The Eyes and Ears of the Cavalry

Photo By Staff Sgt. Dustin Jordan | U.S. Army Specialist Dylan Hess, a team leader assigned to Apache Troop, 4th Squadron, 9th Calvary Regiment, takes a fighting position during training exercise Combined Resolve XIII at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany on Jan. 27, 2020. Combined Resolve XIII is a Headquarters Department of the Army directed Multinational Unified Land Operation exercise with the U.S. Regionally Aligned Force Brigade in support of European Command (EUCOM) objectives. The purpose of the exercise is to prepare 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Calvary Division along with 16 other allied and partner nations to fight and win in the European theater. The exercise involves more than 5,000 service members and takes place at U.S. Army Europe’s Grafenwoehr and Hohenfels Training Areas. Combined Resolve XIII builds readiness and interoperability promotes regional stability and enhances relationships between allied and partner nations. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Dustin Jordan)  

HOHENFELS, BY, GERMANY

01.31.2020

Story by Sgt. Dustin Jordan 

Joint Multinational Readiness Center

HOHENFELS, GERMANY- U.S. Soldiers assigned to Apache Troop, 4th Squadron, 9th Calvary Regiment, engaged opposition forces (OPFOR) during training exercise Combined Resolve XIII (CBRXIII) at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, Jan. 31, 2020.

CBR XIII enhances professional relationships and improves overall coordination with NATO allies and partners during a crisis.

Specialist Dylan Hess, team leader in Apache Troop, led his team through the treacherous hills of the training area, searching for the opposing force’s hidden vehicles that may impede the troop’s progress.

“As we were advancing through the hills, we came across three OPFOR vehicles,” said Hess. “We slid back and got into a defensive fighting position.”

The team created a perimeter and made a plan to attack the OPFOR vehicles. They advanced both with a Bradley Fighting Vehicle, and on foot with an AT-4 anti-tank rocket and destroyed all enemy vehicles, ending the fight.

Hess’ experience as a cavalry scout helped make this mission a success. Cavalry scouts are the eyes and ears of the commander during battle. They locate the enemy in the field, track their position and direct deployment of weapons systems to enemy positions.

A native of Hopatcong, New Jersey, Hess has been serving in the Army for 3 years. Coming from a family of service members, he felt honored to carry on the tradition of his predecessors.

“Everyone has been in, everyone has served, so I wanted to join the tradition and it’s a family thing,” Hess said.

Hess said that CBRXIII has given Apache Troop an opportunity to train in a different situation than they normally do.

“The training has been intense, but we have been getting after it. This environment is definitely a different climate than we are used to in Texas, but it’s been good,” said Hess.
With this years training exercise approaching its end, Spc. Hess along with the 9th Calvary Regiment have been put through the gauntlet so that they may not only fight with our allies if called upon, but win.

• Date Taken: 01.31.2020
• Date Posted: 02.05.2020 08:34
• Story ID: 361749
• Location: HOHENFELS, BY, DE