The 1-508
PIR’s priority for the past two weeks has been the OPFOR support to
2 BCT’s FTX, recovery operations, and Fort AP Hill OPT and Swift
Response planning.
The past two
weeks provided incredible opportunity for 1-508 PIR to increase its
small unit tactics proficiency, BN and Company level mission command
systems all while balancing maintenance tasks and managing long
range planning. Our participation during 2nd Brigade’s
most recent field training exercise allowed small unit leaders the
opportunity to execute offensive and defensive battle drills,
improve internal communications and step-up during “leader-down”
scenarios. Our Juliet Company pushed hard to conduct support tasks
while synchronizing with our S4 section to maintain unit maintenance
requirements. While training progressed here on Fort Bragg,
Battalion leaders/planners travelled to Latvia and Poland refining
plans for this summer’s upcoming Swift Response exercise, which will
include a company CALFEX.
1-508 PIR
Readiness Statistics:
1-508 PIR -
Overall Individual Qualification: 98%
1-508 PIR M4
Qualification: 95%
1-508 PIR M9
Qualification: 100%
1-508 PIR
Aggregate Crew Qualification: 98%
1-508 PIR
M240 Qualification: 96%
1-508 PIR M3
Carl Gustav: 100%
1-508 PIR
Aggregate Platform Qualification: 100%
1-508 PIR
60mm Mortar: 100%
1-508 PIR
Aggregate Personnel Non-Deployable: 10%
1-508 PIR
MRC-3 Total #: 61
1-508 PIR
MRC-4 Total #: 3
1-508 PIR MED
Board Total #: 11
1-508 PIR
Chapter #: 11
1-508 PIR SRP
Packets Complete: 98%
1-508 PIR
Aggregate OR Rate: 96.2%
1-508 PIR
Pacing Item OR Rate: 100%
1-508 PIR
Overdue Services: 0
1-508 PIR NMC
Equipment over 60 Days: 105
1-508 PIR
Delinquent Lateral Transfers - Internal: 0
1-508 PIR
Delinquent Lateral Transfers - External: 2
1-508 PIR
Pieces of Excess Property: 0
This past
week, 1-508 completed FORSCOM IG inspection with BN medics, UMOs,
CCOs, and S2 personnel participating in group discussions about unit
readiness.
Line of
Effort #1: “Fight Tonight”.
1.
Marksmanship.
Approximately
20 Paratroopers from 1-508 PIR conducted M4 marksmanship training
partnered with PEO Soldier. They focused on using the STORM SLX in
conjunction with the M4 carbine to improve accuracy and lethality
while engaging targets at night. The storm SLX provides a
traditional weapons aiming laser with range finding capability in a
lightweight solution for individual paratroopers rifles.
2. Physical
Fitness.
B/1-508 PIR
fielded the winning squad in the 3BCT Best Squad Competition on 20
February, proving that B/1-508 PIR and, by extension, 1-508 PIR is
the most physically fit, tactically sound, and lethal organization
in the BDE.
3. Medical
Skills.
Medics SGT
Putz, CPL Johnson, and SPC Louie are currently in Table VIII
training. SGT Gentry and SPC Rowland are at Paramedic school. The
medical section is currently training 40 additional Paratroopers on
CLS +.
CLS
Qualified- 348 PAX
CLS+
Qualified- 238 PAX
40
Paratroopers trained CLS+ this past reporting period.
4.
Communication.
During 2BCT
OPFOR support, iMBITRs were issued to Platoon Sergeants and above.
This was the first company sized training event in which iMBITRs
were tested in conjunction with the TW400 radios issued to Team
Leaders and above. The ability to utilize both wide band and narrow
band nets for each iMBITR user significantly increased the reporting
timeliness and situational awareness for the companies' leaders. It
also provided the opportunity for Paratroopers to provide feedback
to the NWFI team, allowing for continued improvement to the system.
