WEBVTT

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- [Narrator] As the desert sun sets over

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the Franklin Mountains soldiers from Alpha Company

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16 infantry look north towards an unknown threat

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during the Army War Fighting Assessment,

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or AWA as part of their training exercise,

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a mission too unpredictable even for

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the most unseasoned veteran.

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- This was actually our first full speed breach.

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We had done exercise run throughs.

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This is the first time we did it against an enemy

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that provided the actual tank ditch,

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the actual obstacle belt that we did no know about.

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- [Narrator] During the mission 40th Engineer Battalion

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reduced an anti-tank ditch by rapidly clearing

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a path for follow on forces to advance.

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Once security is achieved the Wolverine provides

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a bridge strong enough for the rest

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of the force to move north.

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- If I had to describe this training in a couple words

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it would probably be tough but realistic.

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It allows us to take some of the training

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we do back in the rear and combine 'em all into one

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and then exercise it on a large scale.

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- [Narrator] AWA leverages the unique and innovative

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training environment of Fort Bliss and White Sands

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missile range maneuver training facilities

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while allowing soldiers to assess equipment

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designed to modernize the force.

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Reporting from Fort Bliss, Texas

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I'm Staff Sergeant Henry Gundagger.