3ID Heads to Fort Irwin NTC for Pre-Deployment Training

3ID Heads to Fort Irwin NTC for Pre-Deployment Training

Reported By RET B.Lambert March 12, 2021

Alpha Company Commander Major John LaFlash said, “We’ll be going into pre-deployment mobilization at Fort Irwin to go through our checklist before we deploy. It’s going to be a little bit different in terms of terrain, being Africa, and our enemy is going to be brutal to us at times.”

First Platoon “Widowmakers” can expect rigorous field training on patrolling in rural and urban terrain, establishing checkpoints, conducting assaults, close quarters battle, and more. The Infantry Brigade Combat Team's Aviation Detachment, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, will train and operate in conjunction with ground elements to support overall mission success.

Although insurgents in the African Sahel have used tactics similar to those employed in the Middle East, the differences in local terrain, culture, and economy are stark. Alpha Company Headquarters will work closely at the National Training Center to ensure Soldiers have an immersive training experience.

At the conclusion of the month-long mobilization, the fighting men and women of the 3rd Infantry Division will deploy to Niger in support of counterinsurgency efforts surrounding Agadez Airbase. Unit Command is confident Soldiers will be ready to get the job done when they hit the ground.

Publisher: Sergeant First Class Christoph Brock, Journalist