Training to Deploy

1st Battalion of the 185th Infantry Regiment Prepares for Future Deployments

Video, story, and photos by
Christian Jadot
California National Guard Public Affairs

Dec. 22, 2021

CAMP ROBERTS, Calif.- Soldiers from the 1st Battalion of the 185th Infantry Regiment accomplish pre-deployment exercises during their annual training at Camp Roberts, California Dec. 17, 2021.

The 1st -185th Soldiers spent three weeks sharpening their abilities at various skills required to be deployable.

“It’s a great group, a great team and it’s a good mission,” said Maj. William Marquez, operations officer, 1st -185th. “Our companies have gone through crew weapons qualification, individual weapons qualification, Striker gunnery, combat lifesavers training and a variety of different training.”

The individual weapons course included the M-4 and the new M-17 personal sidearm.

“We are doing the M-17 qualification course,' said Staff Sgt. Kevin Barruga, squad leader, 1-185th. “You have three magazines and you will have 10 pop up targets in different shooting positions. You add them up then see how many you hit out of 40.”

The training that took place was standard for Army pre-deployments, but also included courses on NATO integration.

“A lot of soldiers will be very well trained coming out of this mission and is a very good experience for the Soldiers overall,” said Maj. Marquez.

Soldiers from the 1-185th Infantry Regiment plan out the days pre-deployment exercises during annual training at Camp Roberts, California Dec. 17, 2021. Soldiers spent three weeks sharpening their abilities required to be deployable. (California National Guard photo by Christian Jadot)

Private 1st Class Johnny Lewis, 1-185th Infantry Regiment, drives a Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicle on to a transportation truck during their annual training at Camp Roberts, California Dec. 17, 2021. The 1-185th Soldiers practiced skills and individual training to be deployable during their annual training. (California National Guard photo by Christian Jadot)

An M-17 pistol is prepared for the next combat training exercise during the 1-185th Infantry Regiment annual training at Camp Roberts, California, Dec. 17, 2021. (California National Guard photo by Christian Jadot)

Staff Sgt. Kevin Barruga, squad leader, 1-185th Infantry Regiment, takes aim at pop up targets during the M-17 qualification course during his annual training at Camp Roberts, California Dec. 17, 2021. M-17 qualification is part of the requirement to deploy. (California National Guard photo by Christian Jadot)