It takes a lot of practice before the Army considers a soldier ready to lead. Those hoping to take charge got some of that much-needed practice Thursday morning on Fort Drum. Soldiers from the 1st Brigade teamed with the Air Force and a school based at Fort Benning, Georgia to learn how to control a drop zone in battle. Our Brian Dwyer gives us an inside look at just what it takes.

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FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- While fighting overseas, it can often be forgotten how important the soldiers can be who get supplies where they need to be.

Thirty-nine men and women with the 1st Brigade got the chance to see what it takes to lead those air drop missions.

The soldiers worked with the Air Force and Army Pathfinder School from Fort Benning, Georgia. They say air drops are much more efficient and much safer than traveling by road.

"Predictability kills," SSG Richard Johnson of the Pathfinder School said. "Travel down a road and you're very predictable. You're only going one of two directions. That makes it very easy for our enemy to place IED's or ambushes that kill our soldiers."

Soldiers say they typically drop things like ammunition, food and water. But if they miss a drop zone, the supplies can easily fall in the hands of the enemy.