US Army aviators share knowledge with infantry troops during Orient Shield 14

CAMP CHITOSE, HOKKAIDO, JAPAN

10.18.2014

Courtesy Story

New York National Guard

By Spc. Frank Cagnina
New York Army National Guard

CAMP CHITOSE, Japan - Nearly 35 U.S. infantry troops learned how Army aviators support combat operations during classroom training here, Oct. 18.

Close combat attack training is just one of many Air Ground Integration or AGI techniques used to support Army forces during ground combat operations. The instruction highlighted the air support side and how they are able to engage the enemy in support of ground forces.

Soldiers participating in the training belong to the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, and the 3rd Battalion, 25th Combat Aviation Regiment from Wheeler Field, Hawaii.

The Soldiers are in Japan to participate in Orient Shield 14, an annual bilateral field and staff training exercise co-hosted by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and U.S. Army Japan, Oct. 27 – Nov. 7.

Air ground integration training allows both the aviators and infantry troops to better understand what capabilities each side brings to the table in a combat environment, said class instructor Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jake Uber, a test pilot with C Company, 1st Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment (Attack) from Fort Carson, Co.

“Getting face-to-face time with infantry Soldiers before an operation makes for a more seamless mission. They know what to expect from us, we know what to expect from them, which allows us to work better as a team from the ground to air side,” Uber said.

Uber and his fellow aviators will put the classroom training he taught into use when Soldiers from the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division from JBLM, Washington, and JGSDF members from the 11th Infantry Regiment, 7th Armor Division, Northern Army begin combined light infantry, squad-level and urban assault training.

The aviation Soldiers will provide AH-64 Apache, UH 60 Black Hawks and HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters during an air assault exercise.

• Date Taken: 10.18.2014
• Date Posted: 10.22.2014 00:38
• Story ID: 145736
• Location: CAMP CHITOSE, HOKKAIDO, JP