Training provides greater sense of awareness to paratroopers

By Reginald Rogers
Paraglide

August 25, 2011

	Photo by Reginald Rogers/Paraglide Paratroopers from the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division land near the old Rockefeller estate, which now part of the Fort Bragg training area. The troops conducted tactical site exploitation training and detained several persons of interest during the exercise.

In combat, securing vital information is critical to a mission’s success.

In past conflicts, information that could have determined the outcome of decisive battles was often destroyed or lost as troops moved in to claim territory. Now, paratroopers of the 2nd Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment are prepared to overcome those mistakes.

Four teams of paratroopers participated in an exercise Friday at the Old Rockefeller Estate in Overhills as part of the culminating event for the weeklong Site Exploitation Training. The training was part of the U.S. Army Forces Command Home Station Training Program.

During the exercise, the troops were flown to the site aboard a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter and required to search the compound for simulated, bomb-making material and weapons, while interrogating several persons of interest. While conducting interrogations, they were required to ask the right questions to find information about a suspected bomb-maker, or high-value target, who was actually disguised as one of two female Afghans.

“This class came along to be able to teach the basic infantry Soldier and all other (military occupational specialties) of units to systematically search a house or unoccupied building, to be able to gather evidence so it can be used in the local theater in a court of law to be able to prosecute people,” explained Chuck Launderville, Site Exploitation Course lead trainer. “A lot of the stuff that was getting lost was being contaminated due to the fact that there were improper search procedures, Soldiers not wearing gloves, or things of that nature. That’s why this class was created.”

During the class, students are taught how to search an occupied building, an unoccupied building, fingerprinting procedures, how to collect DNA from a subject, aerial and cache recovery and personnel and vehicle searches, Launderville said.

“It’s good to see how the infantry is doing it and I also like the fact that they’re training them on why they’re doing it,” said Capt. Jeremy Pinson of the 192nd Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit, who observed the training. “I think it’s a really good skill requirement for the current mission and theater we’re in. Infantry Soldiers may be put in a situation where they have to conduct an SE. Now they know how to do it properly, quickly and safely.”

Pinson said the infantry and EOD would work together in some instances, but added that EOD’s site exploitation training is more in depth.

“Obviously our guys are the explosives and improvised explosive device experts in the Army, so we focus more heavily on IED components, tape and we get sent to training on how to handle and process evidence. (The infantry) doesn’t process any evidence, but other than that, it’s very similar,” Pinson said.

“It was good training. I learned some good stuff that will be helpful downrange,” said Spc. Gregory Warmouth of Co. E, 2nd Bn., 508th PIR, 82nd Abn. Div. “It’s the kind of stuff we need to be doing now.”

Warmouth said the hands-on experience was the most valuable aspect of Friday’s training.

“When you’re in the classroom, what you’re being taught seems much easier, but I found out during the training that it’s a little more difficult,” said Warmouth, an Altus, Okla. native.

“I think the fact that we were able to see it from a leader’s point of view was very important,” said Spc. John Bowman of Memphis, Tenn. “None of us had seen the paperwork, fingerprinting and other stuff like that. Now we have a better understanding of how everything works. It’s a more detailed SE than what we’re used to seeing overseas.”

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