Photo By Sgt. Michael Uribe | Georgia Army National Guard Soldiers with 1-108th Cavalry, assume a defensive position...... read more read more
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FORT STEWART, Ga. - Over the past three weeks, more than 2,300 soldiers, including the 32 Canadian Brigade Group and the 7th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland, engaged in a massive joint training exercise sponsored by the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) at Fort Stewart during the eXportable Combat Training Capabilities (XCTC) rotation designed to prepare Guardsmen for real-world scenarios.
As part of the XCTC training Sept. 19, Guardsmen participated in a combined arms live-fire exercise (CALFEX). A number of distinguished guests attended the CALFEX, to include local and state representatives, as well as National Guard employers.
The visit provided an opportunity for local leaders and employers of Georgia to not only learn how Guardsmen use the organic weapons systems they have within their company or their troop, but also the capability of combined arms and immense firepower of an infantry brigade.
Employers attending the event are members of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) program, established in 1972, designed to promote the cooperation and understanding between reserve component service members and their civilian employers and to assist in the resolution of conflicts arising from an employee's military commitment.
The employers were given a brief introduction by Col. Randall V. Simmons Jr., 48th IBCT commander, who pointed out some of the benefits of this year’s training.
“Our CALFEX exercises are really good,” Simmons said. “Many of our younger soldiers that have never deployed, certainly have not worked with TAC [tactical aviation controllers] before and for them to see the integration of all these assets into one event will help them in the future should they ever need to employ all these assets on the battle field.”
Major Matthew L. Howard, an intelligence officer with the 48th IBCT, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, described the Army National Guard and Air National Guard weapon systems to include 120 mm mortars, 60 mm mortars, M119 howitzers, javelins, TOW (tube-launched, optically-tracked, wire command-link) guided missiles, AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, M249 machine guns and M4 carbine assault rifles.
“The skills and capability of each soldier is honed into the collective application of precise fire power onto an enemy force,” Howard said. “Artillery, air power and direct fire weapons systems are coordinated with hyper accurate and deadly effects.”
During the CALFEX, employers in attendance took pictures and later enjoyed speaking with Guardsmen on their experiences.
“We support the men and women that are in the Guard and Reserves,” said retired Lt. Col. John Phillips, Coca-Cola Company’s president of military veterans business resource group. “I thought the CALFEX was awesome.”
Phillips didn’t hesitate to spread the word using today’s social media to send his experience back to the office.
“I actually took some video and I already emailed it back to Coke employees,” Phillips said. “I thought it was really awesome.”
The Georgia National Guard remains dedicated to supporting companies that provide military leave to those service members called to duty. The Georgia National Guard Family Program’s job assistance center provides Guardsmen tools and resources for seeking employment.
| Date Taken: | 09.26.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 09.27.2013 14:56 |
| Story ID: | 114396 |
| Location: | FORT STEWART, GA, US |
| Hometown: | ATLANTA, GA, US |
| Hometown: | MACON, GA, US |
| Web Views: | 108 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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