Cavalry Scouts at the Joint Readiness Training Center

The impact of the National Training Center (NTC) at Fort Irwin, California. on the U. S. Army is obvious. Tank and mechanized infantry units fight bctter because they now train to fight. With the expanding role and size of the light forces, the need for a "Light Training Center" became obvious. Accordingly, the Army created the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) on 27 February 1987 at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas. Though it is anew organization, the results have been extremely positive. The post covers a total of 50,UOO acres, mostly heavy brush, marsh and woods. Some scenarios call for all or portions of the exercises to take place in othcr locations. Mission The JRTC mission is to provide an advanced level of unit training for

/, Fig. 1 Air Force and Army active and reserve component contingency forces in deployment and tactical operations under anticipated conditions of low- to mid-intensity combat. The training includes the execution of sustained collective tasks under conditions beyond those normally possible at unit home stations. The mission of the Opposing Force (OPFOR) is to provide rotational training units with a highly-trained aggressor force that employs Threat tactics and is capable of operating at several levels of combat, from insurgent forces to mid-intcnsity mechanized units. In common with the rest of the Army, the JRTC has sulfercd from severe manpower restraints. Because of these restrictions, someone who could perform in a dual role as both alight infantryman and a tanker was needed. The desired mix of 1 IB and 1OE skills resulted in the selection of 1YDs for the job. 19D suitability for the job was evident when it became clear that small unit initiative and leadership was going to be a key ingredient for success. The cavalry scout is ideally suited for any mission that requires this mix. The organization o l the JRTC is shown in Fig. 1. Equipment The is equipped like the NTC OPFOR. with OPFOR uniform shirt, insignia. and beret. (One difference is BDU pants, because of the greater need for pocket space.) The OPFOR is armed with the M16A1 rifle, M60 machine gun and the M249 SAW, 20 ARMOR - though AK47s may soon replace the M16s. For mid-intensity battles, the M551 Sheridan armored reconnaissance airborne assault vehicle (ARAAV) is visually modified to resemble the T-62 tank. M113 armored personnel carriers resemble BMPs. Though most OPFOR artillery is notional, plastic tubes and plastic rounds represent 82-mni mortars. Stingers represent Grails, and a further M551 is visually modified to appear as a ZSU 23/4. For the low-intensity phase, jungle hats are worn with the MILES halo fastened on them. This allows for definite target recognition between forces, even in the heat of simulated combat. Plastic OPFOR helmets are used during the mid-intensity phase. Troops integrated all of this equipment during the train-up period for the lirst rotation in October 1987. Training Training for the first force-on-force exercise began in earnest in June 1987. The OPFOR spent most of June to September on terrain familiarization. The OPFOR at the NTC gives a large portion of credit for its continued successes against rotational units to its thorough knowledge of the desert terrain. Every cavalry scout at.lRTC walked his terrain countless times, by night as well as by day. The unit also spent an enormous amount of time conducting MILES gunnery with small arms and tank weapons systems. Extensive use was made of the Small Arms Alignment Fixture (SAAF), Mobile Conduct of Fire Trainer ( M C O n ), and rifle ranges. MSS1 Sheridan maintenance and training was constant. After each training period, drivers and mechanics gained valuable hands-on experience, and the OR rates for the vehicles stabilized in the high 80s or low 90s. The training was physically tough, including long-range marches, obstacle courses, and numerous field exercises in the sweltering summer heat. Temperatures topped IOU degrees. with humidity in the upper 90s. Heat in,jury training was a vital necessity. With the coming or winter, cold weather training became just as important. January temperatures of 15 degrees or below are not uncommon in the area, and are often backed up by 15- 30-knot winds. In a tactical environment, the buddy system \vas constantly reinforced. Additionally, (he 19D training included the JRTC-OPFOR weapon of choice, the hooby trap. Troops trained on numerous types of booby traps, including L6OO simulatcd booby traps, L602 simulated Ilashcs, and L495, surface trip flares. Excellent results during operations came from this intensive training. The inability of the average soldier to resist picking up magazines clepict-ing the female body in various positions of repose led to many casualties. Naturally, these magazines (only the covers were used lor military purposes) were attached to trip wires. Scenario On a fictitious island called Atlan-tica. the US.-backed Cortinians fight the Soviet surrogate Atlan-ticans. The Cortinians ask for U. S. military assistance. which is granted in the form of a U. S. light infantry task force. Each scenario is esldb-lished around the rotational unit's mission essential task list. This, in turn, forces the OPFOR to remain flexible. Certain units land at nearby Fort Smith airport and march into the exercise area, while others jump into Arrowhead DZ. Upon completion of the low-intensity phase of operations (usually five days), the Blue Force unit has 48 hours to prepare a defcnse capable of stopping a motorized rifle battalion. The MRB attack is the major battle of the niid-intensity phase. Several smaller hattles with smaller tank and/or motorized forces take place at the end of the training rotation, with the OPFOR in a dcfcn-sive posture. Rotations Seven force-on-force rotations were scheduled rkr FY 88 and a similar numhcr for FY 89. Each exercise liWs 11 days. Thc plan calls for light infantry units from CONUS to dcploy to Fort Chaffce and the JRTC in the same way that heavier units deploy to the NTC. At this time, units from Forts Sill, Brag, Drum, Ord, and Benning have rotated through the JRTC. Future rotations include the remainder of the active duty light units, as well as some National Guard/Reservc light units. The Joint Readiness Training Center is here to stay. Whether its impact on light units will he as great as the NTC'son heavy units remains to be seen. What we can see, however, is the important role the cavalry scout has in alight environment, and the caliher of the job the 19Ds are performing. Captain Alan R. Horn is the commander of Tank Co, 1/50!3th Parachute Infantry Regiment (OPFOR), JRTC. Previously, he had served in Germany as a fire support team chief, fire support officer and battalion S2. He transferred from field artillery and attended AOAC and was assigned to the NTC, where he served as assistant S3, S1, B Co. commander, and as 1-73 AR/2d Motorized Rifle Battalion commander. E- 27 I