1-64th AR stands ready for whatever may come

Photo By Staff Sgt. Richard Wrigley | An M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle of the 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment “Desert Rogues,” 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, fires while a dismounted Soldier scans the horizon in a simulated chemical hazard during the Rogues’ Bradley Fighting Vehicle Gunnery Table XII, held here at the Digital Multi-Purpose Range Complex, Sept. 4. The GTXII is one of the pinnacle training events for a combined arms battalion, incorporating direct and indirect fires, and mounted and dismounted live fire scenarios at the platoon level. (U.S. Army Photo by Staff Sgt. Richard Wrigley 2nd ABCT, 3rd ID, Public Affairs NCO)  

FORT STEWART, GA, UNITED STATES

09.04.2014

Story by Staff Sgt. Richard Wrigley 

2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs

FORT STEWART, Ga. - The report of the M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle’s main gun thundered rapidly with earsplitting regularity, filling the atmosphere with smoke and brimstone. The white smoke from the 25 mm chain gun haphazardly mixed with the purple haze of M18 smoke grenade, which was still furiously expelling its violet discharge at a seemingly exponential volume into the atmosphere.

Just to the side of the BFV, a squad of infantrymen scanned the horizon as best they could in the sulfurous smoke, which seemed to be weighed down by the oppressive heat and humidity, common of a summer afternoon in Georgia. Yet despite the offensive atmosphere, the Soldiers seemed unperturbed. Perhaps it was because of the M40 Field Protective Mask they had all just donned due to the violet "chemical threat," or maybe it was just that all the training they had up until this point had more than prepared them for this test.

Regardless of the reason it was clear that the Soldiers were functioning at a high rate of violent-speed, efficient and smooth, in action and demeanor.

This was the scene during just one engagement of the 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment “Desert Rogues,” 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division’s, BFV Gunnery Table XII, held here at the Digital Multi-Purpose Range Complex, Sept. 4.

Gunnery Table XII is a culminating event, which the Desert Rogues have been working toward since they returned from their deployment to Afghanistan almost two years ago.

Lt. Col. Sean Kuester, commander of the Desert Rogues, explained how the battalion started from the ground up, resetting and recovering from a tough deployment, and then getting back to the platforms that are the reason for the battalion's "Armor" classification.

With diligence and determination, the Desert Rogues have gone through their paces, certifying their proficiency at the individual and crew levels multiple times over, and ensuring that their foundation in the basics is deep and strong. Their trials graduated in difficulty and complexity, allowed them to get to where they are now, being certified at the platoon level via Gunnery Table XII.

The GT XII is generally considered a "pinnacle" training event, and is only surpassed by one other training exercise in training complexity and value, and 1-64th AR’s GT XII was no exception.

“The Bradley platoons were employed as they were doctrinally designed to be, so that that we had mounted and dismounted maneuvers and fires as well as employment of dismounted support by fire missions,” Kuester explained.

The result of the gunnery was the successful validation of the battalion’s Bradley platoons, and proof that the Desert Rogues are ready for whatever mission the future holds for them.

While discussing the Rogues’ overwhelming success, Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Aiello, the master gunner for the Desert Rogues, explained how he has had a relatively long history with the Desert Rogues. Short of two years as a drill sergeant, and one year stationed in Korea, he has been assigned to the Desert Rogues since he was first assigned the Armor Battalion in March of 2000. Both his experience and current position lend him a unique viewpoint on the gunnery and status of the Rogues.

“First and foremost, the Soldiers put in maximum amount of effort in to everything they did, from the vehicle maintenance, to food prep, to the ammo handlers, everything was done to the utmost of their ability,” Aiello said. “In the end though, the NCOs on the ground took charge and ensured that the everything was taken care of.”

Army leaders making it happen seemed to be a common sentiment, as it was reflected in the commander’s thoughts as well.

“The number one lesson-learned I took away from this gunnery is that it is not just a bumper sticker, noncommissioned officers are the backbone of the Army,” Kuester said. “They are the glue that holds everything together - without the noncommissioned officers we would fall apart.”

Tested and hardened, validated and certified, the Desert Rogues will continue training, ready for whatever mission the future may bring.

“I have seen this battalion at its highs and I’ve seen it at its lows too, but I have to say, we are right back up there to what the unit was when we deployed to Iraq in OIF I,” said Aiello. “I would definitely say that 1-64 Armor is 110 percent ready to deploy and fight in combat.”

Comforting news perhaps, with the turmoil found in the world today, yet even more comforting to hear from the commander as well.

“We are at the highest state of readiness that I have seen since I took command,” said Kuester. “Through it all, the Desert Rogues’ spirit and ethos, ‘Mission First, Men Always,’ has pervaded; no matter what the future brings, the Desert Rogues will get it done, mission first.”

• Date Taken: 09.04.2014
• Date Posted: 12.10.2014 14:28
• Story ID: 149973
• Location: FORT STEWART, GA, US