Amid sunny skies and cool temps, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment “Chargers,” 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division came to wage “war” at the National Training Center.

Chargers’ Soldiers arrived in the “box” Feb. 7 in support of 3rd Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division’s decisive action rotation.

While the training enhanced the Chargers tactical skills, they did not go about their mission alone.

Much of 1-12 CAV’s success was based on their ability to work with other 3rd ABCT “Greywolf” enabler units such as C Company, 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, and A Company, 3rd Engineer Battalion, who worked alongside 1-12 CAV during the month-long training exercise.

The Chargers made good use of his unit, said 1st Sgt. Theodore Braunch, first sergeant of A Co., 3rd Eng. Bn.

“Some units forget how to use engineers,” Braunch said. “Working with 1-12 CAV is a very good experience, and the engineers have been supported far better than I’ve seen before.”

Charger and engineer coordination started with the planning process and continued during the NTC rotation to make sure the training went off without a hitch.

For example, 2-82 FA and 3rd CR use two different and incompatible logistics management computer systems. Since 1-12 Cav uses both systems, they were able to help 2-82 FA order maintenance parts.

The sentiment among the Greywolf enabler units was mutual.

“NTC is a learning experience among different types of units, wherein communication is essential,” said 1st Lt. Maria Buser, executive officer of Forward Support Company J, 1-12 CAV. “The 1-12 CAV has been doing many battalion-level exercises, so linking in with higher units is good training. Working with other types of units generates great combat multipliers with unique skill sets that make a difference in battlefield scenarios.”

(U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Roque Mesa, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team UPAR)

Spc. Mauro Perez, 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division pulls security outside the unit’s command post. Soldiers of 1-12 Cav. are supporting the 3rd Cavalry Regiment and working with Soldiers from the 3rd Engineer Battalion and the 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment during a Decisive Action rotation at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, Calif.