056 S1 Ep 19 – The Employment of Light Infantry Formations During Large Scale Combat Operations w/MG Gregory Anderson of 10th MTN

The Crucible - The JRTC Experience Podcast

The Joint Readiness Training Center is pleased to present the fifty-sixth 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 Commanding General of the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), MG Gregory Anderson.

The 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry) is the premier light infantry division in the United States Army based at Fort Drum, New York. Formerly designated as a mountain warfare unit, the division was the only one of its size in the US military to receive specialized training for fighting in mountainous conditions. Originally activated as the 10th Light Division (Alpine) in 1943, the division was redesignated the 10th Mountain Division in 1944 and fought in the mountains of Italy in some of the roughest terrain in World War II. The 10th Mountain is one of the most deployed divisions during the Global War on Terror with numerous deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan as well as Syria. Their motto is “Climb to Glory” (the proper response is “To the Top”) and have the Hollywood call-sign of “Mountain.”

In this episode we continue to discuss the employment of light infantry divisions, brigade combat teams, and maneuver battalions during large scale combat operations across multiple domains. We highlight some of the heavy-light imperatives:

• The speed, ranges, and complexity of the battlefield are markedly greater in armored-mechanized formations and requires infinitely more logistics to sustain the fight (Integrated logistics into your maneuver plan).
• Light forces have greater mobility with the ability to rapidly deploy combined with flexibility in diverse complex-terrain, particularly in restrictive terrain, while maintaining a smaller logistical footprint.
• Requires effective synchronization, timing, and detailed controlled measures with the emphasis on fighting at distance.
• Armor-mech. Teams requires utmost dedication to maintaining their equipment, although all formations incorporate it into priorities of work.
• Leaders must learn to anticipate logistics instead of simply reacting to each situation in order to enable future operations.
• Most effective when employed together combined arms operations with supporting joint fires and integrated engineers & other enablers.
• Use of heavy forces to create breakthroughs and exploit enemy weaknesses while light forces conduct rapid maneuvers, seize key terrain, and disrupt enemy rear areas.

Additionally, we discuss some of the task organization changes that the Army is undertaking as part of their 2030 concept. Specifically, the suggested transformation that will occur to light infantry formations and the impact to their mission. The main attribute of light infantry formations is to be able to traverse with ease where armor-mech. Forces are unable to traverse.

Part of S01 “The Leader’s Laboratory” series.

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