SBCT vehicles bring new dimension to NTC battlefield
FORT IRWIN, Calif., (Army News Service, April 8, 2003) -- Soldiers from Fort Lewis, Wash., are at the National Training Center getting a taste of how Army life will be in the 21st Century.
During "Operation Arrowhead Lightning I" at Fort Irwin, Calif., medics are driving larger vehicles, infantrymen are riding in vehicles up to 60 mph, and the engineers are clearing mines while on the go.
The commander's vehicle, another Stryker variant, allows leaders to control the battle out of the tactical operations center.
"It's an outstanding vehicle because it provides us uncommon capabilities, never seen in the Army," said Maj. Chuck Hodges, operations officer, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment.
The Stryker Commander's Vehicle is so advanced that it can track just about anything on the battlefield with its video display terminal, using the global positioning system. Red icons appear on the screen when the enemy is nearby and an automated voice sounds off with: danger! Enemy nearby!
Blue icons depict friendly forces and by clicking on the icons the unit designation is given.
"It's quick, agile and quiet," said Sgt. Jimmy Rogers, from 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment. "This thing even operates better on urban terrain and can go places a tank from the past can't."
The Medical Emergency Vehicle is also ions ahead of its predecessor -- the field land ambulance, said Sgt. Joseph Harp, a senior line medic.
The MEV provides enough space for four litter and six ambulatory soldiers at a single time.
"The best difference is the speed factor," said Staff Sgt. Jesus Molina, treatment noncommissioned officer, 2nd Bn., 3rd Inf. Regt. "It allows us to get there quicker and that could save lives."
The purpose of the operation is to prepare the Stryker Brigade Combat Team for it's upcoming certification exercise in May at the Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Polk, La.
On a hot, windless morning the unit was hit with a Nuclear, Biological and Chemical drill. These conditions gave the unit just a taste of what to expect should the unit ever be hit with a Theatre Ballistic Missile, according to Capt. Chris Wong, the SBCT chemical officer.
"(They should) be familiar with what might happen," Wong said. "There's always that threat. There should be no difference between training and the real thing."
Despite the temperature seeming to rise once the soldiers donned their Mission Oriented Protective Posture gear, soldiers were seen throughout the dust bowl preparing their vehicles and personal equipment.
"With things going on in the Middle East, this was very important," said Staff Sgt. Donald Price, Co. C, 2nd Bn., 3rd Inf. Regt. "It gave us an opportunity to be sure that we have our equipment and our equipment fits."
"This was good training," said Sgt. Piotr Kulikowski, a squad leader with 2nd Bn., 3rd Inf. Regt. "We need more of it."
"It wasn't overdone," Price added. "We donned our masks for a while then they said 'all clear.'"
The wrap-up of NTC will be just the beginning for the Stryker Brigade Combat Team, who will continue to test the effectiveness of the unit at JRTC.
(Editor's note: This information was compiled from stories submitted by the 28th Public Affairs Detachment, Fort Lewis, Wash.)
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