The United States Army - Thread

[Sousuke]

Nice pics, thanks ^^

[vor033]

FORWARD OPERATING BASE FENTY, Afghanistan - Training to fight and win in combat, no matter the obstacle or challenge is the goal of all the training and field exercises Soldiers participate in year-round, on installations across the world.

Training to overcome obstacles is a concept Soldiers are teaching their counterparts in the Afghan national army. Apart from the enemy, a major obstacle that fighting forces in Afghanistan must overcome is the rugged, mountainous terrain. While aviation assets provide freedom and ease of movement that land travel does not, there are still times when problems arise such as troop insertions and extractions.

The Pathfinders of Detachment 2 stationed at Forward Operating Base Fenty recently helped a Special Forces team instruct Afghan commandos in the use of the fast rope insertion and extraction system, or FRIES.

"The task force came up with this training plan with the help of the Special Forces," said Maj. Bernard Harrington, operations officer for Task Force Out Front. "Battle space in this area is very constrictive, so we thought it would be safer and easier for Soldiers to fast rope in, instead of having helicopters land."

Because of their specialized skills, the Pathfinders are occasionally asked by the Special Forces unit with help in various events.

"We were asked to help with the training due to some of our guys being qualified fast ropers and FRIES masters," said 1st Sgt. Brad Bonnell, of Pathfinder detachment. "Since they (Special Forces) were using our helicopters, the squadron wanted to incorporate us into the training."

The static training phase took place over the course of two days at Jalalabad. The commandos had to master fast roping techniques at three stations before they would be able to participate in the live event. Station One was fast-roping from a 30 foot tower. The second station involved the troops practicing their decent down the ramp of a CH-47, grabbing the rope and rotating out in the proper direction. The third station consisted of exiting a UH-60.

"It's important that you grab the rope and not try to jump to it," one of the Special Forces Soldiers explained to the commandos with the help of an interpreter. "If you miss the rope, you'll fall and could possibly die. It's also important that you rotate in the proper direction when grabbing the rope. If you turn into your buddy, you could knock him off the rope, and he could fall and die."

The training continued in this fashion until all the commandos were comfortable fast roping from the helicopter. The training not only was beneficial to the Afghan commandos, but it served as a refresher for the Pathfinders, who must always conduct fast rope training 24 hours prior to any live training event or operation.

"They are getting quality training that they will need," said Bonnell of the commandos. "It's a great event for them and for us."

FRIES is an important asset in being able to accomplish missions here in Afghanistan. It makes troop insertion possible in areas that it would be nearly impossible for other forces to get to.

"The FRIES capability is very important," explained Spc. Aaron Villareal, a Soldier with Pathfinder detachment. "It gives us a higher level of mobility. We can get in and out of places people can't normally get to."

For most of the Soldiers, the training event marks the first time that they will get to work with the Afghan forces.

"This is my first time getting to work with the Afghan soldiers," said Villareal. "They seem like they know what they're doing, they're always training and on the range. They are always ready to go."

[vor033]

Two CH-47 Chinooks arrive at the landing zone at Forward Operating Base Morales Frasier to pick up soldiers from Bravo Company, Division Special Troops Battalion, Task Force Gladius and air lift them into the Surobi District, Afghanistan, to protect a CH-47 that hard landed there on Jan. 20.2009 (U.S. Army photo/Sgt. Johnny R. Aragon)

[vor033]

Soldiers from Bravo Company, Division Special Troops Battalion, Task Force Gladius prepare for Cold Mountain II which will take place along the main supply route Vermont in the Tagab District, Kapisa province, Afghanistan, on Jan. 12. 2009 (U.S. Army photo/Sgt. Johnny R. Aragon)

[Laconian]

Great pics!

[LineDoggie]

they have the mount on but no LRAS, that thing was the most badass piece of equipment i got to use. i was thankful to have one on my truck!

I found one on a rooftop at RPC in 05. 5th grp left it when they rotated out and 10th said we could have it. So we got it down from there and hoisted it to the roof of the main bldg to over look all of the Westwall and west past Tampa/leader canal. nice piece of gear. I still have the Blackhawk dragbag and Surefire, Harris Bipod they left behind. Kepp my M1A in it. Biggest prob we had was no power adaptors so were running it on SINGARS batts.

