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Drill sergeants prepare for summer surge

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Dan Maher
  • 98th Training Division
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST --  It's early spring at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and the pre-dawn stillness at Range 29 is disturbed by the gurgle of diesel engines as Soldiers from the 3/385th pull up and begin off-loading weapons and ammunition in preparation for the day's training. These drill sergeants aren't training privates though; they're training their own battalion of Army Reserve drill sergeants in the latest tactics and training equipment that will prepare newly-enlisted soldiers this summer at Basic Combat Training facilities throughout the country.

As high school ends for the year, thousands of future Soldiers prepare to step into the world of Army life. The amount of preparation involved in training reflects the rigors and dangers of that life to a large degree. All throughout the year, drill sergeants maintain and improve their combat skills in much the same manner as other Soldiers with one difference; the skills they develop will be passed on to new Soldiers who will use them to survive in combat. Drill sergeants train themselves with a sense of urgency. Across the nation, mothers and fathers count on the expertise of the drill sergeant to ensure their loved ones' survival.

Keeping up with the latest training technologies, 3/385th personnel met with the helpful people at TAS-C prior to the field exercise and determined the best methods for simulating close quarters engagements. Utilizing the Ultimate Training Munitions systems, Soldiers can engage the "enemy" with their own issued weapons by simply changing the bolt carrier and loading up with specially designed, non-lethal marking cartridges. Once the bolt carrier is changed the weapon is rendered incapable of firing live ammunition. Soldiers acting as enemy forces as well as the squad members going through the training lanes then don protective face gear and prepare for battle.

Last week's training scenario focused on rescuing a downed pilot from within an enemy encampment. Leaders were issued a warning order and an operations order and were required to organize a plan which included movement and extraction, but the heaviest part of the training was the execution of battle drills, highlighting individual and team Soldier skills. Like all other drill sergeant training, these exercises meet or exceed training and doctrine standards set forth by the Department of the Army.

According to the UTM website, UTM won the Close Combat Mission Capability Kit contract for the Army on September 23, 2005. When outfitted on an M16 platform, UTM 5.56mm Man-Marking-Round has an approximate effective range of 30 meters. Soldiers training under the tutelage of Sgt. 1st Class Marshall had an opportunity to test out the round and the system. Many of the battalion's drill sergeants previously trained with various marking systems, the Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System and M755 Blank ammunition with Blank Firing Adapter. They were impressed with the new UTM system.

A major benefit of training with UTM's was referred to by Master Sgt. Arroyo, Battalion Training noncommissioned officer, as "pain penalty for mistakes." Before we had UTM, if a Soldier didn't get behind cover and was shot with a blank, someone might give him a "no-go" on that particular training evaluation. Failure to seek cover during UTM training can result in being hit by a pain-inducing marking cartridge. Yes, it stings.

"Pain is a great motivator," said Arroyo.

The protective gear and reduced velocities of the marker, as well as an expertly prepared and implemented Risk Assessment, kept the injuries down to zero.

So as the sun burned through the early morning fog of South Jersey scrub-brush, the sound of radios crackling was soon displaced by the rattle of machine-gun fire. These are the training areas that felt the boots of mud-puttied Doughboys, steel-pot-wearing Iron Mikes, the jungle-booted, the desert-bound, and of late, the drill sergeants of the 98th Division. The downed pilot was rescued, the mission was completed, the Observer/Controller/Trainer shouted "End Ex!" and the men and women of the 3/385th reflected on lessons learned and how they could best pass on this training to Basic Training Soldiers as they embark on their various Annual Training missions.