Page 4 - The Dispatch August 2019

TEXAS MILITARY DEPARTMENT
FROM THE TOP

COMMENTARIES FROM TEXAS MILITARY DEPARTMENT LEADERS

ANNUAL TRAINING IS

A CHANCE FOR THE

GUARD TO SHINE

LT. COL. DAVID BURGER
36TH INFANTRY DIVISION G3

This annual training season continued to show the very part of a Joint Global Medic Exercise at Ft. McCoy, Wis-
high OPTEMPO of the 36th Infantry Division. Traditional consin. During this same time, members of the 36th ID
AT was conducted this year across the state, utilizing both formation spent time at TALON STRIKE, hosted by the 71st
state and federal training facilities. State training areas at EMIB, giving military intelligence Soldiers the ability to get
Fort Wolters, Camp Maxey, Camp Swift, Camp Bowie and hands-on lane training.
Camp Mabry all saw Arrowhead Soldiers training on indi-
vidual warrior tasks to mission-specific collective training. Finally, AT is never complete without sending Arrowhead
This was just the beginning. Warriors overseas to conduct training. Not including the
eight events that T-Patchers conducted with our state
The 36th ID showed why it is one of the best-trained di- partners, Chile and the Czech Republic, the 36th Infan-
visions in the entire National Guard by conducting major try Division sent Soldiers to attend the Chilean Mountain
collective training at the Army’s premier training facili- School, and the 143rd Infantry Regiment conducted air-
ties. The division conducted a Warfighter exercise, where borne operations with the 173rd Airborne Brigade in Eu-
it was in charge of more than 2,000 Soldiers from seven rope. During this annual training period, the “T” inside the
different states. This simulation against a near peer ene- arrowhead patch definitely stood for “training.” The 36th
my demonstrated that the 36th ID is ready to receive its ID stands “Always Ready”, “In Spite of Hell.”
mission overseas in our changing threat environment and
validated its ability to have mission command over down- Annual Training is not only a time where commanders can
trace units in an upcoming deployment. assess their formations for warrior skills, but it is also a
time where they can evaluate the overall health of their
Other notable collective training events that happened Soldiers. This includes personal and professional issues
during annual training 2019 were National Training Cen- ranging from administrative to health and welfare. It is at
ter rotations at Ft. Irwin, California, conducted by 1836 AT where a command team can get a real gauge of its com-
Transportation Co., 840th MAC and the 1-149th Attack Re- mand climate and understand the challenges that face
connaissance Battalion. NTC challenges units in a decisive their Soldiers in the ranks. Command teams can challenge
action environment, which allows them to show how well themselves at annual training to identify the uniqueness
prepared they are for combat. 428 T-Patchers of the 56th of each Soldier and utilize that to increase retention. In
Infantry Brigade Combat Team spent their AT in Louisiana the end, after all the great training, it is a time where Com-
at the Joint Readiness Training Center in Ft. Polk. Here, the manders and first-line supervisors can thank Soldiers and
Arrowhead Soldiers conducted the mission as opposing families for their service, time, commitment and a job well
forces, helping the Army validate and certify other units. done.

The 111th Multifunctional Medical Battalion was busy as - DUTY, HONOR, TEXAS -
well, and 140 of its Soldiers spent the summer training as

4 TheDISPATCH August 2019