Scouting the Perimeter- 1-91 CAV Evaluates Platoons at Hohenfels

Photo By Sgt. Julian Padua | A U.S. Army Soldier assigned to 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment runs across a snow field during a platoon external evaluation at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center, Hohenfels, Germany on Jan. 27, 2021. The 1-91 CAV Platoon External Evaluation allows troop and squadron commanders to assess the unit's readiness. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Julian Padua)  

HOHENFELS, BY, GERMANY

01.27.2021

Story by Sgt. Julian Padua 

Joint Multinational Readiness Center

HOHENFELS, Germany- U.S. Army paratoopers assigned to the 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade executed a platoon external evaluation training at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany.

The training was rapidly planned, resourced and executed when the training area at JMRC suddenly became available due to a COVID related training cancellation.1-91 CAV decided to use this one week evaluation training opportunity to further ensure their readiness and increase lethality.

“The importance of these external evaluations is to show our readiness, “said Staff Sgt. Kevin Loeffler, Bravo Troop section leader. “We want to ensure we are ready to deploy by fine-tuning our jobs with multiple aspects of reconnaissance. We always have to be prepared to fight and win against adversaries.”

The 173rd Airborne Brigade is the U.S. Army Contingency Response Force in Europe, capable of projecting ready forces anywhere in the U.S. European, Africa or Central Commands' areas of responsibility.

While the troopers conducted reconnaissance and security tasks for this evaluation, the unit commanders kept track of their location and movements throughout the training area in the Tactical Operations Center (TOC).

If the paratroopers of the squadron are the heart of the mission, the TOC is the brain, the command and control center for the entire squadron. The TOC’s main functions include constant contacts with the troopers on the ground, information dissemination for missions and providing additional ground support to the team on the ground.

“My job is to track the current operations of what’s going on out in the field”, said 1st Lt. Hunter Daniels, Assistant Operations Officer. “I also keep track of the platoon’s location and provide support as needed.”

For their training, the troop elements travel to numerous locations in the field and scout for enemy movement and other threats. The harsh winter weather provided the perfect training conditions for the ground troops. Rain, sleet or snow did not deter the Sky Soldiers from conducting reconnaissance to find and neutralize the enemy’s location.

“This training benefits us because it gives us the opportunity to conduct Reconnaissance and security tasks in different types of weather,” said Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Adair, 1-91 CAV Plt. Sgt. “It can be quite difficult training in hazardous conditions, but this experience will benefit us in the long run.”

The opportunity to train in Hohenfels’ curveball weather was not the only benefit for 1-91 CAV. The troops enjoy this type of training because they are able to learn aspects of teamwork, communication, and taking a leadership role during various missions.

“I like that we communicate as a group and paint a picture of the battlefield for the high command’s knowledge” said Pvt. Ryan Foltz, Cavalry Scout driver for 1-91 CAV.

As the training for 1the squadron has come to its end the paratroopers who participated in this platoon exercise are better for it. The training will aid them in future missions and insure their success on the battlefield.

• Date Taken: 01.27.2021
• Date Posted: 02.08.2021 09:16
• Story ID: 388528
• Location: HOHENFELS, BY, DE