071 S02 Ep 14 – Realities of Large Scale Combat Operations at the Battalion Echelon w/MAJ Edward Worman & SGT Stephanie Smith of the 2-130 IN “Blackhawks”

The Crucible - The JRTC Experience Podcast

The Joint Readiness Training Center is pleased to present the seventy-first episode to air on ‘The Crucible - The JRTC Experience.’ Hosted by the former Commander of Ops Group (COG), COL Matthew Hardman. This will be his last episode to host, but we may seem him as a guest in the future. Today’s guests are two key members from 2nd Battalion, 130 Infantry Regiment, MAJ Edward Worman and SGT Ashley Smith. MAJ Worman is the Battalion Commander for 2-130th IN and SGT Smith is the S-2 Intelligence Section Non-Commisioned Officer-in-Charge.

The 2nd Battalion of 130th Infantry Regiment is an infantry regiment in the Illinois Army National Guard. 2-130 IN has an extensive and illustrious history dating back to the War of 1812. Since its establishment, the battalion has served in every conflict that the US Army has participated in, from the Mexican War to the Civil War to Indian Wars of the American Frontier to battlefields of World War I to the island hoping campaign in the Pacific Theater of World War II to the various conflicts of the Cold War and finally in support of the Global War on Terror. They are one of the infantry battalions for the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, formerly the 66th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, but for their rotation at the JRTC they were attached to the 32nd IBCT of the Wisconsin ARNG. They have the Hollywood call-sign of “Blackhawks,” the nickname of “Fourth Illinois,” and the motto of “Always Ready.”

In this episode we discuss the lessons learned at the battalion echelon for conducting large scale combat operations across multiple domains. Specifically, we focus on the information requirements for the battalion commander and his subordinate company commanders as well as best practices of an efficient battalion staff. At the battalion echelon, the commander needs timely and accurate reporting; tactical patience; and understand where leaders need to be on the battlefield. Battlefield circulation is critical during transitions between various phases of the operation. Smart-books and the TRADOC G-2 World Equipment Guide (WEG) are your friend. Staff sections should update and maintain their overlays to provide the commander with updated graphics to make decisions, such as modified combined obstacle overlay and threat overlays plus event matrix. The most successful battalions at the JRTC are those that don’t overly rely on digital products and instead use analog products. Remember, to be detected is to be targeted is to be killed.

The number one question that commanders and staff ask across the force is how can we get better at the military decision making processes (MDMP)? There’s no shortcut, it’s simply sets and repetitions that make staffs better at MDMP. While both our guests did exceptionally well during their crucible rotation, it is nearly certain that some may feel that it is unrealistic that such junior leaders would fill those roles. We at the JRTC would argue that the opposite is true as it should be expected that large scale combat operations would inflict a high attrition rate upon our forces, demanding junior leaders to fill the void.

Part of S02 “If I Would Have Only Known” series.

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“The Crucible – The JRTC Experience” is a product of the Joint Readiness Training Center.