Battalion S6
NCOIC, SFC Stack attended the Saber Strike Main Planning Conference
ISO Swift Response 18 over 11-16 FEB 18. Collaborating with
partnered nations, SFC Stack helped draft an initial SR18 network
diagram that shows the integration of all communication equipment
during the exercise. He used his experience of NWFI equipment to
share TTPs with S6 personnel from 173rd and 2CR as well
as Mr. Joe Dames (Net warrior FSR), to assist with a smooth fielding
and employment of the NWFI systems in their AO. During the
Conference, he also worked with the BDE ESM to ensure proper
frequency clearances for all battalion radios and assisted the 3BCT
team to understand how to employ the GRRIPS, MMT, and other digital
platforms during SR18.
5. Small
Unit Tactics.
A/1-508 PIR
conducted an Area Defense on OBJ Raiders (Range 74 and Live Fire
Village) during 2BCT OPFOR support from 11-13FEB. Two Platoons with
attached HUMINT and RAVEN Team were tasked with defending Range 74
while one Platoon and seven Engineers were tasked with conducting a
defense in depth on Life Fire Village. During all three iterations
of the defense, the attacking 2BCT BLUFOR initiated their attack
utilizing different tactics, forcing our defending force to adapt to
a free thinking enemy.
B/1-508 PIR
executed decentralized operations driven by team sized elements both
in the offense and defense during 2BCT OPFOR support. The Company's
goal was to give a task, purpose, and Commander's intent to the
squad leaders allowing for maximum planning and critical decision
making at the Squad Level. The Squad Leaders sought for maximum
control at the Team level in execution. The end state was highly
empowered Squads demonstrating their lethality and integrating all
assets available to them. Battle Company saw an impressive amount of
effective fire missions demonstrating the Team's level of
performance when working with indirect fires.
C/1-508 PIR
supported the 2BCT FTX by executing a Company Defense and Attack on
Luzon DZ and defending Platoon Objectives. The Company was able to
incorporate a Brave Troop Platoon and Delta Platoon into their
Company mission on Luzon DZ, followed by each Platoon operating
autonomously on three separate objectives for the remainder of the
FTX. This training event allowed Platoons to execute TLPs, Fires
Integration, and Small Unit Tactics. Overall, the training event
provided an excellent opportunity for Platoon and Squad Leadership
to practice the individual training they have been executing these
past months.
D/1-508 PIR
participated in the 2BCT OPFOR mission, both as organic PLTs
operating independently and as part of company teams. Many of the
Paratroopers particularly enjoyed the opportunity to operate at a
small unit level against a unit with similar capabilities. This
exercise reinforced the importance of having a foundation in
dismounted tactics and reinforced lessons learned during recent
training events.
HHC/1-508 PIR
employed Scouts and Mortars during 2BCT OPFOR support, playing a
critical role in facilitating their training. The mortar platoon
integrated into the companies as an “un-conventional mortar
platform” and supported company missions. Scouts were designated as
“fire-markers” and worked to facilitate both Blue and OPFOR fire
missions to replicate timely and accurate fires.
6. Mastery
of Maintenance.
1-508 PIR
simultaneously executed maintenance in accordance with the SRTC
maintenance calendar while also executing its Deployment Readiness
Exercise, supporting the Operation FALCON STORM as the 2BCT OPFOR,
and conducting Juliet CO's change of command inventories. To achieve
these simultaneous operations, the maintenance platoon executed
twenty-four hour operations from 09FEB-13FEB. During the exercise,
the platoon conducted over six contact and recovery missions. While
J Co sustained the Battalion forward, the automotive section
completed nine scheduled services, including two LMTVs, three
trailers, two Humvees, and all CROWS systems and the small-arms
repair section completed one company's worth of quarterly services
and one company's worth of NVG semi-annual services.
