Task Force Falcon Comes to Atropian Aid, Prepares For JRTC

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Eliverto Larios | Paratroopers from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, occupy a town for a noncombatant evacuation operation during a field training exercise on Fort Bragg, N.C., Aug. 7. The Falcon Brigade’s FTX included multiple scenarios for the evacuation of U.S. and British citizens from a potentially hostile area: A job they could be called upon to do as members of America’s Global Response Force. (82nd Airborne Division photo by Sgt. Eliverto V. Larios)  

FORT BRAGG, NC, UNITED STATES

08.11.2014

Story by Sgt. Eliverto Larios 

82nd Airborne Division Public Affairs Office

FORT BRAGG, N.C. - The white moon shone bright, illuminating the ground below. Engines from C17 Globemaster III and C130 Hercules aircraft could be heard in the distance, roaring louder and louder as they approached the airfield. Within minutes, the planes were over the drop zone, and more than 1,400 paratroopers jumped out into the night sky. As the paratroopers drifted to the ground, they were met with small arms fire from opposing forces. The enemy was ready. The paratroopers’ first objective was to clear the drop zone, seeking to eliminate the enemy forces that posed a threat to follow-on jumpers. With enemy fire still erupting from nearby buildings, the paratroopers maneuvered across the drop zone, advancing on the enemy’s position. After a long battle with the opposing forces, the initial wave of Paratroopers secured the airfield and pushed on to expand their security perimeter while engineers cleared obstacles impeding the buildup of combat power.

Paratroopers from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division honed critical skills in the brigade’s weeklong field training exercise that kicked off on Aug. 5. The unit is preparing for assumption of the Global Response Force mission later this fall. Next month they must validate their global crisis response capabilities during a rotation at the Joint Readiness Training Center in Fort Polk, La.

The FTX began with the brigade, reinforced with additional assets from across Fort Bragg and the Army, executing a joint forcible entry operation into Holland Drop Zone on Fort Bragg, N.C. The FTX scenario found Task Force Falcon responding to the fictional country of Atropia’s request for assistance as an enemy nation massed forces on its borders and contributed to a growing insurgent threat.

“We were asked by the Atropian government to assist them in maintaining their sovereignty based on threats internal to their homeland,” said Col. Joseph Ryan, commander of 2BCT. “Both external threats from neighboring nations of Ariana and internal threats that we believe, based on intelligence, are fostered by those same states.”

With American and British civilians at risk, the task force needed to respond quickly to prevent the loss of innocent lives.

“There are American interests in Atropia,” said Ryan. “First and foremost the American citizens in Atropia: we are obligated to help out the American citizens and that is the main reason why we are here.”

Throughout the exercise, Task Force Falcon conducted a series of Noncombatant Evacuation Operations (NEO). The brigade’s infantry battalions conducted two of the initial NEOs, with the third being entrusted to the paratroopers of the British Army’s B Company, 3 PARA, 16th Air Assault Brigade.

As part of the 82nd Abn. Div.’s interoperability program, the 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment integrated B Company into its organization and overall mission plan.

“It develops mutual benefits and enhances the impact that the Army coalition operation will have,” said Lt. Tom Whittle, the executive officer of B Company. “It’s building on the aspect of the relationship we already have. This is just one aspect of that relationship that’s been successful in the past and will continue in the future.”

Another critical task force capability was exercised when elements of 2nd Battalion, 325th AIR discovered a chemical weapon manufacturing and storage site. The White Falcons called upon the Soldiers of the 22nd Chemical Battalion, from Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Md., to identify and remove the hazardous materials and decontaminate the site, equipment and personnel.

“We take the threats of those weapons very seriously on a global stage,” said the TF Falcon commander, Ryan. “Atropia believes that some of those weapons either have the potential to, or already have, become out of their control, so we are here to help them with that: to secure those weapons so they don’t fall into the wrong hands and become a threat to other nations.”

Later in the operation, confronted with advancing enemy forces, the task force was tested on their ability to defend their area of operations. With the enemy waging constant attacks on the paratroopers, the task force first employed intelligence and reconnaissance assets to determine enemy intentions.

“I fully anticipate that our enemy forces will use whatever intelligence they are gaining to master something on grander scale,” said Ryan. “We are ready for it.”

To defeat the advancing and numerically superior enemy force, the Falcons employed enablers such as simulated close air support, engineer-emplaced obstacles, High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) strikes, and more than 200 live and 200 simulated artillery rounds fired from M119A3 and M777 howitzers.

In the end, Task Force Falcon accomplished its mission of defeating enemy aggression, restoring host nation sovereignty, and evacuating American and British citizens.

Historically the GRF has played a crucial role as first responders to worldwide crises. The paratroopers of the 82nd Abn. Div. are constantly training to be ready to deploy anywhere in the world within 18 hours. They’ve solidified their right to the title of America’s Guard of Honor.

“I feel strongly that your safety and others’ safety around the globe, that are Americans, is my responsibility,” said Ryan. “We deploy American forces to obtain foreign country sovereignty because they ask us to. If they didn’t ask us then we wouldn’t be here. If we are going to put anybody at risk, it’s going to be American soldiers who are trained to operate in that environment so that we can succeed.”

• Date Taken: 08.11.2014
• Date Posted: 08.11.2014 16:10
• Story ID: 139000
• Location: FORT BRAGG, NC, US