News

30 Medical Brigade conducts command post exercise

Story and photos by Spc. Samuel Signor
21st Theater Sustainment Command
March 31, 2023
U.S. Army Capt. Craig Neal, a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear officer at 30th Medical Brigade (top), helps Capt. Julio Rodriguez, a health services plans, operations, intelligence, security and training officer at 30th Medical Brigade (bottom) on his computer while trying to find documentation for a mission during a Command Post Exercise on Rhine Ordnance Barracks, Kaiserslautern, Germany on March 16, 2023. The Command Post Exercise was held to prepare junior Soldiers and senior leaders for Defender ‘23 using real world scenarios. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Samuel Signor)

Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 30th Medical Brigade, conducted a command post exercise on Rhine Ordnance Barracks from March 9-17. Soldiers developed their skills and gained knowledge in their area of operation through scenarios that could happen at any time if they’re forward deployed.

CPX events not only benefit the Soldiers but also allow their supervisors to see what could be improved for future training events and exercises.

“It’s been a combination of events; this started way back in January with other exercises just to see what our capabilities are,” said Capt. Kayode Ilesanmi, Headquarters and Headquarters Company commander at 30th Medical Brigade. “Currently we’re conducting a CPX as a follow up phase, kind of a walk phase just to solidify what our brigade’s capabilities are if we’re forward deployed in Europe.”

U.S. Army Spc. Demari Lee, a human resource specialist at 30th Medical Brigade, checks his computer for mission requirements during a Command Post Exercise on Rhine Ordnance Barracks, Kaiserslautern, Germany on March 16, 2023. The Command Post Exercise was held to prepare junior Soldiers and senior leaders for Defender ‘23 using real world scenarios. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Samuel Signor)

The event was conducted over a weeklong period with new tasks each day. The tasks assigned to the Soldiers familiarizes them with equipment and how they can work together as a team to get the mission completed.

“[The] 30th Medical Brigade is playing a big role in Defender this year and we have one of our field hospitals under 519th Hospital Center that will be forward deployed,” said Ilesanmi. “For the brigade side, we have to be able to provide medical mission command to be able to support their mission.”

Command post exercises help the units that oversee subordinate units take care of any issues that may appear and be able to have operations with minimal issues.

U.S. Army Capt. Julio Rodriguez, a health services plans, operations, intelligence, security, training officer at 30th Medical Brigade, points towards a demonstration map being used for training during the Command Post Exercise on Rhine Ordnance Barracks, Kaiserslautern, Germany on March 16, 2023. The Command Post Exercise was held to prepare junior Soldiers and senior leaders for Defender ‘23 using real world scenarios. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Samuel Signor)

“Right now we’re working out all of the kinks, so as we’re getting reports from multiple units in different areas across Europe, we can take those reports, combine them, do an analysis as brigade staff, and then in turn brief the brigade commander on decisions he needs to make for the V (Fifth) Corps group as Defender ’23 goes on,” said Ilesanmi.

There are multiple working components within the company that help get the mission done. Each Soldier has their orders and responsibilities and the training exercise helps Soldiers gain proficiency through repetition.

“It’s so important to have these kind of events for junior soldiers and senior leaders to get familiarized with these situations through continuous repetition, it’s a learning experience with how we move from the office and go out into the field to see our own capabilities that we can do in the field,” said Staff Sgt. Samcess Fofanah, 30th Medical Brigade religious affairs non-commissioned officer in charge. “When we get stuck in the office we only think about the office work and have access to everything we need and now when we don’t have that access, we can see how we can use different shops and have all of those different components come together to meet the end goal of the mission is great to see.”

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jon Sharp, an environmental science and engineering officer at 30th Medical Brigade, conducts logistical training on his laptop during a Command Post Exercise on Rhine Ordnance Barracks, Kaiserslautern, Germany on March 16, 2023. The Command Post Exercise was held to prepare junior Soldiers and senior leaders for Defender ‘23 using real world scenarios. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Samuel Signor)

The CPX allows senior leaders to observe Soldiers’ capabilities in the field when they don’t have access to what they’re used to, and gain insight on how they can collaborate with other Soldiers to get the mission completed. It allows for improvements and other changes needed for the mission to go more smoothly and gives commanders and senior leaders insights into needed changes, improvements, and also what works perfectly for the mission. Having events like these can give the leaders the chance to see their teams handle a variety of scenarios.

U.S. Army Master Sgt. Luis Jaimes, a patient administration specialist at 30th Medical Brigade, points towards a mock scenario map used for training during the Command Post Exercise on Rhine Ordnance Barracks, Kaiserslautern, Germany on March 16, 2023. The Command Post Exercise was held to prepare junior Soldiers and senior leaders for Defender ‘23 using real world scenarios. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Samuel Signor)
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