Welcome to Warpaint Squadron!

By joining 5th Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, you are joining a disciplined outfit with a prestigious history that stretches back to 1866. The Squadron today consists of a Headquarters Troop, three Reconnaissance Troops and a Forward Support Company which stands ready to deploy and conduct reconnaissance and security operations in order to enable freedom of action in support of 1st HBCT (RAIDER) full spectrum operations. The centerpiece of the Squadron however remains you, the US Cavalryman, and we are looking forward to you riding with us as we write the next chapter of this Squadron’s history.

We are fortunate to be part of the Fort Stewart community and Coastal Georgia. You will find a multitude of attractions in historic Savannah, as well as nearby Hilton Head, SC and Jacksonville, FL. Fort Stewart is a great post with numerous agencies that provide the essentials to Troopers and their Families. I recommend you access them through this website to familiarize yourself with what support agencies operate on post and in the surrounding area.

The Squadron also prides itself in our support to families and the community. Through energetic Family Support Groups and social media outlets such as our interactive Facebook page and the eArmy messaging system, we ensure you and your family have access to the latest news and happenings within the Squadron. You can find posts and pictures from Troopers and family members as well as learn of upcoming events on Fort Stewart and within the local community. While this will assist you in preparing for life at Fort Stewart, your new Cavalry Family is readily available and would like to help minimize any potential problems you may encounter upon your arrival. Once we receive notification that you will be joining the Squadron, you will be assigned a sponsor and he/she will be contacting you with specifics in reference to your future duty position and assist in your relocation. Any questions you may have concerning your new assignment prior to your sponsor contacting you may be addressed directly to the Squadron Adjutant (S-1) or by calling Staff Duty at (912) 767-3395.

Whether this is your first assignment or you have served with the Cavalry before, welcome to the Squadron and I look forward to serving with you. GARRYOWEN!

Sincerely,

LTC Christopher Jones
Squadron Commander
5th Squadron, 7th Cavalry

by 1LT. Greg Hjelle, 5-7 CAV Assistant S3

FORT STEWART, Ga. (JUN. 13, 2012) -- Troopers from 5-7 CAV, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, Third Infantry Division, were recently put to the test while conducting a Table XII gunnery during the month of June. This three week mounted exercise tested the Squadron’s reconnaissance platoons ability to plan and execute a live -fire mission under strained conditions. Table XII, which is comprised of both a day and night iteration, stressed the platoons ability to plan, prepare and execute in the blistering Georgia heat during thunderstorms with little to no sleep.

Table XII is not a standalone event but rather a culminating event that the Squadron has been preparing for by successfully completing gunnery Tables II, V, VI and XI, which are mandatory for all crews before they can conduct Table XII gunnery.

“Gunnery Tables ensure that vehicle crews are trained to standard on the lethal aspect of reconnaissance that we expect from all Troopers and their crews.” remarked Cpt. Matt Lynes, 5th Sqn., 7th Cav. Operations Officer. Table XII gives the Squadron an assessment of each Scout Platoon’s ability to plan an operation, move on the battlefield, communicate effectively across the Platoon, acquire enemy targets and then engage those enemy targets. Each Trooper comes away with great confidence in his vehicle, weapons systems and most importantly himself and the Trooper next to him.”

Each Table itself is an important building block of progressing difficulty and stress to ensure crews are being challenged to learn and overcome their fears in order to become a lethal weapon. Table II is a dry fire event where vehicle crews engage targets on the range by only calling out fire commands to evaluators, ensuring that the crews can identify and engage targets correctly and confidently. Table VI is a live fire event where crews maneuver independently around the range identifying and engaging targets with fire commands and live ammunition. This Table gives the unit commander the ability to see where each of his/her crew’s cohesion and lethality are and where improvements need to be made. Each of the crews that successfully navigate and complete Table VI is assessed as “Qualified” and been deemed ready for combat. Table IX is a dry fire event where the individual crew is placed back with their respective Platoon and the whole Platoon navigates a maneuver mission together in preparation of Table XII. Table XI gives Platoons a great opportunity the ability to maneuver as a whole and make certain as a Platoon they are ready to “shoot, move, communicate” with live ammunition. After all these Tables are completed the Platoon conducts Table XII which is the final culminating event that brings all the lessons learned together.

“Tables II thru XII and CTLT rotations are the best training a unit can conduct to the build the skills necessary to succeed in combat situations,” said Maj. Scott Virgil, 5th Sqn., 7th Cav. Executive Officer. “There is a science and an art to Table XII, it provides a dimension to leader development that you cannot duplicate too often. “

Table XII involved a complete PLT level OPORD, TLP’s IAW the Marne Elite 8, Raven flight, call for fire, CBRN engagements, CASEVAC and a rearward passage of lines (RPOL). The Table XII collective gunnery completed a three month run in which the Squadron executed several gunnery tables, Troop and Squadron level Field Training Exercise (FTX) and supported the Brigade with OCs and OPFOR during Raider Focus, an operation that prepared sister units for their upcoming JRTC rotation.

“The Troopers have been busy!!! Within the last three months we have conducted two weeks of Table VI gunnery, one week of Troop FTXs, three weeks of Raider Focus OC and OPFOR support, two weeks of Warpaint Focus, three weeks of Table II – Table XII and then executing the first Table XII gunnery for over 80% of the Squadron since redeployment,” said Maj. Scott Virgil, 5th Sqn., 7th Cav, Executive Officer.

From the Table XII event, five out of six Platoons qualified with a three/three mix of M3A3 Bradleys and HMMWV’s. The remaining Platoon qualified Table VI with six HMMWV’s and was retrograded back early to support a Division level mission. Troop and Squadron level TOC operations were exercised and refined to increase their effectiveness and capabilities. The Platoons executed Raven sorties which affirmed the importance to use aerial reconnaissance when available. Platoons validated and refined their SOPs to reflect all the lessons learned from previous training events to capture that knowledge to prepare for their next Cavalry mission.

“We are ready for combat. I couldn’t be any prouder of all the Troopers in the Squadron for their dedication and hard work,” said 1SG. Gannon Edgy, HHT, 5-7 CAV First Sergeant.