Monday, September 24, 2007

3rd HBCT leaders pass on lessons

Staff officers from the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team conduct a video teleconference with the Joint Multinational Readiness Center to pass along lessons learned from their experiences in Operation Iraqi Freedom V at Forward Operating Base Hammer, Sept. 20.  From left to right: Chap. (Maj.) Tim Sowers, Atchison, Kan.; Maj. Rhett Griner; Maj. Dave Fivecoat, Delaware, Ohio; Maj. Dewey Boberg, Anaheim, Calif.; and Capt. Amanda Ritz, Harford City, Ind.  Majors. James Carlisle, West Palm Beach, Fla.; and Dave Guthrie, Hampton, Va., are obscured.

Multi-National Division - Center
Media Release
HQ, MND-Center
Baghdad, Iraq

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

3rd HBCT leaders pass on lessons
Story and photos by Maj. Joe Sowers
3rd HBCT Public Affairs

FORWARD OPERATING BASE HAMMER, Iraq – The 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team is not scheduled to redeploy from Iraq for nine months, but leaders from the brigade are already passing along lessons learned from their first six months of combat operations.

Speaking from FOB Hammer on Thursday, staff officers from 3rd HBCT conducted their second video teleconference with representatives from the Joint Multinational Readiness Center to help JMRC better prepare and resource training for units deploying to Iraq.

JMRC, located in Hohenfels, Germany, provides simulated combat training exercises for brigade combat teams preparing for full-spectrum operations, according to the JMRC Web site.  Units rotate through JMRC to train on major combat operations, counter-insurgency operations and security and stability operations. 

Leaders from the JMRC initiated the dialogue by providing specific questions to the 3rd HBCT staff.  The 3rd HBCT staff provided responses to the questions and additional “take aways” to assist the JMRC leaders as they construct training exercises.

“We tried to apply our pre-deployment training and six months of combat experience so JMRC can better train deploying units,” said Maj. Dave Fivecoat, from Delaware, Ohio, the 3rd HBCT operations officer.

Fivecoat emphasized that the input provided will help, but there are no “book” answers to the complex situations found in Iraq.

“We found it important that units focus on the basics during pre-deployment training,” said Fivecoat.  “Unit missions and locations can change as late as a brigade’s two weeks reception, staging, onward movement and integration in Kuwait.  We hope this VTC will enable brigades that train at JMRC to be better prepared for the challenges of combat in Iraq.”

The 3rd HBCT is from Fort Benning, Ga.

Staff officers from the 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team conduct a video teleconference with the Joint Multinational Readiness Center to pass along lessons learned from their experiences in Operation Iraqi Freedom V at Forward Operating Base Hammer, Sept. 20.  From left to right: Maj. James Carlisle, West Palm Beach, Fla.; Capt. Amanda Ritz (obscured), Hartford City, Ind.; Maj. Dave Guthrie (back to camera), Hampton, Va.; Chap. (Maj.) Tim Sowers, Atchison, Kan.; and Maj. Rhett Griner, Jonesboro, Ga.

Maj. Dave Fivecoat, Delaware, Ohio, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team operations officer, explains lessons learned from the 3rd HBCT’s experiences in Operation Iraqi Freedom V during a video teleconference with the Joint Multinational Readiness Center at Forward Operating Base Hammer, Sep 20.  Maj. Rhett Griner, Jonesboro, Ga. and Maj. Dewey Boberg, Anaheim, Calif., look on.

Maj. Rhett Griner, Jonesboro, Ga., 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team Fire Support Coordinator, discusses concerned citizen initiatives during a video teleconference with the Joint Multinational Readiness Center at Forward Operating Base Hammer, Sep 20.  Chap. (Maj.) Tim Sowers, Atchison, Kan., is seated to Griner’s right.