Photo By Pfc. Brianna Castilla | U.S. Soldiers with the 341st Military Intelligence Battalion (Linguist), 56th Theater Information Operations Group, Washington National Guard, disassemble and reassemble M249 Saw as part of a field training exercise at Joint Base Lewis McChord, Wash., Jan. 10, 2026. The training consisted of simulated enemy prisoner of war screening operations as well as basic soldier knowledge on land navigation and weapons training. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Pfc. Brianna Castilla) see less
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JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WASHINGTON, UNITED STATES
341st Military Intelligence Battalion (Linguist) conducts a field training exercise
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. -- Maintaining readiness means regularly training both military intelligence skills and core Soldier tasks. Soldiers from B Company, 341st Military Intelligence Battalion (Linguist) (341st MI BN
(L)), conducted a multi-lane training exercise focused on Enemy Prisoner of War (EPW) and screening procedures.
The exercise trained soldiers to identify and screen detainees to determine referral for interrogation while properly documenting information through screening reports. Counterintelligence Soldiers, including those in training, completed supervised iterations observed by credentialed agents who provided immediate feedback. This approach allows soldiers to identify areas for improvement, refocus, and apply corrections. This results in supporting professional development and readiness across intelligence disciplines.
The training also reinforced warrior tasks and skills which included land navigation refresher training and weapons familiarization. It also incorporated role-players to practice investigations, interviews, and reporting security violations.
“There’s a big exercise called Panther Strike,” said Lt. Col. Rob Goertzen, commander of the 341st MI BN (L). “Multiple countries will be there. For us this is the first task to get us ready for it.”
Panther Strike is a military intelligence exercise, in which leaders emphasize conducting intelligence tasks in a field environment to reinforce both MI proficiency and fundamental soldier skills. It is an elite military intelligence exercise organized by the 300th Military Intelligence Brigade designed to provide all-source training to counter hybrid threats in a technological and challenging environment.
“Our training was touching up on some basics as well as some duties that a linguist would do,” said Goertzen. “That’s the pinnacle of our job is using our MI skill sets.”
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