Page 7 - The Dispatch August 2019

TEXAS MILITARY DEPARTMENT

Soldiers of the Texas Army National Guard's 36th Infantry Division perform a hasty relocation of their headquarters during a Warfighter
exercise, June 8, 2019. The Division's Headquarters and Headquarters Company traveled to Fort Indiantown Gap to participate in War-
fighter 19-05, a war simulation designed to test command staff and their sections in critical decisions-making processes and communi-
cations. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Suzanne Ringle)

“You get to understand and visualize how the different
Warfighter functions integrate with each other to get the
job done,” Cherian said.

Cherian shared a new experience she had during the ex-
ercise, when a senior leader asked her how she thought
a course of action would impact the fight. Though she be-
lieved she knew the correct answer, she still experienced a
moment of doubt because prior to that moment, it was an
experience she had never had.

“Doctrinally, if we are assuming they’re going to use a
non-persistent chemical agent, then the forces should
move in now, toward the objective, while the weather is
at our advantage,” she responded.

Later, she sighed a breath of relief as she double-checked
the doctrinal answer. She answered correctly and now
feels more confident than ever in her role.

“Getting tested like this builds my confidence because it
confirms that my knowledge held up when it all comes to-
gether,” Cherian said.

Mintz explained that learning from failure is a significant Maj. Gen. Patrick Hamilton, the 36th Infantry Division’s
part of Warfighter. commanding general, said that although the unit’s perfor-
mance during Warfighter was by no means perfect, it far
“This is not about turning in an A-plus answer on day one,” exceeded expectations.
Mintz said. “You’re going to show up. You’re going to get it
wrong. You’re going to have to fix it.” “I couldn’t be more proud of the progress we’ve made as
a staff,” Hamilton said. “Our evaluators have told me that
“The enemy’s going to punch you in the mouth and you’ve we’ve accomplished some things that other divisions hav-
just got to keep getting up and getting after it,” Mintz said. en’t been able to. That’s because of hard work and prepa-
“If they approach it with that attitude and are willing to ration.”
learn from their mistakes every day, they’ll be on their way
to a successful event.” Hamilton said the division’s success at Warfighter is worthy
of its proud historical legacy.

“Commanding the 36th Infantry Division, because of its his-
toric lineage in combat in World War I, in World War II and
in Iraq and Afghanistan, we have big shoes to fill,” Hamil-
ton said. “The Soldiers of the 36th Infantry Division here
are absolutely stepping up and are ready to conduct op-
erations wherever our nation calls us to go. I could not be
more proud of the patriotic service, the competence, ded-
ication and the effort of the Soldiers in this division.” -D

Soldiers of the Texas Army National Guard's 36th Infantry Division participate in Warfighter exercises June 8, 2019. The Division's Head-
quarters and Headquarters Company traveled to Fort Indiantown Gap to participate in Warfighter 19-05, a war simulation designed
to test command staff and their sections in critical decisions-making processes and communications. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class
Suzanne Ringle)