Capt. Brady Cowan watches an infantry platoon entering the compound via the new IBACS system on range 118 of the Grafenwoehr Training Area. (U.S. Army photos by SPC. Audrey Glynn, 2SCR/PAO)
2d Stryker Cavalry Regiment
Public Affairs Office
Vilseck, Germany
Grafenwohr, Germany – It’s a cold gray Bavarian winter morning as the Cougars from 2d Squadron of the 2d Stryker Cavalry roll down the road toward their objective. The convoy slows to a halt near a three-building walled compound suspected of harboring a high-value target.
The Troopers dismount their vehicles and slowly make their way to the outside perimeter wall. After securing the perimeter, the team locates an entry point and clears the way with an explosive charge.
The Cougars pounce on each building clearing them room by room.
This scenario was part of a two-week-long live fire exercise conducted by the Squadron in preparation for their upcoming deployment to Afghanistan. While this was standard training for the Cougars, this exercise allowed them the opportunity to use the newly constructed Interim Battle Area Complex System recently installed on Range 118 of the Joint Multinational Training Command’s Grafenwoehr Training Area.
According to Capt. Brady Cowan, Assistant Operations Officer for the exercise, the unit employed two separate systems to gauge their performance.
“We are utilizing two systems for this exercise,” he said. “The first is essentially a global positioning harness worn by the Soldiers called DISE.”
The Deployable Instrumentation Systems Europe or DISE is a local system that allows a Soldier to be tracked as he or she operates within the training scenario. Trainers known as Observer/Controllers can monitor the actions of each Trooper allowing them to evaluate each Soldier’s strengths and weaknesses.
“Complimenting that system is the IBACS,” Cowan said. “This is a series of cameras all over the battlefields.”
“With this, the Observer/Controllers are able to review the tape and pick out areas they want to highlight during their after action report.”
The IBACS system is a series of cameras located throughout the MOUT site which allows technicians to record virtually every aspect of the exercise.
“These systems allow each platoon to see how they did both good and bad,” Cowan explained, “and build on improvements for the future.”
The IBACS was just a small portion of the training being conducted by the Cougars during this exercise. Every aspect of the Squadron was involved as the Cougars conducted Platoon live fire, mortar calibration and Stryker Gunnery exercises.
Cougar Troopers stack up in preparation to enter a compound during a live-fire exercise at range 118 of the Grafenwoehr Training Area.
A 2/2SCR Soldier rummages through a dresser looking for possible intelligence material during a live-fire exercise held on range 118 of the Grafenwoehr Training Area.
