No Result
View All Result
Reserve & National Guard
SUBSCRIBE FREE
No Result
View All Result
Reserve & National Guard
SUBSCRIBE FREE
Reserve & National Guard

Kentucky Army National Guard soldiers complete fire phobia training in Germany

AmeriForce Exclusive
by AmeriForce Exclusive
February 15, 2022
fire phobia

A U.S. Army Soldier assigned to Kentucky National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 149th Infantry Brigade, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 29th Infantry Division, reacts to a Molotov cocktail while undergoing fire phobia training at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center, Hohenfels, Germany, Feb. 11, 2022. Photo by Sgt. Marla Ogden

HOHENFELS, Germany – Soldiers assigned to Kentucky Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 149th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 29th Infantry Division, reacted to improvised incendiary weapons during a multinational fire phobia training event at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, Feb. 11, 2022.

The training, hosted by members of the Slovenian military, involved reacting to Molotov cocktails and simulated rioting during a mission rehearsal exercise, or MRE, prior to the 1-149th Inf. Bn.’s deployment to the Balkan region.

The Slovenian military familiarized the Kentucky soldiers with tactics and techniques to respond to riots and civil unrest, should they encounter such a situation while deployed.

“The purpose of the training is to help better prepare our soldiers in the event that any type of flammable material is deployed against us in a crowd control setting,” said Sgt. Matthew Joseph, an infantryman assigned to Charlie Company, 1-149th Inf. Bn.

The fire phobia training is designed to equip soldiers with the skills and confidence needed to maintain order and carry out their mission.

RELATED: Global Strike Challenge names ‘best of the best’ from hundreds of competitors

“The most challenging aspect of the training was overcoming the initial fear,” Joseph said, but that the Slovenian trainers were helpful in mitigating their anxiety.

The trainers stressed the importance of the defensive stance by assisting and adjusting soldiers to ensure proper positioning.

“Being able to realize that you have gear and equipment that can help sustain you from those types of threats and learning how to use it properly, along with the techniques that the Slovenians taught us, was valuable,” Joseph said.

Spc. Daniel Sparks, an infantryman assigned to Charlie Company, 1-149 Inf. Bn., also expressed that having faith in the trainers, as well as the equipment, got him through the training successfully.

“Your equipment works and you do what they tell you and everything turns out right,” Sparks said.

For Sparks, training alongside the partner nations added to the exercise.

“It’s really cool, and I like learning techniques that they use that are different from ours,” he added.

Joseph, who, like many of the soldiers, has never had an incendiary object thrown at him before, said the training will be valuable during their upcoming deployment.

“I came out with a better understanding of how to deal with that threat,” he said.

Sparks said now that they’ve completed the training, he feels more confident and equipped to handle such events.

“In the event of a worst case scenario and you’re actually in a situation where you need to know these techniques, we’ve now got the repetitions in and know what to do,” he said.

For Joseph, his favorite part of the training was the throwing of Molotov cocktails.

“I really enjoyed the training, and I think everyone else did as well,” said Joseph. “I think this really builds cohesion within the unit when we do these types of training events.”

Sparks said that he’s looking forward to continuing building unit cohesion and working alongside NATO partner nations during the upcoming deployment.

The citizen Soldiers of the 116th IBCT are currently in Germany training for their upcoming deployment to Kosovo, where they will work in conjunction with NATO partners to provide a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement for all.

This article was written by Sgt. Marla Ogden and originally appeared on DVIDS.

Read comments
Tags: Fire phobiaGermanyKentucky Army National Guardriot control training
AmeriForce Exclusive

AmeriForce Exclusive

Related Posts

Operation Deep Freeze serves as bucket-list item for Wyoming flight nurse

by Allison Churchill
1 day ago
0
Operation Deep Freeze

Last fall Capt. Daniel Porter, Wyoming Air National Guardsman, finally got the call that he would be part of Operation...

Read more

Guardsmen train with Coast Guard in Alaska

by AmeriForce Exclusive
1 week ago
0
Coast Guard

Undulating waves pitched the 2,000-ton U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Cypress like a bath toy, which was nothing unusual for the...

Read more

Northern Strike winter iteration prepares units for emerging threats

by Allison Churchill
2 weeks ago
0
Northern Strike

Northern Strike 23-1 will be held this month, bringing together guardsmen, active-duty service members and Latvian National Armed Forces.

Read more

The Hooligans’ Way: Air National Guard’s 119th Wing receives Air Force’s ‘outstanding unit’ award 23 times

by Bianca Strzalkowski
2 months ago
0
Hooligan

North Dakota airmen have produced the outstanding unit of the year 23 times. The 119th Wing attributes success to the...

Read more

Hawaii guardsmen participate in bilateral exercise with Royal Australian Air Force

by AmeriForce Exclusive
3 months ago
0
Hawaii

Hawaii Air National Guard service members are participating in a bilateral training exercise with the Royal Australian Air Force.

Read more

New era for Sinai Peninsula peacekeeping mission begins

by Allison Churchill
3 months ago
0
Sinai Peninsula

South Carolina and Alabama guardsmen became the first to provide aviation support to the peacekeeping mission at the Sinai peninsula.

Read more

Ads

Let's get social

The RNG Drill

News delivered directly to your inbox

Let's connect!

ABOUT US

  • OUR STORY
  • OUR TEAM
  • OUR WRITERS

MAGAZINE

  • GET PRINT
  • GET DIGITAL
  • GET THE NEWSLETTER

GET RESOURCES

  • VETERANS TOOLKIT

ADVERTISE

  • GET OUR MEDIA KIT
  • PUBLISHER’S STATEMENT

SUBMISSIONS

  • PITCH US
  • SUBMIT YOUR STORY

Never miss out on the latest stories.

© 2021 Reserve & National Guard by AmeriForce. Privacy Policy | Terms | Site by Swiss Commerce

Thank you for your interest in The Reserve & National Guard Magazine!

Thank you for your interest in The Reserve & National Guard Magazine!

No Result
View All Result
  • NEWS
  • YOUR CAREER
    • UNIT TRAINING
    • DEPLOYMENT
    • PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
    • RECRUITING & RETENTION
    • ENTREPRENEUR
    • TRANSITION
  • EDUCATION
  • MILITARY LIFE
    • MILITARY SPOUSES
    • MILITARY KIDS
    • PARENTING
  • OFF DUTY
    • ENTERTAINMENT
    • TRAVEL
  • HEALTH
    • FITNESS
    • MEDICINE
    • MENTAL HEALTH
  • OPINION
  • HISTORY
  • MONEY
    • PERSONAL FINANCE
    • BENEFITS
  • GET THE MAGAZINE
    • PRINT MAGAZINES
    • DIGITAL MAGAZINES
    • GET THE NEWSLETTER
  • RESOURCES
    • VETERANS TOOLKIT
  • ABOUT US
    • MEET OUR TEAM
    • OUR AUTHORS
    • ADVERTISE WITH US
    • SUBMIT YOUR STORY
    • PITCH US
    • CONTACT

© 2022 Reserve & National Guard by AmeriForce. Site by SCBW