The Joint Readiness Training Center is pleased to present the eighth episode to air on ‘The Crucible - The JRTC Experience.’ Hosted by the Commander of Ops Group (COG), COL Matthew Hardman. Today’s guest is the commander of 1st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), COL Kevin Sharp. 1/101 ABN has an extensive and illustrious history dating back to trench-warfare in the Moselle River valley in 1917 and became one of the original members of the 101st Airborne in 1942 as their glider infantry regiment. They are easily identified by the clubs (not shamrocks) patches on their helmets dating back to preparation for the invasion of France in World War II and has the Hollywood call-sign of “Bastogne.”

In this episode they discuss some of the things that the Bastogne Brigade would have liked to have known prior to the start of their rotation as well as some of the keys to success they embodied. Specifically, Bastogne’s training glidepath that focused on re-honing their squads and platoons to be able to fire and maneuver during large scale combat operations while their staffs conducted concurrent deliberate planning for future operations. Additionally, they address being able to sustain the fight and how light infantry needs to plan to close the last 100 meters to their units for tactical resupply.

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