Berkeley Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets and AGR...... read more read more
There was a lot of “violence of action” at Parks Reserve Forces Training Area one Saturday morning, but the only ammunition used were splatters of yellow paint when the University of California, Berkeley Reserve Officers’ Training Corps did their training, Feb. 24, 2019.
Paintball guns were the weapons of choice as the cadets engaged in a two-day field training exercise (FTX) in the Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) site.
In the exercise, four cadets started out down a street on patrol, and when the instructor shouted “bang, bang, bang” they reacted as if under attack, splitting up in twos to take cover behind buildings and vehicles. Yellow paintballs flew as one team called for cover, the second team responded, and the first team called “moving” as they advanced, sending up huge sprays of water from recent rains. As they closed in on the target, a cadet took a dummy grenade and tossed it. Senior cadet instructors followed them the whole way, providing guidance and reminding them to duck for cover after tossing the “grenade.”
Capt. Timothy Boss, assistant professor of military science at Berkeley said, “The FTX gives students the ability to put information taught in class to use.” In this case it was the buddy team live fire, where they had to learn to communicate with members of their team, to keep track of their buddy, to call for covering fire, and to move forward while advancing on an enemy.
“Learn to control your panic,” said Cadet Austin Felarca to the now-wet warriors after the first round was over. “I saw a lot of you guys freeze up. But overall I liked the violence of action and, most importantly, communication.”
“Violence of action,” said Boss, “is meeting the opponent’s level of intensity, or taking it to the next level. It’s acting with confidence, vigor and intensity to put the enemy on their heels.”
Felarca also demonstrated the proper way to throw a grenade from a prone position so it would gain distance, and admonished them to keep track of their teammates.
“What happens if your buddy got shot and you didn’t even know he didn’t come with you?” asked Felarca. “And don’t be shooting while running. We’re not doing that cool guy stuff, okay?”
Master Sgt. Richard Dooley, Berkeley military science instructor, added, “Introducing stress into the environment is making you think more critically about what you’re doing. Every action that you take should be very deliberate. When you guys are moving in your battle buddy teams, be aware if he’s providing me cover fire, I don’t want to run in front of him. I need to think ‘what is his sector of fire’ and I need to stay out of that.”
Cadet Logan James, Cadet Battalion Commander and fourth-year Berkeley student overseeing the FTX, said he’ll commission as a second lieutenant after graduation. The political science major said he is going to Fort Sam Houston for Basic Officer Leaders Course and medical services training, and after four years of active duty will serve three to four years in the Army Reserve.
“It’s an amazing program,” he said of the ROTC. “It gives great opportunities for development and broadens me as an individual.”
He said the FTX will prepare the third-year cadets for this summer’s advanced camp, which builds on the basic camp they attended at Fort Knox between sophomore and junior years. “It’s the big crucible event for them at the end of this year. The MS4’s (fourth year cadets) are in a facilitating role.”
The Berkeley cadets also conducted situational training exercises (STX). One scenario dealt with enemy forces resupplying near a local watering hole. Cadets took notes as they were read the details of their ambush mission and locations. Then they hiked to the top of a hill and arrayed themselves in a circular prone position, rifles perched on their full rucksacks, before moving out on a mission.
Many had mud up to their knees or on their backsides from splashing or slipping in puddles in the MOUT. One of their leaders also served as a role player for a situational training exercise.
The Berkeley ROTC is also comprised of cadets from area several colleges. They participate in physical training three mornings a week at Berkeley, as well as in a three-hour leadership lab teaching basic Soldier skills, and a weekly class. Those colleges include Cal State East Bay, St. Mary’s, Cal Maritime, and Mill’s College. In addition, some cadets are in a simultaneous membership program (SMP) where they also hold positions in the Army Reserve or National Guard.
The cadets at Camp Parks bivouacked overnight and continued their training the next day, finishing one of two FTXs they engage in each semester. These are the Army’s future officers, the ones who will lead in peacetime and during combat. Someday, they may be called upon to fire weapons with real bullets. What they learned at Camp Parks may very well keep them from making the same mistakes in a life-or-death situation.
| Date Taken: | 02.23.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 04.15.2019 14:58 |
| Story ID: | 317646 |
| Location: | CA, US |
| Web Views: | 215 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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