Photo By Lt. Col. Patrick Simon | Mobilization trainers with the First Army mobilization training team maneuver a Talon...... read more read more
BAGHDAD - Training the trainers took on a significant new meaning, Aug. 16, as Louisiana National Guard engineers put Soldiers with the First Army to the test during a simulated explosives lanes drill.
The main goal of the 225th Engineer Brigade Task Force Iron Claw Academy's intensive week long training course was to pass along the latest battlefield information to leaders who are responsible for mobilizing and enhancing the combat readiness of thousands of Reserve Component Soldiers and units at throughout the U.S.
"I think it's extremely important because there are a lot of guys that haven't been here since 2004," said Sgt. 1st Class Jerry Silva, from Concord, Calif., one of the students attending the academy. "Things have changed and the Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen need to know what's going on to get a true picture of what to expect here."
About 20 Soldiers with the First Army, who deployed to Iraq solely for this training, learned everything from the latest improvised explosive device detection and destruction techniques, but they also conducted 'real world", hands on training with scenarios right out of recent battlefield operations.
"Usually you're get a lag of information at best six months of what's going on in theater versus what's being trained on," said Capt. Darby Boudreaux, from Baton Rouge, La., TF Iron Claw's officer in charge. "A lot of the techniques that the insurgents use are cyclical. What works today might not work tomorrow, but it might work again next week and they'll try it."
Boudreaux said top commanders throughout Iraq found out about the successes of the academy and wanted to make sure deployment training stations back in the states could take advantage of it.
"They found out that we're teaching what's going on on the streets [of Baghdad] right now and they thought it would be very applicable for the guys that are teaching this information back at home and I totally agree with that," said Boudreaux.
The course culminated with the rumbling of mine resistant ambush protected vehicles down a lane laced with simulated explosive devices. First Army teams took turns reacting to and "detonating" these devices.
"What I liked about this training is that they focused on these indicators like disturbed earth ... a bottle hanging from telephone wire ... you have to keep your eyes open, stay alert, and pay attention to what you're doing," said Capt. Paul Headley, a First Army student from Ft. Dix, N.J. "It's important that we can go back and tell these deploying Soldiers, 'Hey I just came back from theater I know what's happening.' The instructors standing in front of you have good realistic scenarios."
First Army plans to send another group of trainers to the Task Force Iron Claw Academy later this year.
"It's going to prepare them better for the current fight on the battlefield," said Boudreaux.
| Date Taken: | 08.16.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 08.18.2009 04:44 |
| Story ID: | 37623 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 189 |
| Downloads: | 152 |
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