As the Joint Base Lewis-McChord community remembers those who have fallen in defense of this nation on Memorial Day, other soldiers train to defend the country to the best of their abilities.

"The training has been very good for us," 1^st Sergeant Carl Pinhero, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, said before heading out onto a training range.  "And we've not forgotten those who have gone before us."

For the past couple of weeks, 3^rd Brigade, 2^nd Infantry Division have been engage in a wide range of training scenarios at the Yakima Training Center.

"We will be the Army's premier medium fighting force designed for full spectrum operations," CSM Peter Smith said.  "We are excellent, and we will be better."

This past Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, soldiers assigned to Bravo and Charlie Companies, 2^nd Battalion, 3^rd Infantry Regiment conducted training on the center's Multipurpose Training Range.

On a lane over 4,000-meters long, the soldiers engaged in dry, blank and live fire exercises in order to sharpen their skills in confronting a conventional force.

"The training has been very good and intense," PV2 Michael Upchurch said as he sat in the back of his Stryker and cleaned his M4.  "I could not have asked for better."