The new Wound Club+ from Phokus Research Group combines the capabilities of the Wound Club and Wound Cube+.
It offers three training wounds that can bleed and is backed by Phokus’ lifetime guarantee.
Units and agencies can procure products seen at Warrior West by contacting ADS, Inc.
SUN PRAIRIE, WI – Steady and deliberate. That’s the approach taken by leaders at the CAL FIRE Training Center (CFTC) these days for providing a solid foundation for their firefighters. And, for the past 22 years, the Assistant Fire Chief training tower has been a cornerstone on their drill grounds, helping those trainers with their operational instructions.
“Our approach to training has simplified over the years,” says Battalion Chief Dave Semple with the Training Center for CAL FIRE in Ione, Calif. “We’re focusing on ‘back to basics’ that builds a strong base for our employees.”
Located in Amador County, 35 miles southeast of Sacramento, the Training Center sits on 420 acres and was established in 1967. Year-round training on structural firefighting based on California State Fire Training curriculum, emergency response, wildland command and control are all provided at the Training Center. The all-steel training tower from Fire Facilities is used to complement many areas of the training.
“The Assistant Fire Chief tower is used every month — and sometimes every week — in some capacity,” according to Semple. “During the past two decades it’s easy to calculate that several thousand firefighters have trained on the tower.”
Quality Training for All
At CFTC, Semple and Battalion Chief Brett Fucillo work for Division Chief of Fire Training Rob Wheatley. Together they create training scenarios that challenge firefighters and prepare them for what they’ll experience in their jobs throughout California.
“CAL FIRE provides extensive wildfire training to our employees,” says Semple. “However, most of the training involving the tower focuses on structural firefighting. We conduct search drills, deploy fire hoses, and raise ladders against the exterior of the tower. The annex section of the tower is used for burning. A big plus is that the tower has enough space to provide quality training to large group numbers.”
The Assistant Fire Chief has three separate areas: a four-story fire training tower, a residential section and a burn room annex. Multiple training scenarios are possible including rappelling, roof ventilation, high-angle rescue operations, forcible entry without penetrations and live fire burn scenarios.
“Overall, the Fire Facilities tower has held up well since its installation in 2001,” says Semple. “It wasn’t foreseen that the tower would experience this much use in 20+ years at CFTC. It’s currently in the process of some repairs, due to the high amount of use it’s been exposed to over time. However, we continue to use a large portion of the facility even during repairs. This tower is part of the backbone of our training program. We rely on it as a key element of training for our program participants.”
Fire Facilities, Inc. (FFI), founded in 1989 and an ISFSI corporate sponsor, manufactures a full line of steel fire training structures engineered to withstand real-life firefighting conditions. From mobile units to burn rooms to high-rise towers, FFI training models are available in a multitude of configurations. Our parent company, Trachte Building Systems, is one of the largest and oldest manufacturers of steel self-storage systems in the industry. For more information, visit www.firefacilities.com or call 800-929-3726.
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. —
1st Marine Division units conducted a series of training events in recent weeks to increase small unit lethality and versatility, with an emphasis on innovative weapon systems, warfighting concepts, and training programs.
1st Marine Division Marines and Sailors took part in a week-long multipurpose anti-armor anti-personnel weapon system program, as well as a multi-day Designated Marksman range. Both training events provided experience and familiarity with weapon systems and tactics necessary to compete in hostile, fluid, and challenging environments.
“The 1st Marine Division exists to fight and win our Nation’s battles,” emphasized Major General Benjamin Watson, the commanding general of the 1st Marine Division, in his Commanding General’s Intent. “We must be brilliant in the basics of combined arms warfighting; techniques that have long made us feared by our enemies.”
“…Marines assigned as Designated Marksmen have learned the necessary skills, demonstrated confidence and sustained proficiency in the M110 and MK13 in order to provide precision fires in support of rifle company operations.”
Gunner Tyler Maisey, the senior weapons and tactics expert for 2nd Battalion
General Watson took command of the 20,000 Marines and Sailors in the historic Blue Diamond last summer. Immediately, the commanding general emphasized the division’s ability to provide the most lethal and ready forces capable to compete in any environment, at any time. Division units consistently train with the most modern weapons, tactics, and techniques.
Marines and Sailors with the 5th Marine Regiment took part in a week-long MAAWS training event, first learning about the capabilities of the weapon system, and then taking their instruction to the field to test and examine its destructive strength. The MAAWS, also known as the Carl Gustaf, provides infantry squads the ability to neutralize and even destroy enemy armor and light armor assets at greater distances compared to the SMAW, LAW, and AT-4. The MAAWS also allows combat engineer units to breach obstacles and establish footholds in challenging objectives.
“The MAAWs recoilless rifle and family of ammo provide the service a capability that makes efficient what multiple weapon systems currently do. The ability to obscure objectives, fire HE/HEAT, illumination, and smoke missions, at ranges further than an organic rifle platoon can do currently with multiple systems is a capability enhancement,” explained 1st Marine Division’s lead weapons and tactics expert, Gunner Ray Browne. “For Designated Marksmen, DM training will ensure the capability gap in the squad is more effectively filled to employ these enhanced marksmanship skills with precision weapon systems that IBX30 allocates to the squad.”
Marines and Sailors with the 7th Marine Regiment spent multiple days out in the desert of 29 Palms learning and developing long-range precision rifle techniques and procedures. The Designated Marksman program allows sharp-shooting Marines to perform precision fire tasks in support of ground combat maneuver. The Designated Marksman training focused on the M110 and the MK13 rifles, capable of precision engagements of around 800 and 1200 meters, respectively.
“2/7 will move the long guns to the rifle company ‘arms-room’ and train 0311s to employ the precision weapon systems,” provided Gunner Tyler Maisey, the senior weapons and tactics expert for 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines. “Marines assigned as Designated Marksmen have learned the necessary skills, demonstrated confidence and sustained proficiency in the M110 and MK13 in order to provide precision fires in support of rifle company operations.”
MAAWS and Designated Marksman training are just two focus areas of the Infantry Battalion Experimentation 2030, or IBX30. One aspect of IBX30 is allowing infantry battalions, the bulk of 1st Marine Division units, to remain versatile in their capabilities through an arms-room concept. The arms-room concept allows infantry Marines to be well-trained with multiple weapon systems, instead of limiting them to one or two weapon systems at a time. Additional, ongoing training includes scout platoon integration, which will provide infantry battalions organic reconnaissance capabilities for distributed operations. The redundancy and versatility of our critical infantry community reinforce the highest levels of battlefield effectiveness and allow 1st Marine Division to provide any force or operation with significant lethality and the ability to win in any clime or place.
Capt Joseph DiPietro, 1st Marine Division
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. (AFNS) —
The 305th Air Mobility Wing conducted the first iteration of their annual training exercise, White Stag, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, March 8-9.
White Stag is a wing level exercise implemented as a self-evaluation, validating the wing’s Full Spectrum Readiness and ability to deploy, operate and sustain rapid global mobility in any contested environment. Additionally, White Stag serves as a training opportunity for the 305th Air Mobility Wing to prepare for Air Mobility Command’s largest exercise, Mobility Guardian 2023, later this year.
“We’re starting to push Airmen past their comfort zones with these training exercises and change their mindsets,” said Lt. Col. James Salazar, 305th AMW inspector general. “Future conflicts won’t be the same as anything we’ve previously been involved in, it’s going to be fast paced with less support from a main operating base.”
With rapid mobilization generation as a foremost priority, White Stag began with an engine running crew change, demonstrating how quickly and efficiently aircrews can swap roles while the aircraft is running, minimizing the possibility of maintenance issues. ERCC’s ensure units are always ready to go with presenting a consistent and sustainable mobility force, aligning mission priorities with the new Air Force Force Generation model.
“Once a KC-46A Pegasus tanker has landed, maintenance has several hours to service and fuel the aircraft,” said Maj. Gage Owens, 305th AMW chief of wing exercises. “With an ERCC, we plan for approximately 45 minutes from landing, to crew swaps, and takeoff, which mitigates the time the aircraft is on the ground.”
During White Stag, crews were also able to implement the use of Agile Combat Employment concepts which allowed operations to shift from centralized physical infrastructure to a network of smaller, dispersed locations that can complicate adversarial planning and execution, providing increased flexibility, sustainability and defense options for joint force commanders.
“We’ve taken the classic elements of a readiness exercise and enhanced it with high-end training that we don’t always incorporate,” Salazar said. “For example, the wet-wing defuel is a newer capability that we’ve been working utilize across the C-17 fleet. We’re incorporating some of the ACE concepts and simulating what it would be like if our crews were required to operate in an austere environment, with minimal resources, personnel and support.”
These elements enable allied forces to operate with varying levels of capacity and support to generate lethal combat capability.
“This iteration of White Stag focused on minimized ground times and building flexibility,” Owens said. “Dynamic re-taskings were a big factor for this exercise. We had wing inspection team members flying on the airplanes and they would toss inject cards to the crew that would divert the aircrews, forcing them to replan at the last minute to accomplish the mission.”
The use of inject cards was to simulate real-life situations air crews might face during conflict that may require crews to act with little to no planning.
The integration of complex operational capabilities like ERCC and the wet-wing defueling enabled the teams at JBMDL to build their proficiency, knowledge and comfort while operating in high threat environments. It also allowed the 305th AMW to incorporate the 87th Air Base Wing, enabling Total Force integration with plans to expand those relationships across the Department of Defense.
“This exercise has helped with facilitating and building a lot of key relationships,” Owens said. “With upcoming exercises, we’ll continue to build relations with our joint partners like the 87th ABW, Navy, Marine Aircraft Group 49, the 108th Wing, and the National Guard units out in Atlantic City. We’ll continue to capitalize on Joint Force integration as we increase the scope and scale of these exercises.”
Total Force mobility Airmen are the backbone of ACE, and the AFFORGEN model provides consistent training opportunities for the 305th AMW to develop and employ mobility Airmen to generate-fly-deliver worldwide.
Exercises like White Stag further empowers airmen to employ ACE concepts, deter the pacing challenge and project critical support to the Joint Force from the DoD’s only tri-service installation.
By Senior Airman Sergio Avalos and Senior Airman Joseph Morales
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
Fredericksburg, VA, March 13, 2023 – Team One Network announced that Robert Cole has been promoted to Director of Training. Robert has been with Team One Network since 2015 and has served as the Training Coordinator since August 2018. “Robert has been a dedicated and valuable member of the team working as both Instructor and Training Coordinator providing cutting edge training programs,” said John T. Meyer Jr., President of Team One Network.
Robert has instructed and helped develop multiple Team One Network courses, to include: Shoot House Instructor, Low Light/ Laser Instructor, Pistol Mounted Optics Instructor, Mechanical Breaching Instructor, Tactical Ballistic Shield Instructor, & Counter Ambush Instructor. Robert is also a certified armorer for Benelli, CZ, Springfield Armory and Smith & Wesson firearms.
Before Robert’s time at Team One Network, he served in the United States Marine Corps for 10 years. He was an infantry Sergeant and deployed to multiple countries including Afghanistan, Japan, Philippines, Thailand, Guam, and Australia. He finished his USMC career serving as the Assistant Operations Chief for the Regimental Operations office aboard The Basic School at MCB Quantico Virginia training new Marine Corps officers. Robert oversaw logistical support for training. His personal awards include the Purple Heart, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with combat distinguishing device, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal 2nd award.
We look forward to an exciting future of Robert developing and expanding the training division of Team One Network.
www.teamonenetwork.com
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas (AFNS) —
Army and Air Force personnel from Brooke Army Medical Center’s Department of Emergency Medicine recently established a simulation training platform to increase readiness and meet Joint Commission requirements for staff development and training.
The Tactical Trauma Reaction and Evacuation Crossover Course, or TTREX, is designed to test and validate Individual Critical Task Lists and the Comprehensive Medical Readiness Program for military medical personnel.
“The TTREX course was developed to familiarize military and civilian personnel with critical trauma skills relevant to both the hospital and the austere environment and to maintain mission readiness,” said Army 1st Lt. Jackson Goddard, registered nurse.
The eight-hour course at the Torch Training Site at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland incorporates battlefield trauma simulations, evacuation procedures, and trauma care in a Role 2 environment. Role 2, also known as forward resuscitative care, has the capability to manage more advanced trauma patients and continue more advanced resuscitative measures in an austere environment such as a combat support hospital.
“We have combined the point of injury with the Role 2 environment,” said Air Force 1st Lt. Marissa Vasek, registered nurse. “Our goal is to get people to understand the deployment setting and the challenges they might face while deployed including limitations with supplies, manpower or experience.”
Additionally, participants experience what it’s like to be on a C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft during a critical care air transport mission to see how a patient is transported to a higher echelon of care.
Army Spc. Wade Wolf, a combat medic, said he feels the training is beneficial because participants get to see how a patient moves from the point of injury to a stateside hospital.
“We’ve had more than 40 participants over the two-day exercise,” Wolf said. “I would say about half of them have never been deployed.”
Emergency nurse Army Capt. Megan Gross agreed.
“This has been one of my favorite courses I have attended in my 14 years in the military,” Gross said. “The course allows nurses and medics to test their trauma knowledge in a tactical environment and provides a realistic peek into the deployed setting. The teamwork and camaraderie among the attendees and the instructors are unique and foster a real esprit de corps.
