The training gets progressively harder throughout the two-week course. "We also have the ‘Spirit of the Bayonet' award for the Soldier who shows the best initiative and motivates the other Soldiers." "The students get an individual grade in some kind of task every day, so at the end we can determine the honor graduate," Fenimore continued. The Soldiers are constantly challenged and given an opportunity to excel as an individual and as a team, Sergeant Fenimore said. The first day of training starts before dawn with an Army physical fitness test and continues with land navigation training until after dark. Eleven Bravo (11B) is the Army designator for a Soldier trained as an infantryman. His mission: Turn more than 100 deployed Soldiers into qualified "Eleven Bravo" infantrymen. Sergeant Fenimore came to Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo in May 2006 for a three-month tour. "When the Soldiers complete this two-week course, they will be ready to go back home and be infantry." 1st Class Peter Fenimore, chief, Infantry Branch at the Texas National Guard's Regional Training Academy, Austin, Texas. "I think folks will be surprised at the magnitude of changes that will take place in the 36th in the next few years," said Sgt. The training plan had to be designed to accommodate Soldiers from every other Army occupation, including cooks, mechanics and tankers, but still provide a tough challenge and a solid foundation of infantry skills. Turning this concept into a reality for National Guard Soldiers in Kosovo took some careful planning. The force structure will be more versatile, capable of easily deploying to meet the needs of the governor in Homeland Defense missions or combatant commanders around the world on very short notice." "The 36th Infantry Division's transformation will require Soldiers to fill a structure with more infantry battalions and no armor battalions. "It's a good idea to become a qualified infantry Soldier in today's Texas Army National Guard," said Col. It was the first sign of transformation in the way many Texas Army National Guard soldiers, including those deployed to Kosovo as part of Multi-National Task Force East, would do business in the future. CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo - When the Texas National Guard's 49th Armor Division was officially "re-flagged" as the 36th Infantry Division in a ceremony at Camp Mabry, Texas July 18, 2004, it was more than just a symbolic change of unit flags.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |