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La. Guard Soldiers graduate from Light Fighter School

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256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team graduates 20 Soldiers from Air Assault, Rifle and Machine gun courses

By Sgt. Noshoba Davis, 256th Public Affairs Representative

PINEVILLE, La. – Members of the Louisiana National Guard’s 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team recently completed courses at the Light Fighter School at Fort Polk in January and February.

A total of 20 256th Soldiers graduated from LFS: 11 completed Air Assault Course, five completed Rifle Marksmanship Instructor Course and four completed Machine Gun Leaders Course. This is the second year for 256th Soldiers to attend AAC and the first year to attend RMIC and MGLC.

In 2013, the 256th and 3/10 Mountain were partnered together for the Army Total Force Policy. The two brigades are both light infantry brigades that have used the partnership to provide training opportunities that one or the other brigade may not get on a normal basis, such as RMIC and MGLC.

“It’s not one over the other. We’re all in this together and that’s the kind of approach we used. If there’s something we can do to help them we want to do it, and whatever they can do to help us they want to do it … to make both units better,” said Col. Keith Waddell, brigade commander of the 256th IBCT.

Maj. Lance Hargrave, brigade operations officer for the 256th said they are very fortunate that 3/10 Mountain is only a two-hour drive as it allows for more training opportunities such as the schools the Soldiers just attended. Other units are a two or three day drive from their ATFP partner which makes it harder to coordinate training.

AAC is an 11-day three-phase course that is open to Soldiers and Airmen and focuses on the mastery of rappelling techniques and sling load procedures. Soldiers learn how to rig, de-rig and inspect six different sling loads that are used to secure equipment on a helicopter. AAC also requires Soldiers to complete rappels with and without their equipment down a wall and from a helicopter that is hovering 70-90 feet from the ground.

“The hardest thing for me was getting past the anxiety,” said Spc. Zachary Allen of Alexandria, La., with B Company, 3rd Battalion, 156th Infantry Regiment, 256th BCT. “I would get really anxious about passing so I would study harder to make sure I passed on the first time.”

AAC concludes with Soldiers completing a 12-mile road march in three hours or less.Allen graduated at the top of his AAC class and was awarded the Distinguished Honor Graduate out of 90 Soldiers and Airmen that completed the course.

“For me, getting honor grad shows that the National Guard can compete and keep up with Active duty and it makes me proud,” said Allen.

RMIC is a 10-day two phase course that is designed to train the trainer in basic rifle marksmanship and advanced rifle marksmanship.

“You get to see their faces when they actually learn something,” said Sgt. Clinton Fannin, an instructor with LFS. “It’s just a good thing to see Soldiers willing to train and bring that information back to their units to train their Soldiers.”

Phase one focuses on Soldiers learning how to properly zero their weapon, shot groups, and the basic fundamentals of shooting. Phase two focuses on advanced rifle marksmanship which includes: stationary, lateral, turning and forward movements while shooting. The Soldiers also learn the fundamentals of standing and shooting, as well as shooting from cover.

“I think this course truly teaches Soldiers not only how to shoot, but how to actually instruct other Soldiers on shooting,” said Staff Sgt. Samuel Stevenson of Bienville, La., with A Troop, 2nd Squadron, 108th Cavalry Regiment. “It’s just an overall good course to send NCOs to so that we can come back and train the guys in our units to improve and get the scores we need for brigade.”

The MGLC is also a 10-day course and is designed to rapidly train the trainer on light, medium and heavy machine gun operations. Soldiers learn the assembly, disassembly, mounting, malfunctions and fire commands for light, medium and heavy machine guns such as the M249, M240B, M2A1 and the MK19 weapons systems. Soldiers also learn about different coaching and assistant gunner techniques.

“Those personnel going through the Machine and Rifle Courses will replicate what our old master gunners used to be,” said Hargrave. “They’ll be your weapons experts in each company.”

The 256th Brigade is always looking for opportunities to train with 3/10 and provide training opportunities to them as well.

“We’re trying to offer them things that they don’t get the opportunity to do,” said Hargrave. “We have one of their squads with our company in Germany right now on a Joint Multinational Readiness Center rotation because they don’t get to the opportunity to do an overseas deployment for training and we do.”

“I anticipate for this to continue to build, and I think the best is yet to come. The partnership is a win-win across the board and I expect us to keep growing,” said Waddell.

Spc. Dakota Meador of A Troop, 2nd Squadron, 108th Cavalry Regiment and Sgt. Todd Hunter, of the 10th Mountain Division and instructor at the Air Assault Cours look over the side of the repel tower to call down to the Soldier who is on belay during phase three of Air Assault at Ft. Polk, La., Jan. 18. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Noshoba Davis)
Spc. Dakota Meador of A Troop, 2nd Squadron, 108th Cavalry Regiment and Sgt. Todd Hunter, of the 10th Mountain Division and instructor at the Air Assault Cours look over the side of the repel tower to call down to the Soldier who is on belay during phase three of Air Assault at Ft. Polk, La., Jan. 18. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Noshoba Davis)
Staff Sgt. Matthew Hodnett of Dry Prong, La., with Headquarters and Headquarters Company 199th Brigade Support Battalion, qualifies on Short Range Marksmanship during the Rifle Marksmanship Instructor Course at Ft Polk, La., Jan 21. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Noshoba Davis)
Staff Sgt. Matthew Hodnett of Dry Prong, La., with Headquarters and Headquarters Company 199th Brigade Support Battalion, qualifies on Short Range Marksmanship during the Rifle Marksmanship Instructor Course at Ft Polk, La., Jan 21. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Noshoba Davis)
Staff Sgt. Samuel Stevenson of Bienville, La., a cavalry scout with A troop, 2nd Squadron, 108th Cavalry Regiment executes a lateral movement during Short Range Marksmanship qualifications at the Rifle Marksmanship Instructor Course at Ft. Polk, La., Jan 21. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Noshoba Davis)
Staff Sgt. Samuel Stevenson of Bienville, La., a cavalry scout with A troop, 2nd Squadron, 108th Cavalry Regiment executes a lateral movement during Short Range Marksmanship qualifications at the Rifle Marksmanship Instructor Course at Ft. Polk, La., Jan 21. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Noshoba Davis)
Louisiana National Guard’s Spc. Zachary Allen of Alexandria, La. with B Company, 3rd Battalion, 156th Infantry Regiment, 256th Brigade Combat Team was named honor graduate of his Air Assault Course class at Fort Polk, La., Jan. 22, 2016. Air Assault Course is an 11-day three-phase course that is open to Soldiers and Airmen and focuses on the mastery of rappelling techniques and sling load procedures. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. David Edge, 3rd BCT, 10th Mtn. Div., Public Affairs)
Louisiana National Guard’s Spc. Zachary Allen of Alexandria, La. with B Company, 3rd Battalion, 156th Infantry Regiment, 256th Brigade Combat Team was named honor graduate of his Air Assault Course class at Fort Polk, La., Jan. 22, 2016. Air Assault Course is an 11-day three-phase course that is open to Soldiers and Airmen and focuses on the mastery of rappelling techniques and sling load procedures. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. David Edge, 3rd BCT, 10th Mtn. Div., Public Affairs)

 

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