3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment Soldiers conduct battle drills

10th Press Camp Headquarters
Story by Staff Sgt. Michael Behlin

Date: 12.02.2015
Posted: 12.03.2015 02:33
News ID: 183359
3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment Soldiers conduct battle drills

PABRADE TRAINING AREA, Lithuania – Soldiers from Company B, 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 1st Armor Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division conducted battle drills Dec. 2, 2015 at Pabrade Training Area, Lithuania.

The Soldiers conducted the battle drills as part of their rotation as U.S. Army Europe’s regionally allocated force.

According to Cpt. Matthew Samson, the commander for Company B, 3rd Bn., 69th Armor Regt., the battle drills provided a great change of pace after gunnery training and NATO exercises.

“This training allows me to certify my company as being capable to perform their METL tasks,” Samson said. “Eventually, conducting the battle drills will allow my platoons to be certified by the battalion commander.”

The battle drills conducted by 3rd Bn., 69th Armor Regt. Soldiers included conducting squad attack, knocking out a bunker and conducting initial breach of a mined wire obstacle.

Similar to the training conducted with Allied Forces in Lithuania, the battle drills allowed Soldiers to fine-tune their skills within their squad
and platoon.

“Conducting the battle drills allows us the chance to rehearse our specific roles in order to be more efficient at what we do,” said Pfc. Tyler Hanson, an infantryman with 3rd Bn., 69th Armor Regt. “While it was fun working with Soldiers from different countries and learning their capabilities, it was good to work on our own.”

Throughout muddy and snowy conditions, Samson said his Soldiers performed above expectations. He said his Soldiers had to make several adjustments while training in the Baltics, but accomplished their mission overall.

“The Soldiers have done very well in battle drills and gunnery, he said.” “Despite the conditions, they have been very impressive.”

Samson said that the battle drills reinforced the capabilities and interoperability of NATO forces.

“This training did a lot to ensure our allies that we can work and fight together,” he said. “Overall, this rotation was a great training experience.”