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It’s Soldier First, Signalier Always
By 1st Lt. Michael P. Crilley
261st Signal Brigade Public Affairs Officer
Photos By Sgt. James Pernol
261st Signal Brigade Public Affairs NCO
About 100 members of the 261st Signal Brigade Headquarters Company recently spent a week training on warrior tasks at the Bethany Beach Training Site.
While the 261st’s primary mission is building and maintaining communication grids, the week’s training was more fundamental. “We have an outstanding group of soldiers in our unit,” said brigade commander, Brig. Gen. Henry McCann. “They are all extremely well trained in their respective signal specialties, but this week they are getting some intense training in basic soldier skills.” The training included movement to contact while mounted and dismounted, hand-to-hand combat, casualty evaluation and field first aid.
The training was in preparation for a possible deployment to Iraq later this year. The 261st received an alert order earlier this month. With the new 12-month deployment policy, the unit needs to complete specific pre-mobilization training tasks before arriving at their assigned mobilization station.
At Bethany Beach, every soldier in the unit trained on every task, from privates fresh out of boot camp up to the commanding general. Officer and enlisted personnel trained side by side, and during the training rank was forgotten.
“It gets boring sometimes working with the same people all the time, so it’s a nice change,” said Pfc. Charles Ford of Smyrna, who has only been with 261st since April. “It’s challenging working together with new people, but it’s good training. The older sergeants and officers know a lot, and it’s good to be able to pick their brains. You come away from it a better soldier.”
The brigade will continue their deployment preparation with another week of warrior task training in April.
“I love training in the field,” Ford exclaimed, “I like my personnel job, but sitting in front of a computer for eight hours is nothing like this!”
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| Soldier prepares to throw a training grenade at Bethany Beach Training Site’s hand grenade range. In addition to their communications skills, all members of the 261st must maintain proficiency with 40 “Warrior Tasks.” |
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| Soldiers of the 261st practice movement down a hallway during their training at Bethany Beach. The training included movement to contact while mounted and dismounted, hand-to-hand combat, casualty evaluation and field first aid. |
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| Master Sgt. Wayne Simmons, motor sergeant for the 261st, gives a class to the entire brigade on the ins and outs of the M1114 “up-armored” HMMWV that they may have to drive while deployed. |
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