Maintenance window scheduled to begin at February 14th 2200 est. until 0400 est. February 15th

(e.g. yourname@email.com)

Forgot Password?

    Defense Visual Information Distribution Service Logo

    2-15 FA Shoots, Moves, Communicates

    2-15 FA shoots, moves, communicates

    Courtesy Photo | Preparing for conflicts absent of static forward operating bases and large-scale...... read more read more

    FORT DRUM , NY, UNITED STATES

    05.22.2014

    Story by Sgt. Mark Moore 

    2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division Public Affairs

    FORT DRUM, N.Y. -Preparing for conflicts absent of static forward operating bases and large-scale dining facilities, the “Allons” Soldiers from Alpha Battery, 2nd Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, refocused their training objectives to become an adaptive, mobile expeditionary force, during an field exercise, May 12-16.

    Training for unified land operations sent Alpha Battery to the field to practice how a mobile expeditionary field artillery force operates. It was an opportunity for “Allons” Soldiers to maneuver through a battlefield, establish a hasty defensive position and then mass their precision fires on a target area.

    “Right now we are training our platoons to conduct expeditionary operations,” said Capt. Glenn R. Walton, Alpha Battery commander, 2-15 FA. “We are trying to get away from the old mentality of deploying to a forward operating base where everything is established and defended for you. To where we can enter a theater anywhere in the world, fight and sustain ourselves.”

    Using tactics taught over 10 years ago, they maneuvered through a simulated battle space, established seven different firing positions at four different sites, defeated roadside bombs along routes of travel and engaged targets while on the move, something seldom trained on.

    “For our guys this is something outside of the ‘box,’” said Sgt. 1st Class Caleb Webster, 1st platoon sergeant, Alpha Battery.

    Intensifying and adding to the realism of simulated combat training was the aspect of controlled sleep deprivation. Something Caleb said his Soldiers pushed through and handled well.

    “This shows them (Soldiers) that you don’t need to sleep eight hours a night to get the mission done. It shows them that they can get out here, shoot rounds, move to another point and be safe throughout. You can push your body a little harder than you think you can.”

    Training does come at a cost and faint audible disturbances can be heard by those residing near Fort Drum’s training areas, Walton hopes those who hear the thundering canons understands why they train.

    “I hope that when the people in the area here the cannon fire they know that we are out here and we are training to be ready to take care of them.”

    LEAVE A COMMENT

    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 05.22.2014
    Date Posted: 05.27.2014 13:16
    Story ID: 131202
    Location: FORT DRUM , NY, US

    Web Views: 40
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN