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Archive for the ‘Training’ Category

Sensor Specialist HENSOLDT Strengthens Commitment to Training

Wednesday, August 3rd, 2022

Number of apprenticeships doubled

Ulm, 1 August 2022 – The sensor solutions provider HENSOLDT is strengthening its commitment to training for high-tech professions. At the start of the training year on 1 September, the company increased the number of training positions for apprentices and dual students at its Ulm site by another 20 percent from 192 last year to 234. The sensor specialist has thus doubled the number of apprenticeships since it was founded in 2017.

“The security of the future is increasingly determined by high technology, and thus by electronics, software and artificial intelligence,” says Peter Fieser, Chief Human Resources Officer at HENSOLDT AG. “That is why we at HENSOLDT take responsibility for the training of these specialists and thereby ensure our success. We practice this sustainable action in the interest of society and in the interest of our customers, who together with HENSOLDT take responsibility for a secure future. ”

In total, interested parties can choose from 78 training and study places in 18 professions of the future. In the dual study programmes, HENSOLDT focuses on the future fields of system engineering, embedded systems, data science and business engineering. Among the apprenticeships, the focus is on electronics technicians for devices and systems and industrial mechanics. In this way, the company will open up a professional future for more than 200 young people in particularly attractive, technologically promising occupational fields.

In the course of the apprenticeship or the dual study programme, HENSOLDT actively supports stays abroad, for example at the company locations in England, France or South Africa, as well as cross-location departmental rotations.

“After successful completion, all junior HENSOLDTians receive a permanent employment contract,” affirms training manager Werner Stockburger. “In order to ensure a smooth transfer to the specialist area that best matches the interests and skills of the trainees, they are given extensive insights into a wide variety of areas during their training and have the choice between a wide range of further training and development opportunities,” Stockburger adds.

HENSOLDT has already received several awards for its commitment to training, such as ‘Germany’s best trainers’ 2021 (Capital), Germany’s most attractive IT training company 2022 (Chip), SchuleWirtschaft Preis 2021 (Institut der Deutschen Wirtschaft/Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft). Many young professionals choose HENSOLDT because the company offers a wide range of career and development opportunities, such as extra-occupational support for Master’s students, even after their training or dual study programme.

At HENSOLDT’s Ulm site, around 3,000 employees are involved in the development and production of radars and electronic reconnaissance systems. A great many of these are engineers and technicians.

Marines Complete One of the Most Difficult Swim Qualifications the Marine Corps Offers

Wednesday, August 3rd, 2022

MCAS FUTENMA, Japan —

Thirteen U.S. Marines stationed across Okinawa graduated from the Water Survival Advanced course at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma on July 22.

WSA is the highest swim qualification that Marines can obtain before becoming Marine Corps Instructors of Water Survival. Throughout the course, students endured aquatic conditioning, endurance swimming, and underwater rescue training.

Taught by six Marine Corps Instructors of Water Survival, each Marine endured a physically demanding week of eight-hour training days in the water. The training included endurance swimming, underwater training, and rescue techniques.

“These students went through a lot of aquatic conditioning, underwater confidence training exercises, and team building exercises,” said Sgt. Bryantruc Nguyen, a network administrator with Marine Air Control Squadron 4, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. “Underwater conditioning is extremely important, because it gives students a foundation before we transition them into making open water rescues. ”

Nguyen explained one of the most difficult parts for students was underwater conditioning. Events aimed toward underwater conditioning were usually conducted with only physical training shorts. The purpose of underwater training was to physically prepare students for tasks they would have to complete while making rescues.

 “As MCIWS we make this course difficult so we can fully trust trainees to make rescues and supervise future swim qualifications.”

Sgt. Bryantruc Nguyen, 1st MAW network administrator

He said that the students completed two sessions of rifle-ups, a main component of underwater confidence training. During rifle-ups students would drop their rifles in the deep end. Once the rifles were at the bottom, they would dive down to retrieve their rifles and stay underwater until instructed to return to the surface. Instructors increased the time spent underwater after every succeeding repetition of rifle-ups. During this iteration of the course, underwater training forced a handful of students to exit the pool due to the difficulty of the task

“Students also struggled with Marine Corps rescues because they were forced to make open water rescues in their full combat utility uniform without panicking,” said Nguyen. “As MCIWS we make this course difficult so we can fully trust trainees to make rescues and supervise future swim qualifications.”

Per Marine Corps Order 1500.52D, the intention of swim qualification courses is to ensure that each Marine meets the expectation of being “amphibious by nature.” This requires Marines to be prepared if they ever need to make a rescue while on active duty.

“Swimming in combat utility uniforms was my weakness. I was a distance swimmer in high school, but I never swam in full gear,” said Lance Cpl. Tyge Watts, a motor vehicle operator with 3rd Transportation Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group. “That’s a big obstacle you have to face, because it disrupts your form, and you have to go back and focus on the basics of swimming.”

In conjunction with underwater conditioning, students completed Marine Corps rescues and endurance swims. During the Marine Corps rescues, students underwent four different scenarios for rescuing a thrashing victim and properly escorting them out of the water in their full utility kit.

