Soldiers and Family members with 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, cheer on leaders from across the brigade as they finish the Raider Mungadai three-day leader certification Nov. 9, 2016, on Fort Carson. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Nancy Lugo)
“Anybody who says this generation of young leaders is not fit or resilient enough for the threats of the future has not seen the company commanders in the ‘Raider’ Brigade.”
— Col. Curtis D. Taylor
Leaders with 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, clear an area on Fort Carson, Nov. 9, 2016, during Raider Mungadai. Mungadai originates from the time of Genghis Kahn. It was his way of testing leaders in his elite Cavalry units, stressing them with demanding physical tasks, lack of food and sleep and assessing what kind of decisions they made under pressure. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Nancy Lugo)
By Staff Sgt. Nancy Lugo
1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division
An “enemy recon force” has crossed the “international boundary” on Fort Carson and seized several areas of critical infrastructure in preparation for a larger attack. The Mungadai Platoon must identify key enemy positions and targets and get information to leadership with the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, so they can plan their attack on the enemy.
The 1st SBCT held a leader certification, Raider Mungadai, Nov. 7-9, 2016, with commanders from across the brigade. Leaders had to work as a team to identify and defeat enemy recon elements, establish a secure zone for the brigade and utilize enablers to expand the zone.
Mungadai originates from the time of Genghis Kahn. It was his way of testing leaders in his elite cavalry units, stressing them with demanding physical tasks, lack of food and sleep, and assessing what kind of decisions they made under pressure.
“Leader certification is the essential prerequisite of mission command; without certifying our leaders we can’t build the trust that is necessary to fight and win in a complex world,” said Col. Curtis D. Taylor, commander, 1st SBCT.
Curtis and battalion commanders mentored and evaluated the candidates during the three-day event.
Company commanders began Mungadai with the usual Monday tasks of their company, such as physical fitness and maintenance of vehicles, but at 3 p.m. it was time to go to war with their fellow commanders.
Leaders with 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, cover difficult terrain on a reconnaissance mission during Raider Mungadai on Fort Carson Nov. 9, 2016. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Nancy Lugo)
“I have learned a lot more about the limitations of the human body then what I knew before,” said Capt. Thomas Daniel, incoming commander, Headquarters and
Headquarters Company, 299th Brigade Engineer Battalion. “What Col. Taylor was saying about the demands we put on our Soldiers, it is so much more real going out there and putting in the leg work yourself.”
The first night the Soldiers marched 15 kilometers carrying 55 pounds or more of equipment to a training area on Fort Carson and then set up a patrol base.
Day two started at 2 a.m. as the Mungadai Platoon had training lanes to go through — medical, air to ground integration, fixed site security and developing a recon plan. The lanes simulated real-word emergencies on each of these warrior tasks.
“We really shrunk the formation in regards to leaders so guys who I just knew as names on slides before are now peers and friends,” said Capt. Derek Johnson, forward support officer, 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment. “I think it helps the efficiency of our brigade. We fight as combined arms so the engineers, the infantry, the artillery, the support all fight together. This exercise really brought all the important leaders shoulder to shoulder to start and finish together. I think that was really invaluable for the brigade.”
Capt. Thomas Daniel, incoming commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 299th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, loads a magazine prior to heading out on the first day of the Raider Mungadai on Fort Carson Nov. 7, 2016. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Nancy Lugo)
The last day was a reconnaissance mission traveling more than 7 kilometers on foot over difficult terrain and included three air insertions to identify enemy positions.
The last air insertion was to a training area close to the brigade, a short walk back to first sergeants and Soldiers who greeted their commanders with congratulations and a barbecue.
“Anybody who says this generation of young leaders is not fit or resilient enough for the threats of the future has not seen the company commanders in the ‘Raider’ Brigade.
I am beyond impressed with their heart and with their willingness to rise to a higher standard because that is what the Army expects of them as commanders,” said Taylor.
Leaders with 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, load on to a UH60 helicopter during Raider Mungadai on Fort Carson Nov. 9, 2016. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Nancy Lugo)