Oregon Army Guard unit plans Calif. combat training

The 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the Oregon Army National Guard is scheduled to conduct a large-scale training exercise, July 21-August 12, at Camp Roberts and Fort Hunter Liggett, California. The 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team is scheduled to conduct convoy operations to California to participate in this training.

The exercise is an instrumented brigade field training exercise known as eXportable Combat Training Capability (XCTC) designed to certify platoon proficiency across the brigade in coordination with First Army. The XCTC program brings full training resource packages to National Guard and active duty bases around the country, allowing units to train on their schedule, closer to home, minimizing cost and time away from civilian jobs.

The training exercise prepares the brigade for supporting federal mobilizations. Units will be exercising tactical, operational, communications, and decision-making skills while focusing on problem analysis.

“This exercise keeps our units trained and ready for federal missions and builds upon the brigade’s training from last year’s Warfighter Exercise,” said Col. Eric Riley, commander of the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team. “Improving our Soldiers’ skills, relationships and communications within our units is the ultimate goal of this event.”

There are approximately 3,000 personnel with more than 10 units from multiple states and other supporting elements scheduled to participate:
— Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 41st IBCT, Oregon
— 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, Oregon
— 1st Battalion, 200th Infantry Regiment, New Mexico
— 1st Squadron, 303rd Cavalry Regiment, Washington
— 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry Regiment, Oregon
— 2nd Battalion, 218th Field Artillery Regiment, Oregon
— 741st Brigade Engineer Battalion, Oregon
— 141st Brigade Support Battalion, Oregon
— 189th Combined Arms Training Brigade (CATB), Washington
— 1st Assault Helicopter Battalion, 140th Aviation Regiment, California

“It will improve our ability to work in a realistic joint training environment while building key relationships not only here in Oregon, but across multiple units throughout the region,” said Riley. “The 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team has a long history of success and this exercise will assist in advancing and strengthening that record.”