[LineDoggie]

Interesting thing about this shot. The Rigger Pouches of this style were only used by the 503rd (and by the way he's wearing Thompson pouches- each holds 5X20rd mags edge on) even though he's holding a Garand.

[Cava]

Iraq - Task Force 2-69 Armor, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division from Fort Benning Georgia (most of the photos)







Removing the Iraqi flag

Task Force 2-69 Armor, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division from Fort Benning Georgia: Front line images from the Army advance on Baghdad

Graphic:
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_OEKGGeoELdI/R8.../3ID%20328.jpg

Task Force 2-69 Armor, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division from Fort Benning Georgia: Front line images from the Army advance on Baghdad. An wounded Iraqi soldier tries to extinguish the flames burning his back. He was shot dead seconds after this photo was made. The soldier at right is already dead

Task Force 2-69 Armor, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division from Fort Benning Georgia: Smoke from a destroyed Iraqi military vehicle drifts past a destroyed children's ferris wheel during an advance in northern Baghdad.

Task Force 2-69 Armor, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division from Fort Benning Georgia: M1A1 Abrams tanks are seen through the shattered front windshield of a civilian vehicle. Numerous civilians narrowly escaped death when they failed to stop or turn around when soldiers fired warning shots at them. The driver of this vehicle lived. The tanks were holding an Army objective in northern Baghdad.

Task Force 2-69 Armor, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division from Fort Benning Georgia: An M1A1 Abrams tank takes a defensive position at a bridge in northern Baghdad. The bridge has been the scene of heavy fighting for the last two days.

Task Force 2-69 Armor, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division from Fort Benning Georgia: Capt. Andy Maclean passes by a large image of Sadaam Hussein inside Republican Guard Barracks in northern Baghdad. After a patrol through the complex the barracks were destroyed with artillery.

Task Force 2-69 Armor, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division from Fort Benning Georgia: One of two A-10 Warthog planes circles past smoke from burning Republican Guard barracks in northern Baghdad. One of the planes was later hit by an Iraqi surface to air missile forcing the pilot to eject. The pilot was safely recovered.

Task Force 2-69 Armor, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division from Fort Benning Georgia: Spc. Daniel Yoo runs for a defensive position after spotting movement several hundred meters away during a search and destroy patrol to locate enemy troops and equipment in northern Baghdad.

Photos by: David Leeson/The Dallas Morning News (most of the photos)

[vor033]

Great Pics cava thanks for posting them

[vor033]

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. – The enemy – opposing forces – sits hidden behind berms with their rifles ready to fire on the American troops who are making their way through the area on a mission to defeat those very men who are waiting to strike fear into their hearts.

Farmers tend to their crop awaiting the sign of any American troops. With the first glance of any, they will take off running, signaling to the others that the Americans are coming. They take up arms behind their pre-planned positions, and they too wait to defeat those they despise.

The enemy forces patiently wait for the Americans to enter their kill zone. Their index fingers sit upon the trigger, waiting to fire the first shot in what could be a very enduring battle. They must be patient. They don't want to fire too early nor too late. They have to remain patient in order to catch the Americans off guard. They've got only one shot at eliminating their most hated adversary.

The first shots are fired; immediately the battle begins. The U.S. forces begin placing their men to counter the effort of the enemy forces. They set in support by fire positions and begin planning their attack to eliminate the opposing forces. The closer they get to the enemy, the more the opposition realizes they are truly outnumbered and don't quite have the firepower of the Americans.

This, however, doesn't seem to halt their ambition and will to inflict damage upon their hated enemy.

One-by-one, the U.S. Soldiers, who don black hearts upon their helmets and a fierce screaming eagle on their shoulder, eliminate the enemy. They continue to move forward and get closer to achieving their mission.

The enemy continues its assault, bounding backward to other set-in positions. The American forces, though, continue to move forward. They continue to get closer and closer. The enemy forces have now lost many of their men, and they are now truly outnumbered. There isn't much more they can do except surrender or give their lives in defense of their beliefs.

