Page 12 - The Dispatch August 2019

TEXAS MILITARY DEPARTMENT

Doubling down for Talon Strike

Story & Photos By: Capt. Maria Mengrone The two-week event narrows down military intelligence
71st EMIB Public Affairs Officer specialties included in each unit’s Mission Essential Task
List, which is used by the U.S. Army to determine each or-
SAN ANTONIO – Guardsmen from Texas, Maryland and ganization’s collective training readiness level.
California launched intense planning and preparation ses-
sions to kick off Talon Strike 2019, a two-week training Training lanes will have observer/controller-trainers on-
event, scheduled July 27 to Aug. 10, 2019, at Camp Bullis hand to serve as the subject matter experts on U.S. Army
in San Antonio. doctrine and warfighting functions to facilitate successful
completion of each lane.
The event is expected to draw in approximately 500 mil-
itary intelligence and support staff Soldiers. Talon Strike "The teams on each lane will be evaluated by OC/Ts us-
2019 is designed to test and improve the knowledge and ing a checklist, and at the end of every day, the OC/Ts will
skills of military intelligence Soldiers in five separate train- conduct an after-action review. This allows the teams to
ing lanes to include: interrogation, human intelligence, get feedback on identified items they could improve on
military source operation, signal intelligence and a com- prior to the next training day," said Maj. Elizabeth Ramirez,
mand post exercise lane. intelligence officer, 71st EMIB.

“Our priority is to ensure we are ready for Talon Strike Talon Strike 2019, already poised to double in size and
2019. We are focused on ensuring our Soldiers from Mary- complexity from the previous year, will include a command
land, California and Texas receive realistic training and are post exercise lane implemented through the Mission Com-
ready to employ their training and skills for the challenges mand Training Support Program of Fort Indiantown Gap,
we have planned during this exercise,” said Col. Michael Pennsylvania. For Guardsmen of the 58th Expeditionary
J. Liesmann, brigade commander, 71st Expeditionary Mili- Military Intelligence Brigade of the Maryland Army Na-
tary Intelligence Brigade tional Guard.

12 TheDISPATCH August 2019