Fort Bliss Monitor

Echo Battery, 1-7 trains West Point Cadets

Spc. Jason Stadel
108th ADA Bde. Public Affairs

Each summer units from the XVIII Airborne Corps host Cadet Summer Training at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York. This summer was the first time Air Defenders took part in the Cadet Summer Training.
The training this summer was hosted by the 3rd Battalion, 502nd Infantry, 101st Airborne (Air Assault) Division.

Two units from the 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade were attached to the task force — Echo Battery 2nd Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment and Echo Battery 1st Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery Regiment.

Echo 1-7 began training as soon as they received the deployment order. For the task ahead of them, the battery received 23 additional cooks, medics, mechanics, and air defenders from other batteries in 1-7 to support the Cadet Summer Training.

For the training, the battery temporarily reconfigured into two platoons; 1st Platoon handled zero and qualification ranges and the shooting competition, 2nd Platoon focused on Recondo (slide for life, beam walk, rope walk, 3-Kilometer ruck march, poncho raft, and CTT). The Soldiers acted just like drill sergeants would at basic combat training. In one month Echo 1-7 trained more than 1200 cadets.

For West Point Cadets, summer training is the equivalent to basic combat training, but 1st Sgt. Paris Williams, Echo 1-7, said Cadet Sum-mer Training and BCT are two different elements. “The cadets do train on many similar basic training tasks such as CTT. But the training here at West Point is geared more for the development of future company grade officers.”

Williams said his Soldiers went above and beyond all expectations. “Lt. Gen. Lennox, the commandant of West Point, said that he was impressed with the dedication and sacrifices these Soldiers have made to ensure the development of our nation’s future leaders. These Soldiers are a great credit to the Air Defense Branch.”

Williams also took pride in the fact that his battery was part of Air Defense history by being the first Air Defense Soldiers to train West Point Cadets. “This opportunity proved that Air Defenders are equal to the infantry and artillerymen of the 101st Air-borne.”

The 1-7 Soldiers had many long days but were also able to visit New York City and the surrounding area. While at West Point the 1-7 Soldiers also had other highlights, such as a few Soldiers being promoted by a three star general and working alongside artillery and infantrymen. They also held their inaugural best Soldier competition, “Warrior Stakes,” in which Soldiers competed on the M16 qualification range, APFT, 20K foot march, obstacle course, and CTT.

Even with the opportunity to get away from the training for a few days, the Soldier’s professionalism and dedication to the mission never wavered. “The Soldiers of 1-7 ADA experienced a high operational tempo,” Williams said, “[The] Soldiers represented the 108th ADA Brigade and the XVIII Airborne Corps with distinction and pride.”

Echo 1-7 will return to Fort Bliss Aug. 5. Williams said the cadet summer training provides valuable experience for both the cadets and his Soldiers.



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	July 22, 2004

<map name="boxmap-b4"> <area shape="rect" coords="0, 589, 120, 600" href="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm/privacy-policy.html?o=1" > <area coords="0,0,10000,10000" href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=&creative=92501&camp=8117&link_code=dl1&path=subst/misc/amazon-cobrand-cc/v3/marketing-from-associates-step1.html/ref%3Db1_assoc_29" > </map>	Echo Battery, 1-7 trains West Point Cadets Spc. Jason Stadel 108th ADA Bde. Public Affairs Each summer units from the XVIII Airborne Corps host Cadet Summer Training at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York. This summer was the first time Air Defenders took part in the Cadet Summer Training. The training this summer was hosted by the 3rd Battalion, 502nd Infantry, 101st Airborne (Air Assault) Division. Two units from the 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade were attached to the task force — Echo Battery 2nd Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment and Echo Battery 1st Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery Regiment. Echo 1-7 began training as soon as they received the deployment order. For the task ahead of them, the battery received 23 additional cooks, medics, mechanics, and air defenders from other batteries in 1-7 to support the Cadet Summer Training. For the training, the battery temporarily reconfigured into two platoons; 1st Platoon handled zero and qualification ranges and the shooting competition, 2nd Platoon focused on Recondo (slide for life, beam walk, rope walk, 3-Kilometer ruck march, poncho raft, and CTT). The Soldiers acted just like drill sergeants would at basic combat training. In one month Echo 1-7 trained more than 1200 cadets. For West Point Cadets, summer training is the equivalent to basic combat training, but 1st Sgt. Paris Williams, Echo 1-7, said Cadet Sum-mer Training and BCT are two different elements. “The cadets do train on many similar basic training tasks such as CTT. But the training here at West Point is geared more for the development of future company grade officers.” Williams said his Soldiers went above and beyond all expectations. “Lt. Gen. Lennox, the commandant of West Point, said that he was impressed with the dedication and sacrifices these Soldiers have made to ensure the development of our nation’s future leaders. These Soldiers are a great credit to the Air Defense Branch.” Williams also took pride in the fact that his battery was part of Air Defense history by being the first Air Defense Soldiers to train West Point Cadets. “This opportunity proved that Air Defenders are equal to the infantry and artillerymen of the 101st Air-borne.” The 1-7 Soldiers had many long days but were also able to visit New York City and the surrounding area. While at West Point the 1-7 Soldiers also had other highlights, such as a few Soldiers being promoted by a three star general and working alongside artillery and infantrymen. They also held their inaugural best Soldier competition, “Warrior Stakes,” in which Soldiers competed on the M16 qualification range, APFT, 20K foot march, obstacle course, and CTT. Even with the opportunity to get away from the training for a few days, the Soldier’s professionalism and dedication to the mission never wavered. “The Soldiers of 1-7 ADA experienced a high operational tempo,” Williams said, “[The] Soldiers represented the 108th ADA Brigade and the XVIII Airborne Corps with distinction and pride.” Echo 1-7 will return to Fort Bliss Aug. 5. Williams said the cadet summer training provides valuable experience for both the cadets and his Soldiers.