In the end, the U.S. troops – Soldiers from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) – were able to successfully defeat the willful opponent. In the end, they were victorious.

This was all a part of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Combined Arms Live-Fire Exercise, Nov. 14 – 22.

The exercise trained company, troop and battery units to properly plan, prepare and execute a combined arms company attack, thus creating adaptive leader teams who are ready for combat action.

Helping provide that training were those very men who acted as opposing forces; engineers from Company A, 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion.

According to the commander of the opposition forces, Capt. Daniel Antolos, they wanted to illustrate a realistic, thinking enemy.

"A realistic OPFOR is very important. It needs to be stressed we will not be facing a paper or plastic target; we will be facing a bounding, thinking, constantly moving enemy," said Antolos. "For this we learn how to control our fires, weapon systems to employ, suppress the enemy, and how to create a situation we control as opposed to the enemy."

Those units going through the objective were given a mission to kill or capture high-value targets on the objective, while also eliminating hostile forces and deny insurgent reinforcement from a neighboring town, all through the use of CCA, indirect and direct fire capabilities.

With that, though, the OPFOR gave the infantry and cavalry units a challenge, surprising them at every angle with intense gun-fire and constant movement on the battlefield.

"In the end, we needed them to win, but on the other side, we gave them enough of a challenge to be confident in what they do, and execute precisely," said Antolos.

With their illustration of a very tough foe, the engineers playing opposing forces were able to provide the units very invaluable training because at this very moment, troops deployed to Afghanistan are conducting this very mission, said Maj. William Parker, operations officer, 2nd BSTB.

"The training provides insight to what to expect and how to be more of a thinking Army instead of a doing Army," said Antolos. "Combining those two things allows us to get ahead of the enemy in the event they surprise us."

Their ability to act as a very willing enemy gave all the experience as well as the knowledge to employ a wide-range of weapon systems against a very battle hardened and experienced enemy.

In the end, when called upon to deploy far from Fort Campbell, Ky., in a land foreign to many, the Soldiers of the Strike Brigade will be ready to face these very men who seek to only strike fear into their hearts. In the end, it will be them, the Soldiers of Strike, who will look into the eyes of this hidden enemy, engage in a fierce battle, and win.

[Virus]

Iraq - Task Force 2-69 Armor, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division from Fort Benning Georgia (most of the photos)

Interesting seeing these pictures, this last deployment, 2-69 was on my FOB as well. And I had people in my platoon who were on the deployment depicted here....fast times at baghdad high. Thanks for posting them.

[vor033]

U.S Army Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 69th Armour Regiment, 3rd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, at Forward Operating Base Reno in Fort Irwin, Calif., The 2-69th AR is training at Fort Irwin in preparation for an upcoming deployment to Iraq.July 16. 2009

[little icebear]

Do I need to get some glasses or is this a sight for indirect fire on the mk19? If it is, is it a custom solution or is the weapon equipped with a dedicated sight for this task?

I know that it should be possible to use a grenade machine gun to provide indirect fire, but is this official policy / the weapon intended to actually do this, or is it some kind of creative solution?

[Sloppy Joe2]

Biggest prob we had was no power adaptors so were running it on SINGARS batts.

ohh, i bet that didnt work to well at all, my only problem withit was that it made the turret very crowded if you know what i mean.

Do I need to get some glasses or is this a sight for indirect fire on the mk19? If it is, is it a custom solution or is the weapon equipped with a dedicated sight for this task?

I know that it should be possible to use a grenade machine gun to provide indirect fire, but is this official policy / the weapon intended to actually do this, or is it some kind of creative solution?

i dont know what you are referring to but you really can watch the flight of the rounds and adjust from that, no sights needed at least when i used it.

[little icebear]

i dont know what you are referring to but you really can watch the flight of the rounds and adjust from that, no sights needed at least when i used it.

The greyish thing on top of the MK19... or is it an optical illusion and it is not a part of the weapon?
I thought it looked like a sight you would use on a grenade launcher to shoot indirectly instead of in the line of sight.