FORT CARSON, Colo. — Two Soldiers with Alpha Company, 52nd Brigade Engineer Battalion, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, pull security Sept. 25, 2019, during War Horse Strike, a brigadewide exercise. (Courtesy photo)
By Staff Sgt. Neysa Canfield
2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Sgt. Jon Guemmer, a geospatial engineer with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, pulls the charging handle on his weapon, Sept. 27, 2019, during War Horse Strike, a brigadewide exercise. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Neysa Canfield)
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Before taking on a rotation at the Joint Readiness Training Center, in Fort Polk, Louisiana, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, put its Soldiers to the test Sept. 24-30, 2019, with a brigadewide exercise called War Horse Strike.
JRTC is a combat training center focused to improve unit readiness by providing highly realistic, stressful, joint and combined arms training across the full spectrum of conflict, according to the U.S. Army homepage.
With the help of additional 4th Inf. Div. brigades: 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Combat Aviation Brigade and 4th Sustainment Brigade, the Soldiers were evaluated on their capability to defeat complex enemies to better succeed in the upcoming rotation.
“War Horse Strike is a culminating training event that pulls together all the members of the combined arms team at the brigade to test and exercise every echelon on their wartime mission,” said Col. Scott Knight, commander, 2nd IBCT. “It’s significant to be able to bring all those elements together in the field and execute our mission essential tasks, so it’s a valuable opportunity that we took full advantage of.”
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Soldiers with 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, take a break from building their fighting position Sept. 24, 2019, during War Horse Strike in a training area. (Courtesy photo)
Battalions within 2nd IBCT, including 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment; 2nd Battalion, 12th Inf. Reg., 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment; 2nd Battalion,77th Field Artillery Regiment; 52nd Brigade Engineer Battalion; and the 704th Brigade Support Battalion, all played important roles in ensuring the overall success of the mission.
“This exercise is about communication and relationships and a way to really test and understand how each of us thinks and what it takes for each of us … to be an expert,” Knight said.
In order to be experts during War Horse Strike, Soldiers began their training earlier this year.
“After (the Expert Infantryman Badge qualification) back in March, we shifted focus onto crew served weapons and the (Improved Target Acquisition System),” said Sgt. Andrew Baum, an infantryman and section leader with Delta Company, 1st Bn., 12th Inf. Reg, 2nd IBCT. “We did section and different gunnery validations to ensure we were all trained up for War Horse Strike. I think we did pretty well.”
Although the exercise is over, brigade leadership is ensuring no time is wasted before the rotation.
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Spc. Steve Mateo, a human resource specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, pulls security Sept. 26, 2019, during War Horse Strike, a brigadewide exercise. War Horse strike evaluated the brigade’s readiness before their upcoming rotation to the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Neysa Canfield)
“There are still a couple of things that we are going to train on before JRTC,” said 1st Lt. Rogan Lye, platoon leader for 3rd Platoon, Charlie Company, 1st Bn., 12th Inf. Reg., 2nd IBCT. “We have some ranges set up, lots of maintenance but also recovery for our guys. I want to make sure all my guys get the rest they need to be mentally ready for next month.”
With only one month away from the Soldiers leaving to go to Louisiana, leaders said they are excited to show the capabilities of the brigade.
“We took advantage of opportunities along the way to get the entire brigade combat team out in the field and it has made us that much more lethal of a formation,” Knight said. “I am incredibly proud of the performance, discipline and the results the brigade accomplished throughout the exercise. It showed we truly are a capable fighting force.”
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, set up camouflage netting on top of their equipment Sept. 25, 2019, during War Horse Strike, a brigadewide exercise. (Courtesy photo)