SSG Timothy Sterk, 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry Regiment, Michigan National Guard, directs members of his squad as well as Danish counterparts as they set up a defensive perimeter after completing an objective during the large scale Danish led NATO exercise in Jutland Denmark, June 4, 2016. (Michigan National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Thomas Vega/Released)
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Story written by Staff Sgt. Thomas Vega, 126th Press Camp
JAEGERPRIS, Denmark -- Members of the Michigan Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry Regiment, recently conducted live fire, squad level movement training during their training mission in Denmark. Soldiers were instructed on Danish infantry techniques for moving as a squad, target engagement, and several different fighting position defenses.
“Fighting from a trench position is a real challenge because you have to stand up and instantly find and engage your targets. We took the time to sketch our tables of fire so everyone on the line knew what section of the field they were responsible for covering. I really learned a lot and enjoyed this training portion,” said Spc. Kenneth Cockrel, an infantryman with the 1-125th.
During the live fire event, Soldiers conducted squad maneuvers through the Danish forest, occupied entrenched positions, and set up fighting positions to engage targets from a stone quarry. Soldiers displayed their squad’s ability to move swiftly into different positions, occupy different types of positions and defend different positions.
“I like to take the time with my guys to make sure they really understand their roles and tables of fire when we do events like these. Every member of my team sketched a sector of fire so they understood what section of the field they were responsible for defending which really benefitted us when we were defending the positions in the trenches,” said Sgt. Dale Blackmer, an infantry team leader with the Saginaw-based 1-125th.
Following the individual marksmanship and squad level, live fire training sessions, members of the 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry Regiment, will participate alongside their Danish counterparts in a large scale NATO exercise being held in Northern Jutland, Denmark.
More information on this training session and others the 1-125th Soldiers are experiencing in Denmark will be posted on the Michigan National Guard website, www.minationalguard.com.