FORT McCOY, Wis. – When the Army needs to transport troops and equipment across enemy terrain, they can’t waste all day at a minefield trying to remove each individual explosive.
Luckily, firing a Mine Clearing Line Charge shortens hours of tedious searching with one big explosion.
“This is the first time we’ve done this as a unit in quite awhile,” said Spc. Justin Baker, native of Rhinelander, Wis., and a gunner with the 428th Engineer Company, Wausau, Wis.
The engineers are firing a MICLIC, which consists of a rocket tethered to thousands of pounds of C4 explosives. The rocket pulls the C4 in a line across a minefield, which the engineers then detonate. This quickly clears a path in a minefield for Soldiers to bring trucks and equipment through.
The training simulates real-world situations and helps keep the soldiers proficient with their equipment.
“We need to stay fresh on all (Tactics, Techniques and Procedures), not just modern TTPs because you never know the battlefield you’re going to,” said Sgt. Jerome Bailey, squad leader, 428th Eng. Co. and native of Black River Falls, Wis.
“It keeps them proficient, improves their readiness, keeps them motivated and it makes them proud to be a part of the Army Reserve,” said Maj. Gen. Glenn Lesniak, United States Army Reserve Command deputy commanding general (Support).
When training the engineer soldiers aren’t allowed to detonate the C4, Baker said. For training purposes, the rockets are tethered to inert blocks, which simulate the weight and size of the MICLIC C4.
The 428th is training along with the 309th Eng. Co. (Mobility Augmentation Company) out of Brainerd, Minn. Together the two companies are training to better their skills with the MICLIC.
“It was all about getting into the Army manual and educating yourself and the Soldiers with you,” said 1st Lt. French Reid, commander, 309th Eng. Co. (MAC).
“This was a first time for me,” Reid said. “I was really happy to have an opportunity to see it.”
Rockets aren’t the only fun the engineers are having. Along with the MICLIC, the soldiers practiced creating Ring Maines, which is a circle of detonation cord packed with C4.
“Common tasks for (a Ring Maine) would be destroying equipment, creating tank defilades or tank ditches,” said Bailey.
Overall, the engineers are making sure they are ready for anything combat may throw at them.
“We train up on everything in order to be successful at anything,” Bailey said