Three Arkansas Army National Guard infantrymen assigned to 1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team discuss their time at the Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Polk, La. July 17, 2021 prior to entering the box. (U.S. Army National Guard video by Staff Sgt. Shane Smith, Spc. Marie Bryant, and Spc. Patrick Gilliam)
Full interview translated in English below.
Soldiers, from right to left:
1. Sgt. Javier Perez, assigned to the 482nd Chemical Company, Puerto Rico Army National Guard
2. Spc. Leon Cortés
3. Spc. Bryan Figueroa
4. Spc. Alejandro Lerma
[FULL INTERVIEW TEXT]
Perez: Hi, my name is Sgt. Javier Perez. I represent the Puerto Rico Army National Guard. We are here with members of the Arkansas National Guard, 1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry. Welcome everyone.
Perez: I'd like for you to introduce yourselves. Please say your name and rank.
Leon: I am Specialist Cortés, Leon.
Figueroa: Specialist Figueroa.
Lerma: Specialist Lerma, Alejandro.
Perez: How's it feel to be here at Fort Polk?
Leon: I'm excited.
Figueroa: We are ready to go to the box.
Perez: Ready to go to the box?
Figueroa: Yes.
Lerma: It's very hot here.
Perez: It's hot here? Okay.
Figueroa: But yes, we're ready to go.
Perez: Okay, and talking about the 153rd Infantry, which positions do you work in your respective platoons, in your units?
Leon: I am in anti-armor.
Perez: Okay, armor.
Figueroa: I am an AG (Assistant Gunner). I am the one who helps the person that shoots this gun (points to an M240B SAW) because he's focused on looking through the sight, so he can only see a small image like this (makes a small circle with his hands). So I act as his eyes. I am his eyes.
Lerma: I am also in anti-armor, but I don't have many personnel in my platoon. I carry extra ammo because they can't carry it all themselves because it's too heavy for one person to move for many miles. So I help them with the weight.
Perez: We are here for the JRTC (Joint Readiness Training Center) exercise. We are next to enter in to the box. What do you expect entering in to the box?
Leon: Well, actually, we don't know what to expect.
Figueroa: We are not too sure because they told us many things, but it's going to be tough. It's going to be hard.
Lerma: There are going to be long days, but I'm sure we are going to get great training.
Perez: When we're in the box and they start yelling "Geronimo," what do you expect to happen?
Leon: We'll have to be alert... be ready.
Figueroa: We'll hear lots of gunfire
Lerma: Be alert as he said. Thinking about how we can respond to the attack. We have friendly forces, but there will also be enemy forces.
Perez: Do you think you can easily identify them? In the field, what do you think about this combination of friendly forces and enemies?
Leon: The truth? It's going to make for good training. We'll learn how to react in this type of situation.
Figueroa: It's going to be good training.
Figueroa: Changing the topic from the box, how is your life at Fort Polk? How is the food?
Leon: Everything is good. A lot of heat and humidity, but that's training.
Lerma: The food is good. In the morning [we get] eggs and during the night you can go to the pizza restaurant nearby and they give you a big plate. They do delivery here to where we are staying.
Perez: What do your family members think about the fact that we will not be able to communicate with them for a long period of time?
Leon: They are sad.
Lerma: They know it has to be this way because it's our job. We are here for that.
Perez: So your family knows you won't be able to speak with them?
Leon, Figueroa and Lerma: Yes
Perez: So you said goodbye already?
Leon, Figueroa and Lerma: Yes
Figueroa: Today is our last day with phones, [we will have them] until noon.
Perez: When we talk about COVID-19, what are the measures your unit is taking to ensure you stay healthy?
Leon: The use of face masks and washing our hands.
Figueroa: They gave us these masks that we use when we are going to eat at the chow hall, and we need to wear it.
Lerma: We already took three [COVID] tests. If someone shows symptoms they send him to another building to stay.
Figueroa" And they will not be sent to the box.
Perez: Have you all been tested?
Leon, Figueroa and Lerma: Yes
Leon: We have been tested for COVID three times each.
Perez: Okay. In general, do you all think that you will pass the certification [of JRTC]?
Leon, Figueroa and Lerma: Yes.
Leon: Yes, I believe we will. Yes. We all have been training, so we believe so, yes.
Perez: Thank you all for being here. I wish you all success during this exercise. I hope we all can achieve the certification. Hooah!
| Date Taken: | 07.17.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 07.18.2021 14:52 |
| Category: | Interviews |
| Video ID: | 807101 |
| VIRIN: | 210717-Z-CQ001-1001 |
| Filename: | DOD_108457003 |
| Length: | 00:04:54 |
| Location: | FORT POLK, LA, US |
| Downloads: | 3 |
| High-Res. Downloads: | 3 |
This work, 153rd Infantry Regiment Soldiers discuss their JRTC experience, by SPC Patrick Gilliam, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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