Watts explained that the 1500-meter swim and Marine Corps rescues in full uniform were the most difficult challenges for him. Everyday, students swam up to a mile, performed timed conditioning swims every day and focused on different swimming techniques that helped them maneuver comfortably in the water in their full kits.

Nguyen explained that this iteration of the WSA course saw 12 out of 21 students successfully graduate at the end of the course. The average dropout rate for each cycle is around 75 to 85 percent due to the intense physical demand to complete the course.

“WSA is definitely not a course for everyone, it’s a very big jump from the intermediate swim qualification course,” stated Nguyen. “It’s definitely a great course, but only a select few can say that they are advanced swim qualified.”

Marine Corps Installations Pacific

SureFire Field Notes Ep 72 – How to Cheat: Max Point Blank Theory with Alex Hartmann

Friday, July 29th, 2022

Alex Hartmann is a former Marine Corps Scout Sniper with multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. After leaving active service in 2016, his mission to serve the tactical population continued as a co-founder of Ridgeline Defense, a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business whose mission is to defend America and her interests both at home and abroad, through the training and equipping of Military, Law Enforcement, and vetted Civilian clients. The Ridgeline Training Center is located in Dalton, NH, in strategic partnership with the Team O’Neil Rally School. Their facility is designed by Special Operators and purpose-built to support world-class training, as well as to provide a discrete location for Research, Development, Testing, and Evaluation.

www.ridgelineshooting.com

Special thanks to The Ranch TX and Shooter Symposium for making this episode possible.

www.theranchtxclub.com

For more on SureFire:

www.surefire.com

SERE Specialists Thrive in Harshest Conditions: Teaching Next Generation of Officers to Do the Same

Friday, July 22nd, 2022

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO – RANDOLPH, Texas —  

Organizing safe, effective survival and evasion training for nearly 1,000 people isn’t easy – especially in an austere and unforgiving environment that’s hours from the nearest signs of civilization. But Capt. Jason Walker and Master Sgt. Brian Youngberg’s team of 33 Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Specialists are doing just that this summer as they train hundreds of U.S. Air Force Academy cadets during three 21-day courses on critical survival and evasion skills at the Air Force Academy and Pinon Canyon Military Site near Trinidad, Colorado.

The Air Force Academy Combat Survival Training program enables cadets to practice and learn the skills required to survive as an isolated personnel in a combat environment.  This training also provides leadership opportunities for upper-class Cadets and shortens the training timeline for new lieutenants in certain AFSCs. 

“SERE provides the tools necessary to survive in multiple situations and to return with honor,” said Walker. “This program is designed to not only introduce cadets to these survival skills, but also offer them a leadership opportunity.”

On a normal day these specialists instruct at the 336th Training Group at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, where they’re responsible not only for teaching SERE to more than 6,000 Airmen annually but also training candidates in the SERE technical training pipeline.

“Helping people has always driven me,” Youngberg said. “SERE as a career field is predominantly helping people, whether to learn the skills that will help them return with honor or to do their jobs.”

While teaching SERE isn’t new to the specialists, the scale of the program is. A small-group try-out was conducted in 2021 with just over 130 cadets completing the program. This year’s iteration, consisting of three 300-plus blocks of students, represents a nearly 800% increase in student training.

One unique aspect to the program is that cadet cadre act as primary instructors, having completed a hands-on training course with SERE Specialists, who help guide student learning and ensure course objectives are met.  This provides cadet cadre with opportunities to grow their leadership and develop in a controlled training environment.

Nearly 1,200 cadets are anticipated to complete the program by the end of the summer.

“Any time you’re dealing with 1,200 people, there are a whole bunch of gears that have to fit together the right way,” Walker said. Weather, environmental factors, instructional timelines, safety and more all have to be factored in and adjustments made to ensure students receive proper training. 

The team of SERE Specialists are eagerly tackling the challenge of adapting their training to the cadets.

“Uncertainty is where SERE specialists thrive,” Walker said. “The team out here has one officer, a senior NCO, a couple NCOs, and then the rest are all Airmen. These Airmen are problem-solving nonstop to get the mission accomplished. It’s awesome to watch them.”

The team of SERE specialists also appreciate the chance to mentor the future officers.

“For a lot of the cadets, this is their first exposure to active duty non-commissioned officers,” Youngberg said. “So they’re able to talk with our SERE Specialists for perspective on what it’s like being active duty and understand the importance of the officer and NCO relationship.”

Walker agrees. “Mentoring is my favorite part,” he said. “It’s great when you see the light switch flip on, because it means you were able to connect and get information across in a way that people understand. And then also seeing students do things they didn’t think they could do or hadn’t done before.”

To become a SERE Specialist, Airmen must be both physically capable and mentally prepared for extreme conditions, requiring more than a year of intense, and grueling training. Candidates are initially assessed through a 19-day screening course at Joint-Base San Antonio-Lackland, where they are evaluated on their physical fitness, aptitude, dedication, and leadership potential. After passing those tests, candidates undergo the rigorous SERE Specialist training that prepares them to survive in any environment, including deserts, mountains, arctic conditions and on the open water.  Following graduation, SERE Specialists undergo more dive, parachute and emergency medical technician training, ensuring they have the right skills to operate in any situation. Only 40% of candidates that begin the pipeline end up earning the coveted pewter-green SERE beret.

