Wiesbaden Training Support Center building dedicated to soldier killed in Iraq
WIESBADEN, Germany — Greg Popielarz, local training area coordinator, operates the High Mobility Multi-Wheeled Vehicle Egress Assistance Training, during the open house for the new Wiesbaden consolidated Training Support Center July 15. (U.S. Army photo by Karl Weisel)
WIESBADEN, Germany — Army Spc. Blair Flowers, 1st Armored Division Special Troops Battalion Rear Detachment, takes aim along with fellow soldiers in the Engagement Skills Trainer in the new consolidated Wiesbaden Training Support Center July 15. (U.S. Army photo by Karl Weisel)
WIESBADEN, Germany — A plaque, on display during the dedication of the new building July 15, honors Army Command Sgt. Maj. Eric F. Cooke of 1st Armored Division's 1st Brigade. Cooke was killed in action in Iraq in 2003. (U.S. Army photo by Karl Weisel)
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WIESBADEN, Germany — Training Support Center Wiesbaden held an open house July 15 to showcase services and training functions as well as dedicate one of the buildings to a soldier killed in Iraq.
The soldier was Army Command Sgt. Maj. Eric F. Cooke who was killed in action while conducting combat operations in Baghdad, Iraq, Dec. 24, 2003.
"With the relocation and consolidation of the Wiesbaden Training Support Center into the two buildings on WAAF, we wanted to show soldiers everything that they can use to be better at what they do," said Army Col. Jeffrey Dill, U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden commander.
The process to consolidate the TSC\'s services from five locations to two began with the move of the photo and graphics studio March 1. As a result of the rearrangement, the studio is now located in Building 1032 with the training aids and devices depot, classrooms ready with multimedia equipment and audio visual support equipment that can be borrowed by units as required.
A new graphics self-help shop is available there also that consists of stencil outline, cutting and acetate for laminating charts or documents.
"The facilities have provided unit commanders time management ... consolidated training to be accomplished in a short time span," said Archie White, Regional Training Support Center chief.
Building 1638 now houses three simulators that allow units to train under one roof.
The Engagement Skills Trainer is an indoor multilane, multipurpose simulator that provides individual small arms, crew served and individual anti-tank training. The Call for Fire Trainer is a collective training system that provides a simulated battlefield for training Joint Fires Observers at the institutional and unit level. The High Mobility Multi-Wheeled Vehicle Egress Assistance Trainer offers Soldiers training aimed at reducing casualties suffered by HMMWV rollover accidents.
"Training has come a long way since 2003," said David Cain, as he looked over the offerings in Building 1638. "This is stuff we didn't have when we deployed. ... Nothing prepared us for that war."
Standing as a memorial to the late Army Command Sgt. Maj. Cooke of 1st Armored Division's 1st Brigade and one of the first casualties of the war in Iraq, Building 1638 embodies the soldier's ideals.
"That's what Cooke was all about ... training soldiers. To put his stamp or his name on something like this is perfect," said Cain, who served in the same unit and was three vehicles behind Cooke when the vehicle exploded as a result of a roadside bomb. "This is something Cooke would have been proud of."
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