New Hampshire Army National Guard’s success at XCTC

Photo By Pfc. Gabrielle Scibetta | Soldiers of Charlie Battery, 1st Battalion, 119th Artillery Regiment, Michigan Army National Guard, sling load ammo for a howitzer from a Black Hawk at Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center, Mich., July 17. The M777 howitzer was sling-loaded from a Chinook and the Black Hawk followed not far behind with the ammo. The battery is one of many participating in the almost three-week exercises, logistical operations and counter-IED training, collaboratively known as eXportable Combat Training Capability. (Photo by Pfc. Gabrielle Scibetta, 114th Public Affairs Detachment, New Hampshire Army National Guard)  

GRAYLING, MI, UNITED STATES

07.23.2014

Story by Pfc. Gabrielle Scibetta 

114th Public Affairs Detachment

GRAYLING, Mich. - For almost three weeks, 4,000 soldiers from five states converged at Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center to participate in the eXportable Combat Training Capability. XCTC is an opportunity for the Reserve component to conduct scenario-based exercises including: live-fire training, logistical operations and counter-IED training.

"This is one of the biggest logistics exercises I've ever seen or been a part of, and that includes deployments," said Col. Thomas Spencer, commander of 197th Field Artillery Brigade, New Hampshire Army National Guard, to the union leader during a phone interview. "I've got to think this is one of the largest equipment moves in New Hampshire history."

Here at CGJMTC, soldiers of NHARNG not only conducted scenario-based exercises but they also set aside time to develop their basic warrior tasks and drills.

“Every time we get a chance to go out in the field and train and actually utilize our MOSes, or our basic soldier skills, it helps us to prepare for any contingency that would arise,” said Lt. Col. Sean Bennett, commander 3rd Battalion, 197th Field Artillery Regiment, 197th Field Artillery Brigade, New Hampshire Army National Guard. “In this case, the survivability piece associated with our artillery mission.”

XCTC is one of the largest National Guard training exercises of the summer. Slightly more than 3,000 155 mm howitzer rounds and 192 High-Mobility Artillery Rocket System rockets were expended. More than 200,000 blank firing ammunition were issued and 300 mortar rounds were fired.

“Here at JMTC we’ve done multiple lanes,” said Bennett, “including counter-IED lanes and tactical convoy lanes, so we can move to other locations, survive, then provide accurate and timely fires.”

This summer marked the first time the active duty component units were integrated with Reserve component units for validation during an XCTC rotation. National Guard units from New Hampshire, Michigan, Rhode Island and West Virginia were able to train with soldiers from 10th Mountain Division, an active duty unit from Fort Drum, New York.

"The 197th was selected as the first field artillery brigade to go through this training," said Spencer. "We're the first brigade to conduct this type of exercise at Camp Grayling. And, this is the first unit to incorporate an active duty portion."

Spencer added soldiers at XCTC could seamlessly translate the experience in the field environment to real-life scenarios, and NHARNG soldiers are better prepared to answer the call when their communities need them.

The 197th FAB will spend the last few days packing equipment and loading machines back on the railhead; they leave to return to New Hampshire July 25.

“I’d like to thank the families, the soldiers and the employers who all contributed to the success of this training operation as we work on our combat skills to prepare ourselves for the mission that our country may ask,” said Spencer.

• Date Taken: 07.23.2014
• Date Posted: 07.23.2014 18:24
• Story ID: 137051
• Location: GRAYLING, MI, US