Pershing

able

Vol. 29, No.6

56th Field Artillery Command

March 1990

Exercise hones 96B skills

by John L. Morgan
Staff Wrim
Pl3rers of world conquest games know that 10 win
you ha,e 10 correcdy anticipate your opponent"s next
mo" An error in judgement can mean a Joss of valuable m~npo,ver, equipment, battles and possibly the
,var itself.
For intelligence analysts (96B) determining the
enemies approach is not a game. The knack and
knmvledge it takes to understand the constantly
changing scenario and Strategy during war is a skill
chat needs reinforcement training.
That's why each year. the essential skills of 96Bs
arc primed in the 56th Field Artillery Command,
G-2, Command Post Exercise (CPX).
During the first "'eek in February, intelligence ana
lym within the command and Pershing soldiers re
classifying into the intelligence field, gathered in the
attic of 56th Command's Headquarters and Headqulrters Battery, on Bismarck Kaserne, to participate
in the \'\eek long CPX.
After a brief o,cn ie", presented by Maj. Ke\'in
\\'illis. ACofS, G-2, Intel NCO's conducted a full
day of refresher classes on enemr doctrine, organization and equipment. Classes were conducted on terrain an.,lysis, weather analysis and intelligence and
reporting procedures. These classes were aimed at
preparing intel-analym for the upcoming battle scenario and their skills qualification test (SQT).
The following day began with the intelligence anal)sts' final class. According to Sgt. 1st Class Anthon)'
Mamy. G-2 NCOIC, the class on intelligence prepamion of the battlefield (!PB) is the "mainstay" of
the 96 Bra\'O's training.
"IPB integrates evenhing they'"e learned and
transforms it into practical application, he commen
ted. "For instance, the soldiers learn how to identify
and plot 'slow or no go' terrain" and post atmosphc
ric conditions on ovcrla\'S,
\X'ith the.,e parameters, intelligence analysts make
educated assessments about the enemies' possible
a"enuc5 of approach b)' the use of "arious overlays,
according to Massey. During wartime, these ae<S
ments c.>n influence a commander's decision.
"A Ith ough Intel soldiers arc trained in other areas
such as counter-intelligence, physical and personnel
securitv, !PB is what thev are trained to do in the
field," Massey continued. '
After the !PB elm, soldiers formed four cells.
Three cells acted as the G-2 of an infantry division
while the fourth acted as a control center for the ex
crcisc.
The control cell oversaw the individual cells during
the scenario and supplied them with enemy situation
reports.
Massey explained, that the control cell deletes or
0

Photo by Motgan

With a marker In hand, Sgt. Mark Taylor, Intelligence analyst, 1at Bn., 9th FA, tranacrlbea terrain Information
onto an overlay during the Intelligence preparation of the battlefield (IPB) phaae of the 56th FA CMD, G-2,
CPX.

adds information from the scenario to make the bat

ties seem real. He added, "With this information, the
intcl-analystS can use their analyrical skills to see
whether enemy doctrine deviates. They can also use
this information to identify an enemy regiment by
seeing two companies or rwo battalions on the battl,efield.
In the individual cells, each soldier had the opportunity to be the cell commander. At any rime rhe cell
commander could be asked 10 explain the battle scene
to the G-2 offficers.
"For instance, if an engineer company set-up near
a major waterway, the cell comma.oder would suggest
10 the G-2 officers acting as commanders, 'an enemy
river crossing is eminent' or suggest that 'it's only a
ploy," Massey said.
In the G-2's or the battalion level S-2's, intelligence
analysts were expected to prepare briefings. During
the CPX a number of update briefings were conducted. These briefings gave the players a chance to

-:::aa.- :

"

An unlCNtntllled
soldier dellvers a
po-rful
foretlllnd ahot to the
fir wall during
the 56th Com
mand rmcquetball
champlonahlpa.
5" page 7.

bring their information (cham, graphs, over.lays, etc.)

about enemy movemcnu up-to-date.
The "excellent training" is reflected by Lhe rise in
SQT scores, according 10 Masser.
"This type of mining is excellent. h affords the
soldier an opportunity to see and experience "hat it
may be like during a real mission in wartime." ;\I.ls
sey said. "It also provides an opportunity ior them ro
sharpen their SQT skills and since last year'~ CPX.
overall scores jumped an average t"o to three po
ints," he commented about the success of rhe CPX.
Massey said, "This CPX is one of the most impor
tant exercises we conduct during the year." He stres
sed chat this CPX helps hone the inrel-analysr's dex
tcrity.
Spec. John Spears, 56th FA Command, G-2, intel
ligence analyst, agreed saying, "this was my second
CPX here, and I look forward to it each year because
I know this type of training will help me become
more knowledgeable in the Intel field."
Staff Sgt. Mery
tackles
Howes
her dally duties
1n internal
control specialist
In the Resource
Management Office.
See page 6.

Pi,rshing Cable
March 1990

Pho

Cleaning up! Pvt. 2 Michael Chaney. inl.

Charlie Co .. 2nd Bn.. 4th lnl .. slays busy c1e
M-1 6 after a long cold day at lhe range.
We're here! Infantry soldiers from Charlie Co.. 2nd Bn.. 4th Inf.. dismount into a sea of white as they proceed to the M-16 range.

Infantrymen :

Troops target training

in cold weather climate

by John L. Morgan
Staff Writer

The wrath of Mother Nature's everchanging ttmperment wreaked havoc

throughout milimy installations in
Germanv.
Yet, punishing winds and a sporadic
swing in temperature could not stay
weapons training for some of the Armv's hard-core foot soldiers.
'For two weeks in late Februarv, infantrv soldiers from the 56th Field Artiller; Command deployed 10 Wildflecken training area. Biannuallr, the 2nd
Batrnlion, 4th Infantry Regiment qualifies as many infantry soldiers as possible on the numerous weapons for
which the infantry is responsible. They
were joined b)' infantry soldiers from
the 56th FA Command's, 55th Support Blowing up! A range safety noncommissioned officer from Alpha Co.. 2nd Sn.. 4th Inf.,
Battalion, 2nd Battalion, 9th FA, I 93rd sits safely behind a concrete bunker as a grenade detonates during the "live bay" exer
Aviation Company and 2- 4's German cise of grenade qualifications in the Wildflecken training area.
partnership company, 5th Kompanie,
273rd Fallschirmjager (Airborne) Bat on their individual and the crew-served well as demolition training lagged bew,apons went off without a hitch for hind a fury of snow and wind .
talion.
Even so, all soldiers in 2-4 required
Meeting weapons qualifications stan- the first week. The biggest deterrent dudards creates an especially difficult si- ring the second week was the drastic 10 qualify on the .50 caliber machine
gun did so during the first week of untuation for 2-4, because they are re- change in the weather."
Old man winter's surprise slowed the seasonably warm weather. Also, 178
sponsible for the security of Command
installations in Heilbronn and Neu progression of soldiers firing weapons out of the 234, M-60 gunners and assiUlm, according to Maj. Larry Epper- like the .50 caliber and M-60 machine stants qualified before nature's wrath
son, 2-4, plans and operations officer. gun, M-1 6 record qualification, M-203 set in.
"Overall we mer mos, of the stanTherefore, a rotation system was in grenade launcher, the squad automatic
i1ia1ed in order to train a majority of the weapon (SAW), and hand grenade qua- dards in weapons training require
mcnts," Epperson said, "c"cn thoui:h
four infantry companies. "Most of the lification.
Training on other weapon systems the inclement \\'C;tthcr hit us hard."
companies only spent a week here
While huddled in billets awairin~
(Wildfleckn)", Epperson noted. "And like the M72A2 light anti-tank weapon
mos1 of our objectives to train soldiers (LAW) and its succesor, the ,\ T-4, as rani;e openin~,. the infantrymen hit the

books, opening their thi.:k Skill , Qu.1lifica1ion Test (SQT) manuals. "The soldiers stayed busy cleanin~ weapons anJ
studying for their upcomin!; SQT in
March, e,en when " 'eother di.:iated .,
halt in training," Epperson ,ommenccd .
When ra11ges were opened. infantry
soldiers competed with stroni; gust)'
winds, sleet, snow and rain . All rhe elements were there to mok, the field problem just that, a problem. But, the "never sav d ie" attitude of th~ inf.tntn sol-

diers contributed co a '"o -folci' rroining mission." said Sgt. ISi Clas.< Her
man Yarborough, Alpha .!-4. platoon
sergeant.

"On one hand we're bc,:omin~ more

proficient with our \\'Capons. but w,'re
also getting some good mid "eather
trainin~." Yarborough poilltcd out.
"Whether we " 'ant it or not.
The soldiers responded 10 Mother
Nature's constant pounding with comments like; 'Doesn't bother me a bit."
or, "The cold doesn't matter as Ion~ as
we can fire up some ammo (ammu nition)." Sgt. Shawn Simpson. H eadquarters and Headquarters Ser,ice Battery,
2-9 FA, said "The weather helped u,
adapt physically and mermll1 ro adverse weather . .. "
Later this year, 2- 4 will rctum to the
field while baneries from within rhe
command accept their security respon
sibilities.
lnfantn soldiers can look ior" ard t0
a warmc; climate when the" return in
the summer but should adverse weathl'r
attack they'll be well prepared to bmle
,he elements.