AIT Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 6th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, seek information about two missing helicopter pilots. Photo by Maj. Deanna Bague.
GWOT training: 3-6 AIT Soldiers to the rescue
Maj. Deanna Bague, Fort Bliss Public Affairs
Advanced individual training Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 6th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, enrolled in the Patriot launching station enhanced operator military occupational specialty course here, were tasked to rescue two wounded U.S. helicopter pilots who were taken hostage in a mock Iraqi village Friday.
“Anyone can go on patrol now, it is not (military occupational specialty)-specific anymore,” said Sgt. 1st Class Donald Musgrave, platoon sergeant, A Battery, 3-6 ADA. “We’re leaning forward in the saddle and trying to make sure the privates know patrolling and urban operations procedures … so that if they deploy and are put in these situations, they already have a basic concept of how to do the tasks at hand.”
“Each Soldier is a Soldier before their job,” said Pvt. Phillip Saunier, squad leader, A Btry., 3-6 ADA. “So for us to better fulfill our contract to the United States government, we need to learn how to be a basic Soldier first.”
For the field exercise scenario, the Soldiers were given an operations order, mounted a five-ton truck and moved on to their first objective. Their first stop was a mock crash site where they learned two pilots were being held hostage in a mock Iraqi town. On their way to the town, their vehicle hit an improvised explosive device, but they survived the blast and continued on their mission.
Advanced individual training Soldiers from 3-6 ADA dismount and set up security. Photo by Maj. Deanna Bague.
When they arrived to the village, they used one of the most current techniques being incorporated into warrior training, said 2nd Lt. Jake Wade, executive officer, 2-6 ADA. Officers and noncommissioned officers from the two units played the role of insurgents and Iraqi villagers. AIT Soldiers interacted with the mock populace.
“One of the big things we are working on right now is how we can train our Soldiers culturally,” said Wade. “As an Army we are generally very good with our tactics, but we have not been as strong with how we deal with culture, especially in dealing with an insurgency.”
Once they reached the city, instead of moving in with the use of force, a small group of Soldiers went in with to interact with the populace who were neutral to the Coalition Forces. With the help of an interpreter, they obtained the exact building locations of the hostages. Pvt. Ashley Hattenbauch, A Btry., 3-6 ADA, served as the interpreter in the scenario.
“It was pretty important because if they didn’t have someone to translate … there’s no way anyone would have understood the clues they were giving us on the whereabouts of the pilots,” said Hattenbauch.
Pvts. Steven Flemming, left, and Nicholas Casas, both from 3-6 ADA , conduct a rescue mission for a missing pilot. Photo by Maj. Deanna Bague.
During the simulated rescue attempt, Pvt. Gonzalo Rojas, squad leader, A Btry., 3-6 ADA, said the realism of the exercise multiplied when their fellow Soldiers were “shot” by mock insurgents and were no longer in play.
“I needed cover … and as soon as I lose one, two (Soldiers), it minimizes my cover,” said Rojas. “As soon as that started happening, it just became more and more realistic as I’m seeing my battle buddies fall down, it’s hard.”
At the end of the exercise, the cadre discussed the strengths and weaknesses they observed. Musgrave said the Soldiers maintained their focus and performed well overall. “They did what we trained them to do,” he said.