July 26, 2016  –   “He said ‘set.’ it’s your turn to move, right?”

A Cadet nods.

“My weapon’s on safe, cover me while I move!”

The Cadet rushes forward, hits the mud in the prone. Transitioning into the kneeling position he throws a grenade.

In low-visibility with a continuous drizzle, eyes and rifle muzzles are alert and down-range.
 
Cadets perform low-crawl, high-crawl, three to five-second rushes, and grenade employment on the Individual Movement Techniques (IMT) lane in Hand Grenade Assault Course Training at Christensen Range during Cadet Initial Entry Training (CIET).

The Cadre, Army Reserve Soldiers, with Company B, 1/334th Training Support Battalion, They are attached to Task Force Wolf, supporting Cadet Summer Training (CST16) at Ft. Knox, Kentucky.

Cadets attending CIET have the opportunity to work with noncommissioned officers; these Soldiers are a professional unit of instructors under the 1st Brigade, 104th Training Division (LT), from Frazier, Michigan.

“In order to train Cadets the purpose of IMT and achieve a comfort level using an M16A2 in tactical movement, the Cadre instructing needs to be proficient,” said Staff Sgt. Tyler Martin, native of Howell, Michigan and IMT operations noncommissioned officer.

Martin has been a Soldier in the Army Reserve for 15 years. He has two occupational qualifications, paralegal specialist and psychological operations. He is also an instructor.

After two combat tours supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom and one supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan he understands the need of feeling comfortable with the M16A2 5.56 semiautomatic rifle; learning safety measures, and handling the weapon proficiently during tactical movement and assault.

Martin puts emphasis on the professional aspect of training.

“Every instructor brings their unique perspective to the table in training, said Martin. “Some get caught up in portions of the exercise being performed rather than emphasize the purpose.”

All tactical movement changes with terrain and are deliberate decisions based on assaulting and neutralizing a given target.

More likely, a moving target, or targets, Martin states.

“Myself and a few Soldiers in my unit proposed a training schedule to our command in preparation for training the Cadets,” said the staff sergeant.

“Six of us used all our white space on the battle assembly training schedule for five months.”

They wrote a five-month training plan around individual movement techniques up to the squad level. Hours were spent practicing movement under fire, counter IED operations, and urban assault courses, he said.

“We used a civilian shoot house for our cumulative exercise,” Martin said smiling.

“It was awesome!”

He added they all invested their spare time practicing together and the experience was invaluable.

“There are two sides to training, Martin said. “One, is when you are in an NCO role training your lower enlisted Soldiers.”
live and work with them day-to-day, you all are preparing for your mission together.”

“Helping them grow and watching them develop is what I really take pride in, he said. “I love that aspect and my role as an NCO.”

The second aspect, is training with fellow NCOs and senior instructors in preparation for a training environment similar to ones like the U.S. Army Cadet Command, Martin said.

“We are responsible to create a good example and be the Cadets’ point of reference when they define engaged leadership.”

The Cadets will have the exposure to noncommissioned officers here and they learn what each person’s role is as they grow in their military career, Martin added.

“We are not just here to teach them about how to move under fire or how to employ a hand grenade, he said. “We are out here as representatives of the Army and the NCO corps.”

“They will know who to go to for information and know their responsibilities as a leader.”

One instructor per Cadet seems par for the course on the IMT lane.
Spc. Arturo Cervantes, of Frazier, Michigan is co-instructor on Martin’s IMT lane.

“He is an infantry Soldier recently returning from an OEF tour in Afghanistan, said Martin. “His skills in tactical movement, patrolling and assault are phenomenal.”

“He was the platoon leader and lead instructor training B Company, 1/334th Soldiers, including senior leadership, before annual training,” Martin said.

This partnering assures these future leaders’ receive proper guidance employing the M16A2 in conjunction with grenades during an assault, and also prepares them for a cumulative exercise.
 
“After mere hours with these instructors, the Cadets have shown remarkable improvement in their confidence and ability to shoot, move, and communicate while executing the assault course,” said 1st Lt. Scott R. Sinclair, B Co, 1/334th TS, 1st Brigade, 104th Training Division (LT), and officer in charge of Christensen Hand Grenade Assault Course Training at Christensen Range.

“ I am honored to serve with the professional instructors, Sinclair said. A rewarding experience to see them motivate and create the future leadership of the Army.”