The Combat Survival Training program at the Air Force Academy concludes July 29, and is expected to continue to impact future leaders for years to come.

Story by Capt Lauren Woods, Air Education and Training Command Public Affairs

Photos by Trevor Cokley

US, Moroccan Special Forces Team Up For Inaugural Cyber Training

Tuesday, July 19th, 2022

TIFNIT, Morocco – U.S. Army Soldiers with 3rd Special Forces Group (SFG) Tactical Information Support Center, Expeditionary Cyber Team 2, and Royal Moroccan Special Operations Forces (SOF) teamed up to conduct prototype cyber effects training during African Lion 22, June 26, 2022.

African Lion 22, U.S. Africa Command’s largest, premier, joint, annual exercise hosted by Morocco, Ghana, Senegal and Tunisia, June 6 – 30, is a critical opportunity for members of the joint team to build and test their strategic readiness to deploy, fight and win in a complex, multi-domain environment. The cyber training collaboration was the first of its kind and sought to discover how low equity cyber solutions can expand options for key decision makers at the tactical, operational, and strategic levels.

The cyber effects training included hands-on cyber lab demonstrations using commercial tools and comparing them to less accessible high-tech devices. The lead 3rd SFG trainer described the hands-on training as an ‘opportunity to take cyber security to the field and into the mind of each Service Member in a combat situation.’

3rd SFG endeavors to learn, iterate, and eventually offer flexible cyber options at scale while maximizing the indigenous approach through partner forces.

“By actually shifting the focus of training to the modern combat environment, which is now becoming rapidly digital, you create a more potent, lethal force, moving into the future,” stated a member of 3rd SFG.

Building an understanding of multi-domain digital activities would allow U.S. and partner forces to work with more sustainable equipment and better understand digital threats to their missions.

U.S. Africa Command is ready to provide the necessary resources to advance mutual interests and respond to crisis in Africa because of successfully forged and maintained partnerships and demonstrated operational success.

African Lion 22 is a joint all-domain, multi-component, and multinational exercise, employing a full array of mission capabilities with the goal to strengthen interoperability among participants and set the theater for strategic access. More than 7,500 participants from 28 nations and NATO train together with a focus on enhancing readiness for U.S. and partner nation forces.

Story by Charli Turner, U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

Photo by SFC Katie Theusch, U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

2022 Connecticut SWAT Challenge August 15-18

Wednesday, July 13th, 2022

The 2022 Connecticut SWAT Challenge is coming up soon, August 16-18 in the Hartford area.

Not only does the Connecticut SWAT Challenge host teams from all over the US to challenge themselves against various events and one another, there are also training courses.

For vendors it’s a great way to meet face to face with these teams and show off your wares. Spots are still available.

To learn more, visit www.ctswatchallenge.com.

US and Finnish Soldiers Kick Off Summer Exercise

Tuesday, July 12th, 2022

HELSINKI – Soldiers of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division; the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division; and the Guard Jaeger Regiment of the Finnish Army, conducted bilateral training in Santahamina Island, Finland, June 28, 2022.

Over 200 U.S. Soldiers conducted urban operations training alongside Finnish soldiers, learning tactical skills from each other in order to operate seamlessly with partner nations.

The training is part of the Finnish Summer Exercise, a training exercise conducted in various bases throughout Finland, running from the end of June to September.

“Finland has been great. We appreciate the hospitality. From a military standpoint, the training has been exceptional. The Guard Jaeger Regiment has been very accommodating for anything we need,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jacob Teplesky, commander of the 4th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.

During the exercise, U.S. engineers and sappers conducted training on breaching, demolitions, and have learned how to use Finnish type charges they’ve never experienced before, said Teplesky

The Guard Jaeger Regiment’s primary mission is to train soldiers for urban operations. These soldiers would defend the capital as part of wartime units formed by the regiment.

“It’s very important, the cooperation between Finnish and U.S. forces. I think you will continue to see, as we continue to expand these exercises, throughout the summer as … we move from squad and platoon level, to a battalion command post exercise, we fly our unmanned aerial systems and we shoot a mechanized gunnery,” said Teplesky.

The 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division is among other units assigned to the 1st Infantry Division, proudly working alongside regional security partners to provide combat-credible forces to V Corps, America’s forward deployed corps in Europe.

SPC Hassani Ribera Soto

SureFire Field Notes Ep. 71: Precision Rifle Tripod Techniques with Sean Murphy

Friday, July 8th, 2022

In this episode, Sean Murphy of Nightforce Optics discusses several ways to utilize a tripod in precision rifle shooting.

Sean Murphy is the Training Manager for Nightforce Optics and highly successful competitive shooter. Starting with an interest in firearms from a young age, Sean has been shooting competitively since 2006 and has worked in the firearms industry since 2011. He has experience with pistols, carbines and rifles; competing and training in many different shooting sports across the United States.

www.nightforceoptics.com

www.surefire.com