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Blackanthem Military News
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Last Updated:
Feb 9, 2012 - 5:06:14 PM |
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Convoy Operations Training
By Sgt. Sharon Powell, 177th Armored Brigade Public Affairs, Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center
Jan 26, 2010 - 6:32:07 PM
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Blackanthem Military News
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| Soldiers of Alpha Troop, 1/278th Armored Combat Regiment, Tennessee National Guard, move into the mock city of Aljaffah located at Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center, Camp Shelby, Miss., while performing convoy operations training. The 278th is scheduled to leave for Iraq in early spring for their convoy security mission. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Tekecia Simpson) |
CAMP SHELBY, Miss. - The 177th Armored Brigade based at Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center, Camp Shelby, Miss., is responsible for the pre/post mobilization training of many National Guard and Reserve units deploying and returning from combat missions. The brigade is comprised of seven battalions, each responsible for specific training lanes, such as, crew gunnery, driver's training lanes and detainee operations lanes. One of the major and more complex training arenas is the urban operations training lane. This lane includes a reflexive fire range, base defense operations training and basic urban operations training. Typically, once a mobilizing unit has completed each phase of the lane, they will participate in what is known as the combat outpost situational exercise, or COP STX. There, they will combine the knowledge they have received from each individual lane, and collectively utilize that knowledge during simulated, real-world scenarios.
"What we do here is create the lanes based on the mobilizing unit's mission in country," said Sgt. 1st Class Michael Webb, Alpha Battery Noncommissioned Officer in charge, 2nd Battalion, 410th Field Artillery Regiment, 177th Armored Brigade. "Our goal is to give them a concept of operating in an urban environment as they would in country."
During the base defense portion of the lane, mobilizing units are trained in command post (CP), or tactical operating center (TOC) operations. The unit is familiarized with planning mounted patrols and communicating with the patrols while out on specific missions. Next, the unit engages in urban operations, where they learn clearing danger areas, entering and clearing buildings and reacting to snipers. Lastly, they participate in the COP STX in order for unit commanders to evaluate what their Soldiers have learned.
One commander leading a unit through the lanes is Capt. Monica Ridenour, Troop A, Regimental Support Squadron, 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Tennessee National Guard, based at both Lobelville and New Tazewell, Tenn. The 278th is training for their convoy security mission in Iraq.
"The training here is very well planned," said Ridenour. "Most of my Soldiers have never deployed before, so the after action reviews (AARs) are a great way to make the ‘light click' on in their head when they hear what they have done both right and wrong."
When asked what he would like to see units take away from the COP STX lanes, Col. William Prior, commander of the 177th, said he would like units to have the opportunity to rehearse their convoy security mission in a realistic training environment before their culminating training event (CTE), which is a unit's final evaluation prior to leaving for their combat mission.
"The COP STX gives the companies the chance to exercise battle drills, troop leading procedures, planning and tactical operations center operations under time constraints and in a setting contested by opposing forces . Most have never had such an opportunity to date and, after the COP STX event, will be more proficient during their CTE and later in combat."
"I want my Soldiers to take the training seriously and utilize what they have learned at Camp Shelby to make our mission successful in country," said Ridenour.
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