'Patriots on Point!'

Published March 29, 2013
By Capt. Antonia Edwards
174th Infantry Brigade

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Training is the foundation of everything we do.

"Train for combat" is the mission of the 174th Infantry Brigade, First Army Division East stationed here.

The Patriot Brigade is responsible for executing and certifying individual and collective training for deploying service members in coordination with the joint base and other mission partners.

"Our brigade exists solely to prepare service members for deployment; therefore, we must be expert trainers," said Col. Craig A. Osborne, 174th Inf. Bde. commander, in his vision and command philosophy.

Patriot trainer/mentors prepare designated U.S. Army Reserve, National Guard, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard service members for deployment in support of overseas contingency operations in accordance with theater-specific standards.

The 174th Inf. Bde. consists of eight subordinate battalions stretching from Fort Devens, Mass., to Fort Meade, Md., with two active-duty infantry regiments and two reserve combat service and support regiments stationed here at the joint base. More than 800 Patriot Soldiers are dedicated to training roughly 8,000 service members each year for overseas deployments.

Deploying service members receive mobilization training packages tailored to their theater mission. Individuals train specifically to combat the threats associated with the operational environment they will soon occupy. The 174th Inf. Bde. provides highly-skilled instructors specializing in a wide range of military specialties including but is not limited to: counter-insurgency experts, counter-improvised explosive device master trainers, experienced combat life savers, master gunners, Modern Army Combatives Program Level I and II instructors and a variety of cultural advisers and foreign language experts.

Counter-IED training is part of every service member's mobilization training.

"IEDs are still the number one enemy weapon of choice, whether employed roadside or by means of insider attack," said Sgt. 1st Class Clint Buchanan, 1st Battalion, 307th Infantry Regiment counter-IED trainer/mentor. "My job is to stay current and provide the best training I can for my comrades preparing for overseas contingency operations."

Osborne's command vision illustrates Buchanan's point.

"We are a trained, disciplined and cohesive brigade that distinctly contributes to the success of overseas contingency operations by providing deploying service members the best training throughout First Army," said Osborne. "The 174th executes all tasks to standard with quiet professionalism and a minimum amount of guidance."

"Conducting Army training for sister services requires a crawl-walk-run approach," explained Buchanan. "I am a subject matter expert, but many trainees are experiencing this type of information for the first time. I Break it down so they become not only familiar with the concepts, but confident they can identify key components during combat operations."

Osborne's command philosophy is based on six key pillars - culture, people, leading, training, sustaining and caring.

"The two most important pillars are culture and people," expressed Osborne during a monthly brigade town hall meeting. "This brigade is ours - not mine; I am the commander and responsible for its success, but I will fail without the support and efforts of each member of the team."

Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst remains the busiest First Army mobilization force generation installation, training more small units and JSTO classes than any other MFGI. Since 9/11, the enduring mobilization training station has trained, deployed and redeployed more than 5,000 contingents, roughly 250,000 service members in support of Operations IRAQI FREEDOM, NEW DAWN and ENDURING FREEDOM.

The 174th Inf. Bde. trains the most First Army joint service training oversight classes, supporting Sailors, Airmen and Coast Guardsmen deploying as individuals for overseas contingency operations.

"Our job as instructors is never complete," stressed Buchanan. "Until every service member returns home, we continue to stay relevant and train every last troop."

Contact the brigade public affairs office at 562-2834 or visit www.facebook.com/174inf for more information on the 174th Infantry Brigade and its mobilization training capabilities.