Page 14 - Ft. Irwin High Desert Warrior 11-6-15

14 High Desert Warrior www.aerotechnews.com/ntcfortirwin
November 6, 2015

In the Box

Ironhorse brigade completes decisive action rotation

By Gustavo Bahena one of only nine armored brigade combat teams in the Army taught’,” said Nguyen, who is an infantry officer from Ba-
and has unmatched firepower and lethality. ton Rouge, La., and oversees approximately 100 Soldiers
Public Affairs Office and 25 vehicles.
“Upon completion of this decisive action NTC rotation, the
The United States Army’s 1st Armored Brigade Combat Ironhorse brigade will be fully trained and ready for our nation’s The brigade public affairs officer, Capt. Pete Bogart, said
Team, 1st Cavalry Division, concluded a decisive action rota- call to any mission,” said Digiambattista, a native of Anaheim, Ironhorse prepared at Fort Hood for the rotation, from the
tion here in October. Calif., and 1991 U.S. Military Academy graduate. individual level, to squad and platoon levels. Preparation cul-
minated in August with a combined live-fire exercise, including
The Ironhorse brigade spent two weeks (Oct. 10-23) – of Digiambattista commended his Soldiers for their hard work combined engineers, combined arms battalions, and attack
the four week rotation 16-01 – in “the box” or the 1,200 square and dedication leading up to the NTC training. aviation. The NTC training allowed the brigade to confirm
miles of maneuver area of the National Training Center. The its capabilities.
field portion challenged the 1ABCT/1CAV DIV in scenarios “They continue to learn as Soldiers and leaders and are
within a contemporary operating environment force. The getting better every day,” Digiambattista said. “A successful “[The rotation] brings the whole brigade together and gives
COEFOR included a near-peer conventional force, host nation deployment to NTC is built on the standards and discipline us a chance to validate our whole brigade – all our systems, our
security forces, guerilla forces, insurgent forces, and a criminal that are instilled in every level of the brigade.” logistical processes and everything that goes into moving this
element to replicate the complexities of the modern battlefield; big of an element across the country – and then train together
combined together these elements of the NTC provided a tough, Captain Tony Nguyen, commander of A Co., 2nd Battalion, as an entire brigade,” Bogart said.
realistic training environment and first class leader development 8th Cavalry Regiment (2-8 CAV) with Ironhorse, said he ex-
opportunity (NTC regulation 350-1). pected his infantry Soldiers – operating primarily M2 Bradley Bogart explained the NTC infrastructure – including
fighting vehicles – to have an open mind and a willingness to an opposing force and austere environment – provides a
The brigade also conducted live-fire training – from small learn. However, he also anticipated his Soldiers taking initiative realistic training environment that simulates what could be
arms weapons to M1 Abrams tanks and artillery. and practicing the skills and crafts they have honed. seen in a potential deployment, thus providing a tremen-
dous training opportunity.
Shortly before training started, the 1ABCT/1CAV DIV com- “This shouldn’t come as a surprise to them. I tell them
mander – Col. John Digiambattista – stated that his brigade is this all the time: ‘You know what the right answer is. Go
out there and do the right thing. Execute what you’ve been

Photo by Spc. Ashley Marble, Operations Group Photo by Spc. Ashley Marble, Operations Group
Soldiers assigned to 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat A M2 Bradley fighting vehicle provides security for Soldiers of 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry
Team, 1st Cavalry Division, conduct security operations in the training city of Razish during Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, during training here,
a decisive action rotation here, Oct. 17. Oct. 17.

Photo by Gustavo Bahena, Public Affairs Office Photo by Gustavo Bahena, Public Affairs Office
Capt. Daniel Davison, commander of C Company, 2-5 CAV, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Soldiers of 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division from Fort Hood, Texas,
Team, 1st Cavalry Division, speaks with Soldiers at the side of a M1 Abrams main battle run to pull security during an exercise simulating an attack on an entry point here, Oct. 8.
tank during preparation for “roll out” to the training area here, Oct. 8.

For more information go to www.irwin.army.mil