Photo By Sgt. Alexander Neely | An AH-64 Apache helicopter from C Company, 1st Battalion, 501st Aviation Regiment is...... read more read more
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FORT BLISS, Texas – The roar of engines tore calm-grey skies. Sharp cracks of artillery rounds leveled targets. Finally, the loud buzz of a GAU-8 Avenger rotary cannon spewed a wall of bullets courtesy of A-10 Warthogs.
These were the sounds of Operation Hustler Trough, a joint training exercise combining the expertise of Soldiers and Airmen from 1st Armored Division here, and Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. The exercise was designed to improve the 1st Armored Division’s ability to synchronize and integrate all fires on the battlefield.
The training environment at Fort Bliss and White Sands Missile Range allows Soldiers and Airmen to conduct operations in ways they would expect on the battlefield, and more importantly, the future battlefield.
“This is the first time I had the chance to shoot [artillery] rounds for fixed-wing aircraft,” said Sgt. Radrick Stone, section chief, Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment.
Lt. Col. Kevin D. Brown, commander, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment, said the role of his unit is to provide indirect fire for the Forward Air Controller Certification.
The Air Force pilots, on the other hand, are students of the United States Air Force Weapons School and belong to the 66th Weapon Squadron, which specializes in training pilots on the A-10 Warthog Thunderbolt II.
The Army frequently uses forward observers to spot targets and call on the Air Force to destroy them but Operation Hustler Trough used Air Force Warthog pilots to spot targets for the Army to destroy using indirect fire.
“The training value of this mission improves our unit’s lethality;” said Stone. “It is a great experience for all junior Soldiers involved. My team performed well today. There’s a standard level but my team stepped up given the environment and weather conditions.”
Sgt. Maj. Robert S. O’Donnell, 1st Armored Division Fires sergeant major, stressed the benefit of the live training.
“What Hustler Trough is doing is building bridges to bring close air support to Fort Bliss,” he said. “…to get live experience as opposed to simulator experience. Nothing replaces live experience.”
Artillery, mortar, AH-64 Apaches, A-10s, and other aircraft worked together in support of each other to accomplish the mission.
AH-64 Apache helicopters piloted by Soldiers from Company C, 1st Battalion, 501st Aviation Regiment, Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB), 1st Armored Division, provided close-air support called in by the Air Force A-10s serving as forward observers.
The atmosphere allowed the Soldiers and Airmen to train alongside one another, an opportunity that Chief Warrant Officer 2 Scott Parker, an Apache pilot-in-command, believed was paramount for future deployments.
“I have only worked in joint atmospheres when I was deployed,” said Parker. “This exercise allowed all of us to refine our skills, so when or if we are deployed again, we will be able to run smoother missions.”
The coordination between the Soldiers and Airmen proved to be a precise and commanding force. A-10 pilots called in targets from the air and Battery A dropped artillery rounds on the targets.
“This is the way we win wars, joint fires,” Brown said.
The large scale joint training exercise is a rare opportunity for Soldiers and Airmen to train together.
“Any chance we can get to work with the Air Force is greatly appreciated and well executed,” said 2nd Lt. Lukasz Michalowicz, fire direction officer, Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment.
| Date Taken: | 11.04.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 11.07.2014 14:28 |
| Story ID: | 147361 |
| Location: | FORT BLISS, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 412 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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