EASTOVER, S.C. — The 263rd Army Air and Missile Defense Command (AAMDC) and 2nd Battalion, 263rd Air Defense Artillery (ADA), South Carolina Army National Guard along with the S.C. Air National Guard 169th Fighter Wing teamed up to work together during a 12-day exercise, Exercise America’s Shield 2014, conducted Feb. 13-24 at McCrady Training Center and McEntire Joint National Guard Base.
“Exercise America’s Shield (EAS) is the final event in a one-year process to prepare the air defense battalion for mobilization,” said Col. Timothy Sheriff, 263rd AAMDC operations officer. “The exercise is designed as a collective field training exercise and applies the specific tactics, techniques and procedures that are used for contingency operation, Operation Noble Eagle.”
In the fields surrounding the airstrip at McEntire JNGB, Sentinel radar and Avenger surface-to-air missile systems are set up at multiple locations looking for potentially dangerous aircraft.
Aviation units from both S.C. Army and Air flew helicopters and jets, which the ADA soldiers used to practice procedures that they learned in the classroom. They will then use these skills themselves and train other units who will secure the National Capital Region around Washington, D.C.
“This training is important because the mission is important,” said Lt. Col. Marion Collins, commander of the 2nd Battalion, 263 ADA. “We are providing the Nation’s leadership the protection they need so they can safely perform their duties. And in the next few months, there will be a lot of transition in D.C. and we will be covering that.”
With movies like “Olympus Has Fallen,” Hollywood makes it seem as if all you need is an aircraft and some dedicated people to take over the White House and Capitol area. The AAMDC and ADA are there to prove anyone with that mentality wrong.
“Any terrorist group would love to say they accomplished an attack on the Nation’s Capitol,” said Collins. “That’s why we’re there, to prevent that from happening. We can’t let our guard down for one second.”
Once the exercise is completed, the battalion will mobilize and participate in a rigorous culminating training event (CTE) at Fort Bliss, Texas, and then deploy to the National Capitol Region.
“EAS allows the battalion to condense their time training, by forty five days, at the mobilization site and thus increases their boots on the ground time for the mission,” said Sheriff.
The ultimate goal of this exercise is to provide the commander a realistic assessment of soldier and crew capabilities so that improvement can be made andcertification can be achieved at the CTE. The exercise is also a great way for the Army and Air National Guard to work collaboratively in a training scenario that benefits both.
“It is important to train jointly, because that is the way of the world now in theater and home station,” said Lt. Col. Brent Allen. “All the bases are going joint, Charleston, McChord, McGuire, Andrews, Shaw ... and you interact with all services in any deployed setting.”
“The Air National Guard provides realistic live fly tracks of interest that the air defense crews can practice procedures against,” said Sheriff. “Additionally, utilizing the terrain associated with an air base provides a dynamic and challenging environment for the crews.
These units from the S.C. National Guard bring a time-tested capability to deter and prevent an attack from the air.
“The S.C. Guard has served this mission many times,” said Collins. “Because of this, we bring stability and experience to the mission. We work side by side and train other units for this mission so often, that we are truly a team. The guys on the weapons can’t do what they need to do if we don’t work perfectly together. This is why we conduct training exercises like this one.”
The 263d AAMDC Training and Readiness Authority provide other units the detailed training and evaluation which insures proficiency in a “zero defect” mission.
“The mission architecture, command and control, and equipment are unique to any other mission set,” said Sheriff. “The AAMDC provides the foot print for the Joint Air Defense Operations center allowing a ‘train as you fight’ capability for EAS.”
Although both units have served in the D.C. area before, this is the first time that both units will be serving together in that capacity. Several times in the past, as one unit rotates in and the other out, they have often missed working together by as little as a few weeks.
“We have a lot of pride going into this,” said Collins. “It will solely be the S.C. Guard’s mission to protect the D.C. area. Every soldier, to the man, is taking pride in this. They are putting in the extra training and extra time to insure a successful mission.”
This exercise is part of a series of training events that are preparing the unit for their upcoming mission to defend the skies later this spring.
| Date Taken: | 02.24.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 03.11.2014 14:06 |
| Story ID: | 121839 |
| Location: | ANDERSON, SC, US |
| Web Views: | 120 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, SC Guard protects America’s skies, by SFC Brad Mincey, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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