Routine Exercises Take On New Meaning At Fort Bragg

Members of Charlie Company 2nd Battalion 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment put nine weeks of extensive fire training to the test. The soldiers simulated a live fire exercise Wednesday.

Charlie Company members say, now more than ever, they are prepared for battle.

"On days like today it really brings it home. You really see how important it is to communicate with your fellow soldiers, to be effective in what you do, that everybody comes home safe," says SGTR Cain Horne.

Surrounded by live rounds of ammunition, explosives and other weapons, this is the closest thing to actual war. For these young soldiers, it is also a wake-up call to possible deployment.

Although the training exercise is routine business on Fort Bragg, soldiers say the timing could not have been better.

"It's on everybody's mind and we're taking everything serious," says SFC Earl Osbourne.

Charlie Company held another live fire training session Wednesday night with night vision goggles and a new laser system to help sharpen their skills for nighttime attacks.