Carson soldiers train for Afghan hardship

[unhappycamper]

Carson soldiers train for Afghan hardship
By Tom Roeder - The (Colorado Springs) Gazette via Associated Press
Posted : Saturday Nov 15, 2008 13:13:00 EST

FORT CARSON, Colo. — With days flying by before their deployment to Afghanistan, commanders of Fort Carson’s 4th Brigade Combat Team must improvise to get their soldiers ready.

Companies, normally 120-soldier formations, went to field exercises last month at about half-strength, often with new leaders finding their bearings in a new command.

With the Army stretched thin by combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, leaders here must do more with less to prepare soldiers for the unforgiving mountain fighting ahead in what has become one of the most dangerous places on Earth.

“We may not have the numbers we need, but we do have the best training,” said Lt. Col. Brian Pearl, commander of the brigade’s 2nd Battalion of the 12th Infantry Regiment.

Pearl’s battalion can field about two-thirds of the soldiers it would normally have in its ranks. After the unit returned from fighting in Iraq late last year, its soldiers began moving to new Army jobs or leaving the service. Others who would normally round out the battalion can’t train with the unit because they’re still recovering from combat injuries.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/11/ap_carson_111508/%2e