On January 13, the U.S. Army’s 1st Cavalry Division began conducting the Combined Arms Live Fire Exercise (CALFEX) at Fort Cavazos, Texas, with the goal of training its personnel for upcoming missions. As part of the exercise, mortar teams, Abrams tanks, and Apache helicopters were deployed among a wide range of assets involved.
Regarding the event, Sergeant First Class Dominic Butler, assigned to the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, stated: “The purpose of today’s event is to integrate armor, mechanized infantry, light infantry, dismounted engineers and aviation assets to ensure we are able to conduct more fighting functions as a brigade armored combat team.”
Meanwhile, Captain Christopher Kellier, assigned to the 3rd Battalion, added: “We’re an armored brigade, we have the Abrams tanks, the Bradleys, we have Paladins and a whole bunch of sustainers, which are essential fighting vehicles.”
Following the exercise, personnel of the 1st Cavalry Division will receive an evaluation of their performance in live-fire activities, focusing on strengthening standard field operational skills. Additionally, support was provided by members of the 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, which delivered both direct and indirect fire support throughout the exercise.
Delving into further details, the CALFEX included live-fire exercises with helicopters and drones, which required infantry units equipped with laser guidance systems for targeting, reportedly carried out successfully. Moreover, a wide array of refueling, ammunition, and supply operations were conducted to enhance pre-deployment procedures and cooperation between units.
Cover image: Spc. Josefina García
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