03 Sep 12. US Army soldiers from 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team and 1st Armored Division conducted a company command post exercise (CPX) in preparation of the upcoming network integration Exercise (NIE) 13.1, at East Fort Bliss Mission Training Center.

Carried out from 21 to 25 August, the CPX provided the army with an opportunity to validate the Mission Training Center’s ability to support modernised brigade combat teams (BCTs) in future.

1-1 CAV operations officer major Curtis Sawyer said the MTC would help soldiers to conduct mission command operations at troop and squadron level, in addition to supporting new equipment training and new equipment fielding.

“Working at the Mission Training Center provides us an opportunity to work on processes and procedures and improve them ,while working in a controlled environment similar to tactical exercises of NIE but without the troops in the field,” Sawyer added.

“Working at the Mission Training Center provides us an opportunity to work on processes and procedures and improve them, while working in a controlled environment similar to tactical exercises of NIE but without the troops in the field.”

1-1 CAV B Troop cavalry scout specialist John Walker said the exercise trained new soldiers in equipment operation and the way to collaborative work, ensuring their readiness prior to going out to the field.

Fort Bliss’ Brigade Modernisation Command (BMC), along with Fort Leavenworth’s Mission Command Center of Excellence (MC CoE) and Fort Benning’s Maneuver Center of Excellence were testing the MTC, which is a system under evaluation (SUE), as part of the NIE process.

BMC Mission Command Complex Operations director Michael McCarthy said that the command was evaluating training results, while mentoring the soldiers and leaders, whereas MC CoE was observing the interaction of companies with the battalion and brigade level on mission command systems present at BCTs.

“Maneuver Center of Excellence is focusing on materiel, doctrine, organisation, training leadership, facilities using tactical battle commands, and flow of information,” McCarthy added.

The NIE 13.1 is scheduled to be conducted at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, US, in late 2012.

(Source: US Army/ASD Network)