Fort Bliss Monitor

Delta 1-1 takes training to new level through EXEVAL

1st lt. Brent Hettle
1-1 ADA Bn.

The Soldiers of D Battery, 1st Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery, 31st ADA Brigade, recently returned from an eight-day period of training known as an External Evaluation. The EXEVAL is a scenario-driven, tactical force-on-force exercise tailored to the training requirements of the unit. The purpose is to validate vital wartime skills against aerial threats, command post operations, force protection, and sustainment operations. The participating unit receives an operations order and is required to alert, uploads and deploy.

Scenarios incorporate the complex operational environment and will generally include live ground and air threats, chemical and biological attacks, civilians on the battlefield, casualty evacuation and air battle management. The unit is evaluated on its ability to deploy, fight, sustain itself and redeploy. Evaluated tasks include executing a deployment, tactically employing the battery, conducting air and missile defense operations, conventional and system maintenance, survival on the battlefield and sustaining the battery’s daily operations.

The exercise began with Soldier Readiness Processing. During the SRP the Soldiers of D Btry. updated their personnel records, attended to legal matters such as Powers of Attorney, and received shots. Not long after the SRP an early morning recall was initiated to bring the Soldiers in for deployment.

Once the battery was deployed, evaluators executed various planned scenarios designed to develop combat readiness and overall training. Soldiers remained ever vigilant, never knowing what might happen throughout the day or night.

Soldiers learned techniques for dealing with real-world situations such as protestors, suicide bombers, conventional or biological terrorists and the media.

In one scenario two reporters arrived at the front gate. First Lt. Leila Langston, D Btry., Public Affairs officer, greeted them and escorted them around the site. The reporters shot footage and even interviewed several Soldiers, while at the same time being shielded from operationally secure areas. The After Action Review that followed this scenario was used to teach Soldiers the importance of operational security. They learned that in a wartime environment they must be careful what they say to prevent compromising the safety of the mission and their fellow Soldiers.

Another training event involved learning to deal with combat casualties. HHB medics, Sgt. Matthew Kelly and Spc. Raul Pacheco, led the way as they treated simulated trauma during each combat event. Delta Soldiers learned to quickly evacuate wounded Soldiers to the medics, greatly increasing the wounded Soldiers’ chances of recovery. Kelly showed his medical expertise as he treated each Soldier, and when necessary arranged for medical evacuation through the battery command post.

A highlight for the Soldiers was the opportunity to take part in both a reenlistment and a promotion while in the field. Spc. Gabriel Martin reenlisted for a period of six years, after which Edward Reinhard was promoted to the rank of staff sergeant. At the end of the eight days, Kelly, Cpl. Armando Hernandez, Spc. Matthew Kolakowski, Spc. Regina Schum, and Pfc. Eric Tumbleson were each presented a battalion commander’s coin for recognition of their outstanding performance during the EXEVAL.

At the end of the EXEVAL each Soldier walked away more capable and confident in their ability to perform their wartime mission while dealing with the many variables of the modern battlefield.



www.bliss.army.mil		Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	May 27, 2004

	Delta 1-1 takes training to new level through EXEVAL 1st lt. Brent Hettle 1-1 ADA Bn. The Soldiers of D Battery, 1st Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery, 31st ADA Brigade, recently returned from an eight-day period of training known as an External Evaluation. The EXEVAL is a scenario-driven, tactical force-on-force exercise tailored to the training requirements of the unit. The purpose is to validate vital wartime skills against aerial threats, command post operations, force protection, and sustainment operations. The participating unit receives an operations order and is required to alert, uploads and deploy. Scenarios incorporate the complex operational environment and will generally include live ground and air threats, chemical and biological attacks, civilians on the battlefield, casualty evacuation and air battle management. The unit is evaluated on its ability to deploy, fight, sustain itself and redeploy. Evaluated tasks include executing a deployment, tactically employing the battery, conducting air and missile defense operations, conventional and system maintenance, survival on the battlefield and sustaining the battery’s daily operations. The exercise began with Soldier Readiness Processing. During the SRP the Soldiers of D Btry. updated their personnel records, attended to legal matters such as Powers of Attorney, and received shots. Not long after the SRP an early morning recall was initiated to bring the Soldiers in for deployment. Once the battery was deployed, evaluators executed various planned scenarios designed to develop combat readiness and overall training. Soldiers remained ever vigilant, never knowing what might happen throughout the day or night. Soldiers learned techniques for dealing with real-world situations such as protestors, suicide bombers, conventional or biological terrorists and the media. In one scenario two reporters arrived at the front gate. First Lt. Leila Langston, D Btry., Public Affairs officer, greeted them and escorted them around the site. The reporters shot footage and even interviewed several Soldiers, while at the same time being shielded from operationally secure areas. The After Action Review that followed this scenario was used to teach Soldiers the importance of operational security. They learned that in a wartime environment they must be careful what they say to prevent compromising the safety of the mission and their fellow Soldiers. Another training event involved learning to deal with combat casualties. HHB medics, Sgt. Matthew Kelly and Spc. Raul Pacheco, led the way as they treated simulated trauma during each combat event. Delta Soldiers learned to quickly evacuate wounded Soldiers to the medics, greatly increasing the wounded Soldiers’ chances of recovery. Kelly showed his medical expertise as he treated each Soldier, and when necessary arranged for medical evacuation through the battery command post. A highlight for the Soldiers was the opportunity to take part in both a reenlistment and a promotion while in the field. Spc. Gabriel Martin reenlisted for a period of six years, after which Edward Reinhard was promoted to the rank of staff sergeant. At the end of the eight days, Kelly, Cpl. Armando Hernandez, Spc. Matthew Kolakowski, Spc. Regina Schum, and Pfc. Eric Tumbleson were each presented a battalion commander’s coin for recognition of their outstanding performance during the EXEVAL. At the end of the EXEVAL each Soldier walked away more capable and confident in their ability to perform their wartime mission while dealing with the many variables of the modern battlefield.