Airborne cavalry rolls on Fort Pickett

By Sgt. Christopher Harper
3rd BCT, 82nd Abn. Div. PAO

March 24, 2011

Photo by Sgt. Christopher Harper/3rd BCT, 82nd Abn. Div. Spc. Michael Grayson, a gunner for red platoon, Troop A, 5th Squadron, 73rd Calvary Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, readies the Long Range Advanced Scout Surveillance System atop his vehicle, at the mounted platoon live-fire qualification demonstration. The LRASSS is capable of using heat-signature imagery and laser technology to identify targets at long range.

FORT PICKETT, Va. — More than 100 tactical vehicles and 400 paratroopers from the 5th Squadron, 73rd Airborne Cavalry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, left Fort Bragg March 1, destined for the Multi-Purpose Range Complex at Fort Pickett, Va.

It is not that Fort Bragg could not accommodate the squadron’s needs for training, rather the nine-hour movement of troops and vehicles was needed to add to the realism of the exercise.

“This was not simply a convoy, this was a tactical road march,” said Lt. Col. Brian Flood, commander of 5th Sqdn. “The squadron was focused on full-spectrum operations to maintain and improve readiness to deploy.”

Flood emphasized the size and efficiency of the movement as a training event in and of itself and how it was a vital part of the training.

Once the paratroopers arrived at Fort Pickett, the two weeks of running through live fire, mounted platoon gunnery and close quarters battle commenced.

“The nine-hour convoy was worth it,” said Sgt. Anthony Medina, a section leader for Troop B, 5th Sqdn., 73rd Abn. Cav. Regt. “It was great training for my troopers and myself.”

Medina attributed the level of training to a combination of factors, the main one being the training facilities and ranges.

The MPRC at Fort Pickett offers more modern ranges and can accommodate the mounted cavalry training and certification in one location, said Maj. James Hayes, the squadron’s operations officer. Fort Bragg has many ranges that can accommodate the individual tasks needed to train the mounted platoons, however no single range allows for training multiple task scenarios and full mounted platoon live-fire operations.

“For us, this type of training is not available at Fort Bragg. The advanced targetry is impressive,” said Medina about MPRC.

By not having to share range time with other units, the squadron was able to train more from the individual through squadron levels at the same time.

Medina took advantage of the additional range time to train his paratrooper Pfc. Luke Cully, a gunner for Troop B, 5th Sqdn., 73rd Abn. Cav. Regt. who was practicing basic rifle marksmanship, in anticipation of moving up to the role of squad-designated marksman.

“This is great training for him,” said Medina as Cully consistently knocked down target after target with his M4 carbine.

The squadron also focused on qualifying their mortar sections. After the mortar teams were certified, they provided the call-for-fire capability throughout the training exercise.

Mounted and dismounted airborne cavalry scouts could use live indirect-fire as an option when faced with scenarios where direct contact was either impossible, or to avoid compromising their positions. This made the training more realistic, said Hayes.

In addition to troop leading procedures and fire support, cavalry scouts practiced around-the-clock day and night operations both mounted and dismounted.

The MPRC at Fort Pickett had more to offer than just the ability to qualify and certify the squadron at the platoon level. The facility is equipped with training aids such as video cameras and forward looking infrared, known as FLIR.

“The ability to conduct AARs (after action reviews) with the assistance of the FLIR systems and cameras added to the quality of the training,” Hayes said.

Hayes noted that the paratroopers multiplied their training when they were able to review their performances, look for mistakes and capitalize on lessons learned during the AARs.

The shoot-house, a training structure used to simulate entering and clearing a building, contained more than 20 cameras positioned overhead at various angles throughout.

As teams of paratroopers would breach the shoot-house, cameras rolled. These images were then spliced together to form a unique view of the team as they passed through the shoot-house completing tasks and overcoming obstacles.

Range control personnel ran these systems and provided the support needed to incorporate them into training.

“Range control has gone out of their way to assist us,” said Hayes.

Medina and Hayes said they were impressed with the exercise and the MPRC.

Flood was also pleased with the training event.

“It exceeded my expectations,” said Flood.

Flood said the ability to exercise all of the squadron’s deployable assets and systems, both belonging and attached to the unit in one event, was another benefit of training at the MPRC.
“We were pleased to be able to incorporate all enablers to support all operations,” said Flood referring to the attached elements accompanying the squadron to Fort Pickett.

Some of these attachments included unmanned aerial surveillance vehicles to identify targets the squadron could call in for support. Low-level voice intercept teams and engineer reconnaissance teams aided in operations as well, and supported both mounted and dismounted platoon missions.

Flood summed up comments made by Maj. Gen. James L. Huggins, commanding general of the 82nd Airborne Division, while he observed training March 15, saying that there are benefits to sometimes getting away from the noise at home (referring to Fort Bragg) and focusing on training with fewer distractions.

“We are grateful to the brigade and division on getting the opportunity to conduct such a high-quality training event at the MPRC at Fort Pickett,” said Flood.

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