Soldiers with 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, complete a survey during an Umbrella Week led by the U.S. Army’s Combined Arms Center Center for Army Lessons Learned and U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command at McMahon Auditorium Jan. 20, 2016. (Photo by Sgt. Gregory T. Summers)
By Sgt. Gregory T. Summers
3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division
The 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, partnered with U.S. Army Combined Arms Center Center for Army Lessons Learned (CALL) and U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) during an Umbrella Week Jan. 19-22, 2016, on Fort Carson.
The Umbrella Week allowed the “Iron” Brigade Soldiers to meet with capability managers for armored brigade combat teams (ABCT) from the CALL and other proponent agency representatives to provide information on home station training and lessons learned from their recent deployment to Southwest Asia and to share valuable information that will help develop and measure future capabilities and readiness of the Army.
Sgt. Maj. Christopher S. Williams, operations sergeant major, 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd ABCT, said that CALL and other organizations provided points of contact for Soldiers and leaders to discuss experiences, express ideas and share knowledge.
“The week allows us to pass information along to them as far as what we’ve learned during our experiences, discuss our strengths and weaknesses, and also exchange ideas on how to improve, not just within our own ranks but across (brigade combat teams) as a whole,” Williams said.
CALL gathered valuable information toward its production of a Home Station Training CALL Handbook focused on challenges faced, the brigade’s best practices, innovative training and effective and ineffective tactics, techniques and procedures.
TRADOC capability managers monitored and facilitated the integration of doctrine, organization, training, materiel, leadership, personnel, facilities and policy within 3rd ABCT for incorporation into ongoing revisions across all of the Army’s ABCTs.
Sgt. 1st Class Joseph K. Akompi, property book office NCO in charge, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd ABCT, said he was able to discuss every step of his section’s work and contribute ways to make it better.
“We went over our roles in food services, supplies and transportation and they were curious to see how we did things,” said Akompi. “It gives them a chance to understand our successes from our experiences and also helps get every (property book office) on the same standard operating procedures.”
The information was exchanged during various interviews, panels and group discussions from brigade, battalion and company-level leaders and Soldiers.
From tankers, infantrymen, artillerymen and logisticians to engineers and medics, CALL and TRADOC managers were able to assess the structural effectiveness of the 3rd ABCT and receive feedback on how to increase Soldier readiness.
“It is important for every Soldier and leader to improve through lessons learned,” said Lt. Col. Thomas L. Gallis, battalion commander, 588th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 3rd ABCT. “This information sharing will enhance not only engineer and warfighter capabilities for this ABCT but across the whole force.”