A sniper with Company A, 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, provides security during training on Fort Carson Oct. 7, 2016. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Nancy Lugo)
By Staff Sgt. Nancy Lugo
1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division
A couple of “local” men walked up to Soldiers, demanding medical help on Fort Carson, Oct. 5, 2016.
The Soldiers from Company B, 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, had just started four days of continuous training that culminated with a live fire. The “local” men were fellow Soldiers acting as civilians on the battlefield and were one of numerous issues the Company B Soldiers faced.
“I need them to control the situation where we have civilians on the battlefield,” said Capt. Jacob Haag, Company B commander. “They are beyond the crawl phase, they are in the walk phase. While out here they are definitely going to be in the run phase; they are definitely going to…lack sleep so they are ready potentially for real combat.”
Platoons must work together when providing security, reconnaissance and counterattack to help a host nation.
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Soldiers with Company A, 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, clear a “building” objective during training on Fort Carson Oct. 7, 2016. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Nancy Lugo)
“I am pulling security mainly because there is a road here, main avenue of approach right here. I am scanning my sector scouting for anyone trying to be sneaky and pull a fast one,” said Pfc. Nathaniel Roberts, infantryman, Company B. “As the M240 gunner it is…very important I maintain proper security.”
For three days Soldiers trained with limited sleep, and platoon leaders and first sergeants had to integrate engineer, medical and air assets and their fellow platoons to gain control of a complicated and chaotic battlefield.
“One thing I talked to the platoon leaders about is the importance in a defense of interlocking sectors of fire and making sure everything is synchronized, because if you don’t synchronize they are going to miss something and the enemy will easily be able to get through their line. I think that is the biggest thing they need to work on right now,” said Haag.
The training culminated with a live-fire exercise, firing from atop the Strykers and dismounted with Soldiers exiting out the back to engage and destroy the enemy.
“It’s a good thing we train this way, in combat we don’t catch a break; there is no break in combat, there are no timeouts,” said Sgt. Joshua Roca, squad leader, Company A, 4th Bn. 9th Inf. Reg. “Making the right decisions and being cognizant is going to make it easier in the long run.”
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Soldiers with Company A, 4th Battalion 9th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, clear an objective during training on Fort Carson, Oct. 7, 2016. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Nancy Lugo)
