166th Aviation Brigade (Training Support)
The The 166th Aviation Brigade is part of the 89th Regional Support Command and a tenant unit on Fort Riley. The 166th Avn Bde provides pre- and postmobilization support to units mobilized at Fort Riley. The 166th Aviation Brigade is a US Army Reserve Training Support Brigade [TSB]. The Brigade's mission is to provide pre-mobilization leader and collective training assistance and support. The Brigade's main focus is providing training support, assistance, and evaluation to client units. The Brigade also provides assistance to civilian authorities during peacetime crises and/or natural disasters.
Unit and individual training objectives are the key. Mobilizing units must complete all Phase III activities and personnel readiness processing at the mobilization station as quickly as possible. If a soldier is not deployable, it won't matter how well trained he or she is. Commanders identify administrative or soldier readiness activities that cannot accomplish or complete prior to beginning training, and make specific recommendations as to when you plan to accomplish these activities.
Once training begins, focused training blocks such as a weapons training block and a maneuver training block are used. These blocks may overlap; however, they allow us to concentrate our limited resources. Units complete individual/crew and weapons system qualification prior to major collective training events. Weapons systems should be in better shape and maneuver without the ability to deliver accurate and controlled fires is of little value.
Battle staff training is often over looked. Individual and small unit collective training periods are excellent opportunities to conduct battle staff training. Units achieve much higher degrees of METL task proficiency when they train their battle staffs early and then involve the trained staff in the execution of the collective METL training event. This is just basic multiechelon training, but it is surprising how many units don't use the technique.
The Brigade uses a crawl--walk--run approach to achieving METL proficiency. Begin with individual, leader, and small unit collective training. As proficiency (both unit and staff) is achieved, integrate slice and combined arms aspects. The standard for your validation is premobilization and core METL tasks trained to a "T" level, postmobilization tasks to a "P" level, and all battle staff tasks trained to a "T" level."
Units need the opportunity to conduct internal assessments prior to external evaluations. When possible, schedule maneuver training blocks prior to any external evaluation. Company level external evaluations (EXEVAL) are used for both pre- and postmobilization METL tasks. Each battalion and the brigade headquarters also undergoes an EXEVAL CPX. The CPX evaluations focus on battle staff METLs and can be scheduled early in the training period.
Members of the 2nd Training Support Battalion, 166th Aviation Brigade, Fort Riley, KS, responded to the local community in a time of greatest need. Sergeant Major Freddy Escamilla, SFC Vern A. Kreutzer, Captain Kevin K. Zurmeuhlen and Major Charles Wright worked from 15 to 22 September 1999 to bring a donated building to livable standards. They replaced plumbing and light fixtures, repaired the ceiling and then painted and cleaned the building. This building became the Good Samaritan House sponsored by the Vinland Community Church in Manhattan, KS. This facility was designed to support families in need of food and clothing. Once the Good Samaritan House was operational, the group of four, with support from other members of their Battalion, collected two pickup truck loads of clothing, toys and food for the Good Samaritan House. The donated items were sorted, cleaned and stocked for needy families. The four had provided for the needy of the local community.
A member of the Vinland Community Church, Manhattan, KS., who had heard about the charitable work of the 2nd Training Support Battalion notified them that a retired, paraplegic veteran was about to lose his home for violating a Grand View Plaza, KS., city ordnance. The retired NCO's house had fallen into disrepair. The city council had given the Veteran 30 days to comply with the law or his house would be torn down. The soldiers, Major Charles S. Wright, Sergeant Major Freddy Escamilla, SFC William P. Gammon, MSG John W. Morris, SFC Vern A. Kreutzer, SFC Marcus S. Brown, SFC Moses L. Clerk, MSG Paul N. Weidhas and SFC Gerald Chambers, members of the 2nd Training Support Battalion, 166th Aviation Brigade, Fort Riley, KS were glad to lend a hand. They came to the aid of the disabled Veteran by cleaning the yard, removing over 5000 pounds of trash, and mowing the property. Through their efforts the city council extended the eviction notice by 90 days. The decision was due mainly because of the work of the generous eight.
