Iron Rangers conduct friendly competition

Photo By Staff Sgt. Jeremiah Woods | An M1 Abrams tank and a Bradley Fighting Vehicle belonging to the 1st Battalion 16th Infantry Regiment maneuver around a flock of sheep on a tank trail during a mounted training exercise on a shooting range near Smardan, Romania June, 1 2019. Mounted training exercises help enable the Soldiers of the 1-16 Inf. to be a lethal fighting force and a valuable asset to NATO allies in support of Atlantic Resolve. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jeremiah Woods)  

SMARDAN, ROMANIA

06.09.2019

Story by Staff Sgt. True Thao 

358th Public Affairs Detachment

SMARDAN TRAINING AREA, Romania – Soldiers with 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division conducted a friendly competition of a “tank cage match” at Smardan Training Area, Romania, June 1, 2019.
A Bradley Fighting Vehicle and an M1 Abrams tank were paired together in an all-out battle to see who would be the last vehicles standing. Boundaries were set so that the team could only maneuver within a certain area. The Iron Rangers utilized the multiple integrated laser engagement system to ensure that training would simulate realistic scenarios.
“The purpose of this training is to improve the lethality of the Soldiers” said U.S. Army Maj. Joel Randuzel, operations officer with the 1-16th the Infantry. “This type of training makes it’s a fun, friendly competition for the Soldiers.”
The Iron Rangers have been training rigorously while deployed throughout Eastern Europe as a rotational force in support of Atlantic Resolve.
This type of training is unique because it allowed for the Soldiers to come up with tactics they’re not familiar with.
“This type of training is different because it gets everyone away from the repetitive training missions and objectives. “U.S. Army Sgt. Eddie Espinoza, a Bradley vehicle commander with 1-16th Infantry.
“We are used to maneuvering with other tanks during our training,” said Jarred Ison, a tank driver from Lakeland, Florida with 1-16th Infantry. “It was something different but I had fun.”
The Soldiers are used to operating in a platoon size element but the Soldiers had to rethink their strategy for this training, said Radunzel.
The teams were given a starting point and maneuvered around a limited area. With little to no concealment in the field, the Soldiers had to improvise to conceal from the other teams.
“We were using camouflage netting and conducting berm drills to hide from the other teams,” said U.S. Army Sgt. Eddie Espinoza, a Bradley vehicle commander with 1-16th Infantry
Ison and his team conducted similar berm drills with their M1 Abrams to steer clear of the other teams during this competition.
Though it was meant to be a friendly competition, the Soldiers took this opportunity to train up on unfamiliar terrain.
“This opportunity gives the non-commissioned officer the proper training on maneuvering their vehicles,” said Espinoza. “It was beneficial to my team because it helped with target identification.”
As the Iron Rangers continue to their rotation in Eastern Europe, they will continue to conduct rigorous training in realistic training environments with allies and partners to ensure readiness and lethality.

• Date Taken: 06.09.2019
• Date Posted: 06.10.2019 11:11
• Story ID: 326268
• Location: SMARDAN, RO
• Hometown: FORT RILEY, KS, US
• Hometown: JUNCTION CITY, KS, US
• Hometown: MANHATTAN, KS, US