Return
to the "POINTER VIEW"July 19, 2002
Return
to the "POINTER VIEW"
July
19, 2002
Soldiers from Fort Campbell provide mission training during cadet summer training
Story and photos by Jim Fox
Staff Writer
The mission of training cadets this summer fell to the Battle Force, that is Task Force 3-327, which is made up of primarily units from the 3rd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), from Fort Campbell, Ky.
The summer task force camps at Camp Natural Bridge from June until mid-August is the basis around which cadet summer training revolves.
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| Mountaineering Committee members Cpl. Brian Pettigrew (left) and Spc. Ryan McGrath prepare to proof the 75' lanes before cadets began rappeling. |
About 600 of the 1,000 soldiers that make up the Task Force are members of the 3-327th. The rest of the task force consists of division and corps level support units from Fort Campbell (A and C Battery, 2-320th Field Artillery, 101st Abn. Div. (AAslt.), Alpha Company, 326th Engineer Bn., 101st Abn. Div. (AAslt.), 3rd platoon, 63rd Chemical Company, 101st Abn. Div. (AAslt.) as well as from Fort Polk, La. (1st Platoon, 814th Multi-Role Bridge Company and the 565th Ground Ambulance Company) and Fort Hood, Texas (549th Area Support Medical Company).
Task Force commander Lt. Col. Edmund Palekas, the 3-327th Battalion commander, said his battalion makes up the infantry base of the task force. "We also have light engineers, transportation, medical and field artillery assets."
He added that the summer task force includes all the organic equipment to a light infantry battalion, plus bridging assets, 105mm howitzers, field litter ambulances and light trucks.
"Our mission is to train cadets in basic military tasks in order to develop the military skills of the Corps of Cadets," Palekas said. "My normal mission back at home station is ‘to deploy within 36 hours worldwide to engage the enemy by means of fire and maneuver to destroy or capture him, or to repel his assault by fire, close combat and counterattack.’"
Palekas said that though his unit’s mission here is to assist the academy in training cadets his soldiers also have the opportunity to focus on their basic skills. All infantry soldiers must master and prepare for the Expert Infantryman’s Badge test that they will take upon returning to Kentucky.
"We have the opportunity to train basic battle drills at the squad level," Palekas said. "All of these are the foundation to our combat readiness."
An added plus is the interaction his soldiers get with the next generation of officers.
"We are also able to participate in what we call adventure training, such as mountaineering and Recondo, alongside the cadets," he said.
One of the best things Hand Grenade Committee member Cpl. Kenneth Rose said he got from being here is the chance to hone his skills by teaching others.
"There is a lot of information to retain," the Delta Company, 3-327th member said. "It’s good for anyone young or old to brush up on basic skills. The best way to learn is by teaching others."
