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Special Operations trainer/mentors train with 4th BCT Soldiers

Sep 13, 2010

By Special Operations Detachment

FORT POLK, La. -- Senior NCOs and officers from the Special Operations Training Detachment and NCOs from 94th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, recently completed a 5-day HMMWV off-road driving course at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, Calif.

While the focus of SOTD is to provide valuable feedback to Special Operations rotational units training at NTC, the Joint Readiness Training Center and other outstations, they also routinely conduct specialized training to hone the skills of their trainer/mentors.
Instructors from Tier 1 Off-Road provided the training.

Over the past decade, this organization has worked closely with the United States Special Operations Command to develop driving courses that take advantage of the full off-road potential of military vehicles including the HMMWV and the RG-31/33 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected family of vehicles. They focus on maximizing off-road vehicle capability by upgrading the platform's most critical component: the driver.The trainers from Tier 1 Off-Road adhere to a single mantra; "It's not the weapon, it's the shooter. It's not the vehicle, it's the driver."

The week-long HMMWV operator and employment course included precision maneuver training, brake throttle-modulation, unbalanced obstacle negotiation, self and assisted recovery as well as other advanced off-road driving techniques. All 28 students successfully completed the course and achieved the requirements to attend the Advanced Operator Course in Reno, Nev.

The need for drivers to constantly assess and manage risk during mobility operations was continually reinforced throughout the course. Students were taught to ask themselves, "What is different about the terrain I am about to traverse and how can it hurt me?" Slow, constant application of technique was emphasized during obstacle negotiation. Drivers learned to use the lap belt portion of the vehicle restraint to enable 360-degree awareness and precise placement of all tires when moving through restrictive terrain.

"We always emphasize the need for restraint systems," said Josh Hall, master instructor. "The reasoning behind using just the lap belt (in restrictive terrain) is twofold; the training is conducted at very low speeds and it affords the driver and passenger a better field of view to identify all the obstacles on either side of the vehicle."

The importance of pre-mission and post-mission maintenance was also a focal point of the training. Drivers were taught how to properly inspect their vehicles and how to make repairs in the field. They also learned how to avoid damaging the critical components in the HMMWV's suspension and drive train.

"Safety and proper maintenance of our equipment is paramount to the success of the mission and it is our goal to enforce these standards during training," said Sam Edgar, chief operating officer, senior instructor and former special operator.

"For SOTD, the purpose of this and other training events we have done is to widen our trainer/mentors' already diverse repertoire of skills to better coach, teach and advise Special Operations units training at NTC or JRTC," said Sgt. 1st Class Richard Hughes.

"For us," added 1st Sgt. Nickia Haynes of D Company, 94th BSB, "this training improves our combat readiness especially in light of our upcoming deployment to Afghanistan."