Soldiers Prepare For Afghanistan With Realistic Training

Posted:

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. - Soldiers with the 101st Airborne based at Fort Campbell are making final preparations to head to Afghanistan that includes large scale training operations to prepare them for battle.

Afghanistan is just a few months away for the 1st Brigade Combat Team.

In the training exercises, the gunfire is real and the scenario is as close to it as possible. The exercises are based on real situations faced by soldiers in Afghanistan.

"It's good for the men to be able to practice here in a controlled environment before sending them over there," said Sgt. Tom O'Brien, 1st Brigade Combat Team.

In one case, the platoon must take out two enemy positions and then hold off a counterattack. They're one of several teams coordinated by a company commander overseeing the operation.

"Our future was written when we returned back from Iraq, so we know exactly where we were going. For the last 10 months ago we've focused solely on this fight," said Col. Andrew Poppas, 1st Brigade Combat Team.

Soldiers are also getting used to the gear. In Specialist Mark Baker's situation, that means hauling a mortar system on his back.

"Get used to carrying your gear, running, going up mountains and stuff," said Baker.

It is tough training, for a deployment at a tough time when violence in Afghanistan escalates daily. The 1st Brigade hopes to change that when they head there next spring.

This will be the first deployment overseas for many of the troops, and while others in the 1st brigade have served in Iraq - the vast majority of them have never been to Afghanistan.

Over the next year, thousands of soldiers with the 101st based at Fort Campbell will be heading to Afghanistan. The 3rd Brigade Combat Team will leave sometime after Christmas.