End of training signals start of mission for Powder River Cowboys

FORT HOOD, TX, UNITED STATES

06.25.2009

Story by 2nd Lt. Christian Venhuizen 

2nd Battalion, 300th Field Artillery

FORT HOOD, Texas — The Powder River Cowboys of the Wyoming Army National Guard's 2nd Battalion, 300th Field Artillery Regiment, 115th Fires Brigade, are turning in equipment and they're starting to repack their bags. All anticipate receiving the order to transition to Kuwait later this summer.

"We accomplished an incredible amount of training in just over a couple of months," said Lt. Col. Brian Nesvik, 2-300th commander. "Some of our Soldiers are taking a short break, some are still training and others are forward to make sure we have a smooth transition when we arrive."

The Army trains using the "Crawl, Walk, Run" method of instruction. A crawl is your basic introduction, while a run is at near combat speed.

"When we hit the ground at Fort Hood, I assessed us at a fast walk pace," Nesvik said. "We are at a high tempo now, as we prepare to move overseas."

The Soldiers from the 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry, who helped train their Wyoming replacements, identified the strengths of their Wyoming counterparts. They're praises included identifying the 2-300th's non-commissioned officers as some of the best they've seen in the Army, both active duty and in the reserve components. The 2-300th's officers agree.

"I think we probably have the best leaders I have ever seen, especially the NCO's," 1st Lt. Grant Michael, A Battery executive officer, said. "We are most definitely fit for combat."

Part of knowing they are fit for combat comes from completing the mobilization readiness exercise. The exercise is the first full speed test of what the unit may see in combat.

"I know the troops in B Battery are shining," 2nd Lt. Casey Henry, B Battery platoon leader, said. "I'd say we're 150-percent better prepared now than we were when we first got here."

Henry said there were two keys to becoming ready. The first is being focused. "I made our Soldiers rehearse their battle drills at night, so they go to sleep with it in their heads," he said.

The second key was camaraderie. "I think the 2-300th learned to work together," Henry said. "Before, we said we were a family. Now, we are a family."

Part of the coming-together process is attributable to the high tempo of the exercise. It spanned eight days, 24 hours per day, finally wrapping up late in the night, of June 18.

"I think the troops excelled at this mission," Maj. Terry Jenkins, battalion operations officer said. "They completed the training with high spirits, high morale and they did it safely in lanes that encompassed a variety of scenarios."

The exercise included 75 convoy escort missions and three quick reaction force missions. Convoy escort missions involve the direct protection of convoys. The quick reaction force heads out if a convoy escort needs backup or if a vehicle breaks down.

Nesvik said they plan to maintain the morale level with a four-day pass for the Soldiers around the time of Fathers' Day. It will be the last opportunity for several months for the troops to revel in civilian life before entering Kuwait and Iraq.

• Date Taken: 06.25.2009
• Date Posted: 06.25.2009 22:53
• Story ID: 35639
• Location: FORT HOOD, TX, US