Photo By Sgt. Toby Cook | Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Jackson, platoon sergeant, T Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd...... read more read more
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By 1st Lt Marco Kilongkilong & 2LT J.R. Lystash,
3rd IBCT PAO
FORT SILL, Okla.- Soldiers from A Battery, 1st Battalion, 6th Field Artillery Regiment and T Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, demonstrated the power of combined arms operations during a collaborated training exercise with 75th Fires Brigade, 1st Inf. Div., at Fort Sill from Oct. 28 to Nov. 6.
The Duke soldiers went to Fort Sill to assist the 75th Fires Bde. by offering them maneuver elements for their certification as they prepared for an upcoming deployment.
“This exercise was a great opportunity to bring and work all fire support assets,” said Command Sgt. Major Carlos Soto, 75th Fires Bde. “It was a great way to work in light artillery from the artillery in support of the infantry maneuver element.”
This proved to be a unique experience for several of the infantrymen because they rarely receive opportunities at Fort Knox where so many assets are available for one Maneuver Company.
“Usually when my guys are engaging targets they just look at their sector,” said Cpl. Poland Wade Bailey, 2nd Bn., 2nd Inf. Regt. “But this training required incredible situational awareness, being able to know where the support by fire position is while having to fight while artillery rounds were going off so close to us.”
As soldiers began drawing vehicles and equipment needed to conduct the exercise, leaders began planning for the upcoming defensive and offensive lanes.
During the defensive lane the infantrymen created a blocking position to repulse the notional enemy force by integrating all fire support assets into their defensive plan.
The defensive lane for the not only required strong skills from the infantrymen but also the expertise of its fire supporters. In order for this exercise to be successful, these soldiers needed to both call up enemy movement and give battle damage assessment reports so the 75th Fires Bde. could track the fight as well.
Other than the small arms and mortar fire from T Company, the last line of defense was the final protective fires provided by the artillery 105mm Howitzers. Precision was imperative as rounds landed 700m away from friendly infantry units, the very edge of what is considered danger close.
“The defense lane was my favorite part,” said Sgt. Jordan Allehouse, squad leader, T Company. “This was something that I always wanted to train for…This was the most realistic training that I had ever done and the only way to make it more realistic was to have people shoot back at me.”
In early November, the operation transitioned from the defense to the offense.
The Infantrymen were then tasked to counterattack and defeat a consolidated enemy force while the artillerymen coordinated fire to support them.
The highlight of the lane was the seizure of a pond bed that the notional enemy was using as a strongpoint, where the Howitzers placed over 100 rounds directly on the target in order to soften up the target before the infantry assaulted the now cratered landscape.
For many soldiers, this was the first time they experienced such an integrated exercise and they valued the experience of seeing how multiple elements worked together to accomplish the mission and the cohesion they build as a unit.
“This event was a well constructed combined arms exercise that allowed us to focus on several of our mission essential tasks, including deploying and redeploying the company,” said Capt. Ronald Vinyard, the T Co. Commander. “Both my first sergeant and I agree this is the best training either of us have ever participated during our combined time in service.”
| Date Taken: | 11.06.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 11.21.2012 16:38 |
| Story ID: | 98253 |
| Location: | FORT KNOX, KY, US |
| Hometown: | FORT KNOX, KY, US |
| Hometown: | FORT RILEY, KS, US |
| Hometown: | FORT SILL, OK, US |
| Web Views: | 138 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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