First Team Troopers Participate in Remagen Ready 24-1

Photo By Spc. David Dumas | Armored vehicles move towards an Improved Ribbon Bridge during Remagen Ready 24-1, on Fort Cavazos, Texas, Nov. 4. Remagen Ready 24-1 is an 11-day training exercise focused on Large Scale Combat Operations with the division as unit of action. (U.S. Army Photo by Spc. David Dumas)  

TX, UNITED STATES

11.08.2023

Story by Spc. David Dumas 

1st Cavalry Division

FORT CAVAZOS, Texas - An embodiment of unwavering duty and readiness, the 1st Cavalry Division participated in exercise Remagen Ready 24-1, an 11-day training exercise on Fort Cavazos, Texas, focused on Large Scale Combat Operations with the division as unit of action.
Aiming to drive continuous improvement to the Gap Crossing Training Center, Remagen Ready was one of many exercises that will aid in the GTC Center becoming the premier venue for conducting combined arms division-level gap-crossing operations in a joint environment.
In 1945, U.S. forces with the 9th Armored Division made a daring plan to capture the Ludendorff Bridge crossing the Rhine River. The 18-day battle ensuing the capture is known as the Battle of Remagen.
The capture of the Ludendorff Bridge was instrumental in the Allied Forces’ victory over Hitler’s Reich. Under Commander-in-Chief Dwight D. Eisenhower’s leadership, swift adjustments were made before Operation Plunder, enabling the rapid movement of five divisions across the Rhine into Ruhr, Germany’s industrial heartland. This strategic shift led to Germany’s surrender on May 7, 1945.
A constant reminder in today’s military as the battlefield environment rapidly changes, the Battle of Remagen embodies the importance of mastering fundamentals, which led as the central theme for exercise Remagen Ready.
To ensure victory on those battlefields, the 1st Cavalry Division trained on several areas of expertise during the exercise, including Air Assaults, Situational Training Exercises, Wet Gap Crossing, Leaflet Drops, and force-on-force battles.
Natural obstacles can be a significant problem for dismounted Troopers and vehicles maneuvering across the battlefield. The 1st Cavalry Division utilizes engineers to swiftly create pathways across or through route obstructions.
“When forces are maneuvering, our mission is to provide a solution for when they need to cross a body of water,” said Spc. Ryan Pack, an Engineer assigned to the 43rd Multi-Role Bridge Company, 20th Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade. “We will build a bridge or a raft to get across the wet gap and keep momentum so the ground Troopers and vehicles don’t lose the initiative and can keep pushing the enemy back.”
The biggest training event of the exercise, a Wet Gap Crossing, is a combined arms operation to project combat power across a linear obstacle. Engineers utilize the M30 Bridge Erection Boat, with each boat holding a crew of two Soldiers, and is launched and retrieved from the M1977 Common Bridge Transporter.
After the CBT drops an collapsible bridge named the Improved Ribbon Bridge into the water, the crewmembers in the boat will attach the bridge to their boats and bring them to their designated position.
“Everyone played a significant role in the crossing, so if one of them failed, the entire mission would’ve failed,” said Spc. Johnathan Millard, an Engineer assigned to the 43rd Multi-Role Bridge Company, 20th Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade. “So, ensuring everyone was on the same page and accountable for their actions led us to a successful crossing.”
Gap-crossing operations require synchronizing thousands of Troopers and military vehicles without error. The First Team prioritizes integrated communication systems at every echelon to ensure effective maneuvers in a multi-domain environment.
“We did lots of training on our communication systems before the exercise,” said Spc. Kenai James, a Signal Operations Support Specialist assigned to B Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. “We are the voice of the Army, so without us, the mission cannot be completed efficiently or effectively.”
Communication between leaders and Troopers during operations provides situational awareness, coordination, and the foundation for a successful mission execution.
“I drill my troopers on efficiency and prepare them for any situation,” said James. “It is vital for them to know their skillset because they are responsible for the communication between the leaders participating in the training and the leaders watching from the rear.”
A vital aspect of a multi-domain exercise is the training and utilization of air capabilities. The 1st Air Cavalry Brigade aviators implemented Air Assault and Leaflet Drop training in the exercise’s realistic environment to help them identify training and maintenance needs.
Remagen Ready offered great opportunities for leaders to interact with Troopers personally and build high-performing, cohesive teams.
“I can influence people’s lives directly,” said 1st Lt. Jake Stonicher, an Infantry Platoon Leader assigned to B Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. I believe that if you’re a leader who cares about your soldier’s personal lives, it’ll allow you to get the most out of that Trooper and the job, which helps out the company and platoon and the U.S. Army.”
1st Cavalry Division Troopers used the Remagen Ready 24-1 exercise to ensure lethality, readiness, and successful battlefield capabilities. The First Team remains the world's premier fighting force, prioritizing to seize the initiative, fight, and win decisively at the Point of Penetration.
“I have a lot of pride in being a part of the First Team; I wear my patch with very high standards and dignity,” said Spc. Kenai James, a Signal Operations Support Specialist assigned to B Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. “I ensure I am always approachable and squared away because I represent something bigger than myself: the 1st Cavalry Division. The First Team.”

• Date Taken: 11.08.2023
• Date Posted: 11.09.2023 11:03
• Story ID: 457500
• Location: TX, US