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Annual Training
reveals important truths
Story by Staff Sgt. Les Newport
Spec. Ulises Sosa contributed to this story
July 1st
2007
Camp Atterbury - As many
Indiana National Guard units prepare for deployment during annual
training rotations this summer others turn to more familiar
pursuits. 2nd
Battalion, 200th
Infantry finished two weeks of training at Camp
Atterbury
Joint
Maneuver
Training
Center
but according to unit commander Cpt. Michael Hall, it is nowhere
near business as usual for the 200th
Infantry.
“This has been two weeks of great training for
them,” said Hall. “They have accomplished all we planned and more.”
Hall points to the numbers of his infantrymen,
particularly non-commissioned officers, that have been deployed in
the last several years and bring experience and knowledge to their
mission training Soldiers.
“This has always been a strong unit, but we are
definitely stronger,” said Hall.
The 200th
spent much of their two-week training engaged in squad competition
that involved a series of challenges aimed primarily at improving
decision-making processes, according to Hall.
“There were no right and wrong responses. But we
put them in demanding scenarios that required them to make a
choice,” said Hall. “Then they had to defend that choice.”
Platoon Sergeant, Staff
Sgt. Edward Risner who deployed to
Afghanistan
in 2005, said he was pleased with the unit’s performance, especially
the new, younger Soldiers. Risner evaluated performance on a live
fire range, reaction to direct fire and indirect fire lane, and
reacting to a sniper attack among other scenarios.
“We ran two iterations,” said Risner, “Between the
first and second they improved so much we knew we were on the right
track.”
Risner also said that the
opportunity to train at Muscatatuck Urban
Training
Center
brought new opportunities previously unavailable. The recently
established facility forty-five miles to the southeast of
Camp
Atterbury
has become integral to battle training for the armed forces.
Risner described the facility as providing
“endless possibilities” for training units and as especially
relevant because of the urban environment.
“Duplexes, two and three story buildings with
basements, tunnels, it’s just a wide variety of opportunities, and
not just for squad-level training,’ said Risner. “You can do
tactical training for a whole company there, a whole battalion.”
Pvt. 1st
Class Avery Bailey, an assistant gunner with 1st
Platoon, has been with unit for not yet two years and says the NCOs
of the 200th
often seed the training with lessons learned from
Iraq
and Afghanistan.
Bailey said the younger Solders in the unit do not take the advice
lightly.
According to Bailey his leaders can be demanding
when it comes to missions, but knows they are motivated to help him
become the best Soldier he can: “If I do deploy, I’ll be more
ready,” said Bailey.
1st
Sgt. David Bratt served as an Embedded Tactical Trainer in 2005,
training soldiers of the Afghanistan National Army. Bratt said that
as good as annual training is for the younger Soldiers in the 200th
, it is also important for his battle veterans. He agreed that
battle drills and annual training is gratifying, even therapeutic,
for trainers and evaluators because it gives them a way to share
their experiences for a purpose.
“It’s always good to be
able to save someone’s life,” said Bratt. “That’s a good thing.”
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