Fort Bliss Monitor

Maj. Deanna Bague

Observer-controller/trainers from Task Force Mustang, 402nd Field Artillery Brigade,
examine a mock improvised explosive device.

Soldiers train to
defeat IED threat

Maj. Deanna Bague
Public Affairs Office

Task Force Mustang instructors are training Soldiers to defeat what military officials call the No. 1 weapon used against U.S. troops in Iraq – improvised explosive devices.

“This training should be mandatory no matter where they go,” said Ferreira. “Whether it’s here, Kuwait or Iraq, they should [be required] to stop at a station like this.” Soldiers should not be given a choice to get trained because IEDs are the No. 1 killer, he said.

Ferreira returned from theater three months ago and is current on the latest program of instruction, which Soldiers said adds credibility to the course and builds confidence among troops receiving the training. Staff Sgt. Andrew Eberhardt, training NCO, Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 104th Military Police Battalion, and Air Force Sgt. Newell Slagle, 886 Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, who are deploying for the second time, said the IED training is very realistic.

“This is a lot more advanced than what we had initially received,” said Eberhardt. “It has come a long way. It’s a great eye-opener to the Soldiers who haven’t been in country or don’t have the experience, and it’s a great refresher for those who have.”

“The training is very up-to-date with what’s going on in country now,” Slagle said. “The instructors have been in [theater] and are very knowledgeable of the situation that is happening there.”

Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen who conduct pre-deployment training at Fort Bliss under the 402nd Field Artillery Bde., receive in-depth training on IEDs.

“We show them examples of the different types of ordnance, how easy it is to build them,” said Ferreire. “We show them how easy it is to camouflage things. We give them an opportunity to find the IEDs that are out here.”

“A lot of people come in with just a general sense of the unknown,” said Capt. Aneal Krishnan, 104th MP Bn. “Besides pictures, I’ve never seen an IED before. I’ve never seen an emplacement of an IED before. I don’t know what an emplaced IED would be camouflaged like. I think a lot of people were in the same boat as me and now that we’ve seen that and gone through [this training], we are more familiar with [IEDs].

Staff Sgt. Alfonso Bombita, observer controller/trainer, TF Mustang, 402 FA Bde., said Soldiers receive hands-on training utilizing an interactive display named the “Petting Zoo.”

“I ask the units coming through to pick up the devices,” Bombita said. “This is the opportunity where you can pick up the IEDs, so you can know what they look like.”

Ferreira said the training is designed to counter the damaging effects of IEDs by familiarizing Soldiers with the different types they may encounter, which include vehicle- and personnel-borne IEDs and victim-operated and radio-controlled IEDs. We have the technology, said Ferreira, to counter radio controlled IEDs and jam the frequencies to prevent them from exploding. The enemy is constantly adapting and finding ways to defeat us.

“So now, the enemy is going back to using pressure plates because we have defeated radio-controlled IEDs,” said Ferreira. Command-wired, victim-operated IEDs and passive infra-red IEDs are among the simplest to build.

Staying alert and not discussing missions, even among troops, in morale, welfare and recreation facilities in theater is extremely important. There are third-country nationals in the mess halls and gyms in Iraq, said Ferreira. Soldiers don’t know where these TCNs go at night or with whom they meet.

Spc. John Zayas Jr., HHD, 104th MP Bn., said the instructors have been very effective in implementing techniques on keeping Soldiers vigilant. These techniques, he said, keep him on his toes at all times. Zayas said he plans on staying alert and having his head on a swivel in theater. One should never get too relaxed in country, he said.

“Soldiers are in 100 percent control of their operational security. They are in 100 percent control of their situational awareness, 360-degree security. If they can maintain these things, they’ve probably beaten 80 percent of the problem,” Ferreira said. “You have to think as an insurgent to find these [IEDs].”



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	July 19, 2007

	Maj. Deanna Bague Observer-controller/trainers from Task Force Mustang, 402nd Field Artillery Brigade, examine a mock improvised explosive device. Soldiers train to defeat IED threat Maj. Deanna Bague Public Affairs Office Task Force Mustang instructors are training Soldiers to defeat what military officials call the No. 1 weapon used against U.S. troops in Iraq – improvised explosive devices. “This training should be mandatory no matter where they go,” said Ferreira. “Whether it’s here, Kuwait or Iraq, they should [be required] to stop at a station like this.” Soldiers should not be given a choice to get trained because IEDs are the No. 1 killer, he said. Ferreira returned from theater three months ago and is current on the latest program of instruction, which Soldiers said adds credibility to the course and builds confidence among troops receiving the training. Staff Sgt. Andrew Eberhardt, training NCO, Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 104th Military Police Battalion, and Air Force Sgt. Newell Slagle, 886 Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, who are deploying for the second time, said the IED training is very realistic. “This is a lot more advanced than what we had initially received,” said Eberhardt. “It has come a long way. It’s a great eye-opener to the Soldiers who haven’t been in country or don’t have the experience, and it’s a great refresher for those who have.” “The training is very up-to-date with what’s going on in country now,” Slagle said. “The instructors have been in [theater] and are very knowledgeable of the situation that is happening there.” Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen who conduct pre-deployment training at Fort Bliss under the 402nd Field Artillery Bde., receive in-depth training on IEDs. “We show them examples of the different types of ordnance, how easy it is to build them,” said Ferreire. “We show them how easy it is to camouflage things. We give them an opportunity to find the IEDs that are out here.” “A lot of people come in with just a general sense of the unknown,” said Capt. Aneal Krishnan, 104th MP Bn. “Besides pictures, I’ve never seen an IED before. I’ve never seen an emplacement of an IED before. I don’t know what an emplaced IED would be camouflaged like. I think a lot of people were in the same boat as me and now that we’ve seen that and gone through [this training], we are more familiar with [IEDs]. Staff Sgt. Alfonso Bombita, observer controller/trainer, TF Mustang, 402 FA Bde., said Soldiers receive hands-on training utilizing an interactive display named the “Petting Zoo.” “I ask the units coming through to pick up the devices,” Bombita said. “This is the opportunity where you can pick up the IEDs, so you can know what they look like.” Ferreira said the training is designed to counter the damaging effects of IEDs by familiarizing Soldiers with the different types they may encounter, which include vehicle- and personnel-borne IEDs and victim-operated and radio-controlled IEDs. We have the technology, said Ferreira, to counter radio controlled IEDs and jam the frequencies to prevent them from exploding. The enemy is constantly adapting and finding ways to defeat us. “So now, the enemy is going back to using pressure plates because we have defeated radio-controlled IEDs,” said Ferreira. Command-wired, victim-operated IEDs and passive infra-red IEDs are among the simplest to build. Staying alert and not discussing missions, even among troops, in morale, welfare and recreation facilities in theater is extremely important. There are third-country nationals in the mess halls and gyms in Iraq, said Ferreira. Soldiers don’t know where these TCNs go at night or with whom they meet. Spc. John Zayas Jr., HHD, 104th MP Bn., said the instructors have been very effective in implementing techniques on keeping Soldiers vigilant. These techniques, he said, keep him on his toes at all times. Zayas said he plans on staying alert and having his head on a swivel in theater. One should never get too relaxed in country, he said. “Soldiers are in 100 percent control of their operational security. They are in 100 percent control of their situational awareness, 360-degree security. If they can maintain these things, they’ve probably beaten 80 percent of the problem,” Ferreira said. “You have to think as an insurgent to find these [IEDs].”