“My favorite part was the Role 2 trauma lane and having the opportunity to work in a small team to assess, perform interventions, and prepare our patient for transport,” she added. “The autonomy aspect provided a unique learning opportunity we often do not get in the hospital setting. The instructors provided a learning environment that was challenging but collaborative at the same time. I loved it!”
The TTREX course will be offered quarterly and is open to service members, civilians, and contractors.
“The course is geared to medics and nurses, but it’s open to anyone who’s willing to learn or just wants to observe,” Vasek said. “We have even had a few physicians come through.”
“A part of creating this exercise was to help military nurses and medics gain the confidence they need to perform under high stress while downrange,” added Army Capt. Brianna Barkley, a registered nurse who helped create the course. “We have seen camaraderie built amongst BAMC teammates while also checking off required readiness skills. What made our exercise successful is the fact that it is a learning environment. Participants feel comfortable making mistakes and learning from those mistakes to build confidence during deployments.”
“This training is invaluable because it allows service members to maintain combat readiness,” Gross said. “We have Individual Critical Task Lists, which are required training tasks for our jobs. This training opportunity allowed me to complete all of my ICTLS for the year, which maintains my individual combat readiness.”
“I was so impressed with this course as a participant that I volunteered to become an instructor and look forward to being a part of the next TTREX course,” she added.
By Lori Newman, Brooke Army Medical Center Public Affairs
Army photos by Jason W. Edwards
Last week, the AIL hosted a Basic Additive Manufacturing Course. This 40 hour course taught the basic concepts of Additive Manufacturing and how to efficiently implement it within the DoD.
Students came from various units across Fort Bragg including Division, 18th Fires, 3SFG, and 2SFAB. Students completed the course with a capstone project Highlighted here was a handcuff skeleton key which van be hidden in a boot lace.
AIL offers a variety of courses that can be found on our website:
www.army.mil/82ndairborne#org-airborne-innovation-lab
FORT HOOD, Texas — 1st Cavalry Division staff and subordinate brigades conducted a command post exercise at Fort Hood over the past in early February to test warfighting functions and refine processes ahead of a Warfighter exercise planned for this spring.
“It is absolutely critical to maintain the ability to deploy to multiple locations and stay in the fight, because failure to do so will diminish all warfighting capabilities,” said Sgt. Maj. Yolonda Jordan, division sustainment non-commissioned officer in charge, 1CD.
A command post exercise, or CPX, is a field training exercise that prepares units to fight in a large and complex environment. The exercise enables the commander to see if the staff’s processes and procedures work and identify what needs to change before being called to the fight.
“This CPX allows us to better prepare and execute our mission objectives,” Jordan added.
This is the second CPX iteration for the division as they prepare for their culminating exercise where the division will be evaluated in their proficiency, communication and warfighting capability in Warfighter 23-04 scheduled this spring.
“This is absolutely critical, you have to know the team that you work with,” said Maj. Mark Mckinney, division sustainment deputy officer, 1CD. “This sets the stage, so everybody gets their job done right so we don’t have to learn the hard way in combat.”
Testing the division’s ability to communicate as an effective warfighting team is vital, as the main command post and rear command post the staff works to effectively communicate and coordinate while also providing support towards subordinate units. Without synchronizing communication methods, the division would be unable to guide the fight.
“All elements of our division must be ready to contribute to the fight at hand,” said Jordan.
Projecting the First Team’s firepower includes augmenting the division with the right personnel.
“The goal is for us to be ready to support the “First Team” in training so that when the time comes to deploy we are not meeting for the first time,” said Maj. Robert Kaueber, deputy commander, of the Main Command Post Operational Detachment, Texas Army National Guard.
The exercise is just a steppingstone to test current tactical standard operating procedures and identify battle drills that work and things that no longer work so they can be updated before the Warfighter and potential deployments in the future.
It’s important for the staff to be able to interact with subordinate units across the battlefield and it’s also extremely important that everyone understands how to use command and control systems designed for sharing battlefield updates and communicating at different echelons.
“It’s always important to remember if you’re going to win the fight, every piece of equipment has a person behind it, whether it’s a weapon system, communication system, or planning tool,” said Maj. David Christensen, deputy command chaplain, 1CD. “If we don’t make sure our people are taken care of physically, mentally, and spiritually none of those systems matter. Conversely, if we spend a little more time taking care of our people, that effort can make the difference that ultimately wins the fight.”
By SGT Elliot Alagueuzian
