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Blackanthem Military News
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Last Updated:
Feb 9, 2012 - 5:06:14 PM |
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Blackanthem Military News
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| Members of the 196th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade's security force take a moment from their convoy live-fire exercise to pose for a photo at Fort Hood, Texas, May 26. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Rebecca Linder) (RELEASED) |
FORT HOOD, Texas - Forty Soldiers of the 196th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, South Dakota Army National Guard, have been training hard as members of the 196th's security force team while here to provide force protection for the unit during its deployment to Afghanistan.
Under the guidance of observer controller/trainers with 120th Infantry Brigade, First Army Division West, the Soldiers of the 196th have undergone intense training during the past several weeks that will prepare them for ensuring the protection of Soldiers under their care.
"The SECFOR has been conducting extra training to ensure the safety of the unit while traveling throughout our area of operation," said SECFOR member Sgt. Michael Fischer, of Sioux Falls, S.D. "We will make sure wherever unit members go the area is secure."
OC/Ts with the 120th got the SECFOR team training together shortly after arriving here in early May. Training started with primary marksmanship instruction classes for the Soldiers shooting and training with their individual and crew-serve weapons.
Soldiers of SECFOR spent long days on the weapons qualification ranges.
"Just being able to familiarize myself with the weapons all over again is very helpful for the mission," said Spc. Brittany Ketcham, a driver for the SECFOR. "I haven't done this type of training since (advanced individual training)."
After the security team qualified with weapons, Soldiers began their improvised explosive device training. During the IED training, members of the SECFOR learned how to do hasty vehicle recovery and how to set up a landing zone for helicopters. The Soldiers were also taught the proper procedures to call in nine-line unexploded ordinance reports, nine-line medical evacuation reports and situation reports.
"This is training a lot of people haven't had before and it will help in our mission," said Ketcham, of Hartford, S.D.
The preparation did not stop with IED training; personal security detail training was next on the schedule for the 196th SECFOR.
During the PSD training, the team learned how to perform a J-turn - a three-point turn with the Humvee - to make exiting a danger zone quicker and easier, said Sioux Falls native Pfc. Greg Mays, a driver for the SECFOR.
The team also learned security techniques, interaction with Afghan civilians and how to call in for additional support from helicopter gunships and the Afghan National Police.
"The PSD team has come a long way. We are starting to work together a lot better," Fischer said. "Everybody has a good grasp of our mission."
To wrap up the training, members of the SECFOR spent a week on convoy ranges to prepare for a live-fire exercise, and were tested on the training they had received days earlier - reacting to direct and indirect fire, IEDs and helping injured casualties.
"We know our roles amongst each other - in our vehicles and in ground security," added Fischer.
On the final day of the exercise, Soldiers were split into two convoy teams to complete a simulated mission using blank ammunition on a dry-run course. The SECFOR teams then negotiated the course using live ammo - once during the day and once at night - using night vision goggles to engage targets.
Fischer said the Fort Hood trainers were very informative and helpful with the instruction they gave them.
"The people that have been training us have been overseas, and in most cases, have been overseas multiple times and share their experiences," Fischer said. "The enemy watches us. They study us like we study them, and the people training us, show us what really works. They teach us how to think on our feet, be reactive and how to dissect battlefields," he added.
Ketcham and Fischer said they stayed motivated about the training they received and Fischer added, "It's a good day any day you can send lead down range. This is high-speed training and it's training I can carry with me throughout my military career."
ADDITIONAL PHOTO:
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| Spc. Nathan Bartels (left) and Staff Sgt. Christopher Montileaux (right) get briefed for their mission by Fort Hood training staff during the personal security detail training at Fort Hood, Texas, May 26. Bartels and Montileaux will be part of the South Dakota Army National Guard 196th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade's security force throughout the unit's deployment to Afghanistan. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Matthew Nedved) (RELEASED) |
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