The
maintenance platoon collectively maintained a balance of one overdue
service, which the platoon will completed NLT 23 FEB. To help fund
the Battalion, the shop office section turned in 22,354 worth of
credit on our ORIL report, and work orders in GCSS-Army indicated
over 350 direct labor man hours completed for both scheduled and
unscheduled services across all sections.
After the
completion of 2BCT OPFOR, the Battalion focused on recovery and
preparation for AP Hill. The companies completed lateral transfers
and turn -ns for five pieces of equipment, including one of the
first ever lateral transfers to 223rd Quartermaster. Additionally,
the Battalion submitted disposition instructions for eight pieces of
the equipment opening in DST. The maintenance platoon reduced the
number of complete parts on hand not installed from 21 to 6, with
the platoon on a glide path to reach zero by next week. Finally, the
maintenance platoon has established a plan to reduce the number of
NMC over 60 from 105 to 70 by the end of next week. All these
efforts will set the Battalion up for success in preparation for the
OPT to AP Hill in March.
With the
forklift help of BSB, 1-508 was able to move 18 containers out of
the motor pool in support of excess property turn-in and ACAMs
inspection initiative
CLIII (P)
1-508 PIR DOS
O/H: (18), DOS Short: (12), Short $(1,278.54)
CLIX
1-508 PIR DOS
O/H: ( ), DOS Short: ( ), Short $(244,625.72) - 54% of supply.
7. Airborne
Proficiency.
1-508 PIR
Airborne Readiness:
Total #
Current Jumpmasters: 58/59
Total #
Current DZSO: 4/4
Total #
Current DACO: 5/5
Total # White
Slip Holders: 7
8. Live Fire
Exercise.
Over 20 – 21
February, BN and CO level leadership conducted a PDSS to Fort AP
Hill, VA to recon Squad Live Fire ranges along with other training
objectives for the AP Hill OPT. In total, 1-508 PIR is prepared to
conduct one mounted maneuver gunnery range, three separate squad
live fire lanes, one scout break contact lane a battle drill 6 live
fire, a Mortar CFF exercise and sniper long range marksmanship.
Line of
Effort #2: “Win Tomorrow’s Fight”.
Initial
company feedback from Platoon level leadership regarding the
iMBITR's ability to receive and transmit narrow and wide band nets
is excellent. Squad leaders and Platoon leadership agree that the
new ability to utilize two nets with a set of Peltors increases each
leader’s situational awareness.
Line of
Effort #3: “Paratroopers for Life”.
C/1-508 PIR
reenlisted three Paratroopers this past week. SSG Dwyer reenlisted
on Drill orders, SGT Allen reenlisted for Ft. Hood to be closer to
family, and SSG Benson reenlisted to stay here on Ft. Bragg.
HHC/1-508 PIR
reenlisted two Paratroopers; SPC Metzger from the scout platoon
reenlisted for another 3 years and SGT Thompson from the medics
re-enlisted last week as well.
1-508 PIR
executed this month’s division retirement ceremony for six
Paratroopers. LTC Mcchrystal provided the keynote address
celebrating their commitment to our Army and asking them to be an
ambassador for our Division as they transition out of uniform and
into civilian life.
Line of
Effort #4: “America’s Guard of Honor”.
1-508 PIR
prepares to transition GRB responsibilities to 1-505 PIR, and
supports the brigade in ORA requirements and DRC change over.
NEXT TWO
WEEKS
Over the next
two weeks 1-508 PIR will continue to finalize details for the
Battalion OPT at Fort AP Hill. D/1-508 PIR will outload and conduct
movement to Fort AP Hill in preparation for Gunnery Tables V-IX.
Paratroopers will conduct CBRN, medical, and air assault training as
part of the crawl, walk, run construct leading into a series of
platoon/company operations in an urban / SUB-T / dense wooded
environment at Fort AP Hill as a culminating event.
ATW!
Major John Intile
1-508 PIR S3
3BCT, 82nd ABN DIV
FURY FROM THE SKY!