Written by Staff Sgt. Terrance D. Rhodes
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (AA) Public Affairs
Fort Campbell, KY – Strike Soldiers from 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, conducted combined arms live-fire exercises, June 1st-11th, as part of the brigade’s Eagle Flight II field exercise at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
“Eagle Flight II is used to train and certified infantry platoon by training during day and night operations and situational exercises,” Maj. Dennis Maher, the operational officer with, 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 2nd BCT, 101st Abn. Div.
Eagle Flight II consist of a combine arms live-fire exercise that is designed to prepare and develop platoon level leadership and soldiers in field planning, utilizing dismounted tactical movement in support of a platoon ground tactical plan to attack a specific objective.
“The dismounted element took the objective and got through the process of establishing a defensive perimeter,” added Maher, an El Paso, Texas, native.
One of the platoon’s objective was to attack a compound building that was identify as harboring enemy combative.
“The platoon attack accomplished the objective of clearing and searching a building,” added Maher.
After searching enemy personnel, the platoon then discover more information that lead to the capture of the high value target they were looking for.
Strike Soldiers were tested throughout the combined arms live-fire exercise.
“The training is designed to be tough and realistic,” Maher said.
“Our Soldiers had minimal sleep and food because we wanted to test their physical and mental fitness.”
In preparation for a Joint Readiness Training Center rotation later this year, the Soldiers participating understood the importance of this type of exercise on continuous readiness for any future rendezvous with destiny.
“This is my first time going through Eagle Flight II training and it’s the hardest training I’ve ever had,” said Pvt. Greg Manns, a saw gunner with C Company, 2nd Bn., 502nd Inf. Regt., 2nd BCT.
“Overall, the training was great.”
This kind of training helps Soldiers develop the tools and build confidence to accomplish any mission.
“The ability to continue fighting on the objectives under stressful conditions and still accomplish the mission helps push our Soldiers past their own preconceived limitation,” Maher said.
“Training this demanding proves that as a team, they can do whatever is asked of them.”
