Staff. Sgt. Arturo Franco, sniper, Company A, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, engages enemy dismounts Oct. 2, 2016, during training at Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site. (Photo by1st Lt. Stephen Sampson)
By 1st Lt. Stephen Sampson
1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division
PIÑON CANYON MANEUVER SITE — Machine guns blazed while Javelin anti-tank missile teams annihilated enemy vehicles and snipers dropped exposed targets from the wood line at Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site Oct. 2, 2016.
Soldiers with Medical Platoon, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, conduct hoist training at Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site Pinon Sept. 27, 2016. (Photo by1st Lt. Stephen Sampson)
Soldiers with 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, traveled to Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site to take advantage of the vast maneuver space and train its companies to fight against a peer threat.
Companies rotated roles as enemy and friendly units in force-on-force missions Sept. 26, 2016, to Oct. 4, 2016.
“Piñon Canyon afforded our battalion the opportunity to stress systems that otherwise would not have been pushed to their limits in another training venue,” said Lt. Col. Rich Satterlund, commander, 1st Bn., 38th Inf. Reg. “Pushing our logistical resupply systems and communications architecture were two critical training objectives for us, which were met at this outstanding training facility.”
Soldiers with 1st Platoon, Attack Company, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, use a Stryker as cover as they move between buildings during training at Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site Oct. 1, 2016. (Photo by1st Lt. Stephen Sampson)
The company collective training was designed to prepare and develop company-level leadership and Soldiers in planning, executing and integrating indirect fire, MedEvac, intelligence assets and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) with mounted and dismounted tactical movements.
“Our trip to Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site was a well needed training opportunity that afforded us the privilege to stress numerous systems, including mounted movement with tactical vehicles, long distance communication and the ability to execute precision planning,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Philson Tavernier, 1st Bn., 38th Inf. Reg. “We (maneuvered) in our Stryker vehicles over 60 kilometers, which was an invaluable experience for not only the vehicle drivers but also the company commanders maneuvering their companies as part of the battalion formation.”
Soldiers with Company B, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, seize a heavily defended village Sept. 28, 2016, during training at Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site. (By Capt. Ryan Mannina)
Platoons attacked simultaneous objectives at great distances, stressing command and control for the company leadership. Their peers defended urban areas against the attacks with varying results. Communication and resupply operations were extremely difficult, due to platoons operating in remote locations.
“Our mission was to set up our 240s in a position where we could acquire good line of sight of the enemy to both establish a support by fire along with reporting enemy movements to higher,” said Spc. Victor Gonzalez, assistant gunner for the M240B machine gun, Company B, 1st Bn., 38th Inf. Reg.
Spc. Blake Hollingsworth, infantryman, Company B, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, launches a Raven unmanned aerial system during training at Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site Sept. 30, 2016. (Photo by1st Lt. Stephen Sampson)
The exercise allowed the battalion to make extensive use of MedEvac assets, become more familiar with Raven (UAS) employment and use intelligence enablers in a tactical environment.
Every Soldier in the battalion increased proficiency in his primary duties and learned how his role fits into the overall picture.
“As a battalion, I was very pleased with all of our companies and our battalion staff, specifically during our last battalion mission. Maneuvering a battalion over 60 kilometers, synchronizing effects and working through continuous ambiguity are realistic challenges a battalion will face in combat or at the National
Training Center (Fort Irwin, California). I’m thankful the brigade and division commanders supported our training at Piñon Canyon. Our battalion is a more lethal and effective fighting force because of this great training event,” said Satterlund.
Soldiers with Company B, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, seize an objective Sept. 29, 2016, during training at Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site. (Photo by1st Lt. Stephen Sampson)