Email   Print   Share By Sgt. Quentin Johnson, 2nd BCT, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs

Facebook Digg Delicious August 16, 2012 | News

Capt. Adam Bradford (right), commander of Forward Support Troop D, 4-9 Cav. Regt., 2nd BCT, 1st Cav. Div., and an Air Force air mobility officer, check the wind speed before an air drop at Fort Polk, La., July 20. Black Jack Brigade Soldiers supported training at JRTC from June 23-July 28. Courtesy photo

FORT POLK, La. - Soldiers throughout the 2nd “Black Jack” Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, supported Joint Readiness Training Center exercises here from June 23-July 28.

Approximately 605 Black Jack Soldiers supported members of the 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky., as the brigade completed their rotation through JRTC, said Capt. Will Hoover, an assistant operations officer for 4th “Dark Horse” Squadron, 9th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd BCT, 1st Cav. Div.

Black Jack Soldiers were assigned to the Exercise Support Group during the rotation and assumed key roles including: Observer coach trainers, medical support, Afghan Uniform Police, Afghan National Army members and exercise operations support, Hoover said.

As part of their roles, Black Jack Soldiers took part in a two-day preparation course before being assigned as an augmentation to their counterparts within the 1-101st, Hoover added.

“Our (Black Jack) Soldiers were paired off with members of the rotational brigade, not by rank, but where our Soldiers could best utilize their technical ability to help create a successful rotation,” Hoover said.

Capt. Tyson Friar was an observer/controller who utilized his technical ability as a Dark Horse assistant operations officer to help train troops in one of the company’s tactical operations command.

“I helped ensure that TOC operations went smoothly. Any issues that arose during the rotational units training, I helped solve them,” Friar said. As the unit worked through their challenges, Friar discovered some of his own and worked through them.

“There were times the unit would be taking on a challenge and I would want to step in to help,” he said. “However, I knew my boundaries. Supporting them was more important than do the work for them.”