FORT POLK, La. - More than 120 Rhode Island Army National Guard infantryman joined more than 5,000 Soldiers deployed to Fort Polk, Louisiana, for a three week exercise at the Army's Joint Readiness Training Center or JRTC, July 9-30.
The Soldiers are from Company A, 1st Battalion, 182nd Infantry from East Greenwich, Rhode Island. They are part of the battalion, based in Melrose, Massachusetts.
"Since our company and higher headquarters are in different states, JRTC is a perfect opportunity to sync up with our battalion staff and Soldiers and get a better understanding of individual company's operating procedures," said Capt. Jose Moreno, Co. A, 1st Battalion, 182nd Infantry Regiment commander from East Greenwich. "This helps us streamline and smooth out operations when we go down range."
The troops are deployed with New York Army National Guard Soldiers of the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, along with another 2,000 Soldiers from other state Army National Guard units, active Army and Army Reserve troops. The task force training will hone their infantry skills and practice integrating combat operations ranging from infantry troops engaging in close combat with the enemy to artillery and air strikes.
"JRTC provides a great opportunity to operate in a large training area to facilitate real world training and to take advantage of all the available assets, like engineers, Stryker's and air support," Moreno explained.
The Joint Training Center allows Army units to conduct combat training in a realistic environment which features a well-trained opposing force, civilian role-players on the battlefield, high-tech systems which monitor the action and observer-controllers to evaluate unit actions.
"These assets aren't available at home station so this is a great opportunity to practice the tactics, techniques and rules of engagement we would deploy overseas," Moreno said.
Infantry troops engage, fight, and defeat the enemy in combat operations as well as capture, destroy and repel enemy ground forces.
According to Moreno, the experiences, learning points and reflections they gain here will help them establish more concrete operating procedures when they return home.
"Identifying our strengths and weaknesses helps us identify opportunities for improvement in all areas, that's the main reason we're here," said Moreno.
"As National Guard Soldiers, it's incredible the ingenuity that our Soldiers bring to the team and the fight," said Staff Sgt. Robert Johnson, the 1st Platoon Sgt. for Co. A, 1st Battalion, 182nd Infantry.
"Our Soldiers have so many skills they learn in their civilian lives and careers - everything from mechanics and electricians to plumbers and medical professionals - it's the ability to draw on these skills and add them to what they know as infantryman that really benefits our team and mission," Johnson explained.
Johnson is no stranger to the demands of Army deployments and training. With three rotations to the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California, and three combat deployments, he knows how difficult it can be in the field.
"Our Soldiers are motivated and willing to learn. We're training in over 90 degree weather with 70 percent humidity, then add on the physical demands of carrying over 100 pounds of gear, ammo, water and everything else you need to live on – this makes our Soldiers stronger," Johnson said.
"What we learn and practice here just builds on the level of confidence and skills we have," Johnson added.