Photo(s) by Pfc. Sean Kimmons
A Soldier points out an enemy target to a member of his squad during a simulated attack at the KR5 training area on Schofield Barracks.
Soldiers run toward the objective.
By Pfc. Sean Kimmons
The sound of artillery, the spray of ammunition and shouting of Soldiers roared through the KR5 training area during platoon collective training performed by 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment with support from 2nd Battalion, 7th Field Artillery, March 8 on Schofield Barracks.
"This training will be the last collective training before [our next] mission," said Capt. Kenneth Smith, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Bn., 27th Inf. Rgt., assistant training officer.
To get to the objective of the platoon training exercise, Soldiers had to make their way through enemy lookout points and breach their way through brush. Once there, leaders would decide on an attack plan. With the attack plan finalized and fire support behind them, Soldiers crawled into the enemy territory and attacked using hand grenades, claymores, M4 rifles, AT4 rocket launchers and M240 machine guns.
"This training was difficult because of all of the weapons used," said Smith. "It really tested the skills of the Soldiers."
Each platoon from companies A, B and C executed the training for a minimum of four rotations. The rotations included, dry and live fire missions, both during day and night.
"This training will make Soldiers more effective at the skills they need to know," said Lt. Col. Billy J. Buckner, 1st Bn., 27th Inf. Rgt., commander. "It also gives platoon leaders a chance to plan and employ fire support."
The three elements involved in the training, included assault, breach and support by fire. The assault and breach elements attacked the objective, while the support element suppressed the objective for the other two elements.
The most important thing about the training was the after action reviews at the end of every rotation, in which, Soldiers would talk about what went right and wrong in the missions, Buckner says.