US Army Reserve Soldiers succeed in WAREX challenge

Photo By Sgt. Ferdinand Thomas | Army Sgt. 1st Class Gilbert Soliven listens to Army Sgt. 1st Class Roderick Daniels, both of the 321st Sustainment Brigade, from Baton Rouge, La., about the importance of 360-security prior to and following an attack on the base camp during WAREX at Joint Base McGuire Dix LakeHurst, N.J., Jan. 18, 2015. WAREX is a culmination training exercise, which include more than 15 different units simulating life on and off of a forward operating base in a war torn country. (Photo by Sgt. Ferdinand Thomas II, 321st Sustainment Brigade P.A.O.)  

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, NJ, UNITED STATES

01.31.2015

Story by Sgt. Ferdinand Thomas 

321st Sustainment Brigade

JOINT BASE MCQUIRE DIX LAKEHURST, N.J. — BOOM! BOOM! Squeals whistle just before the explosion shakes the ground under your feet. “Where is it coming from?” “What do we do?” This is January at Dix.

Imagine eating T-Rations and MREs, wearing heavy combat protective equipment and enduring brutal New Jersey weather in January. Tents, with 15 additional random roommates, are your five-star sleeping accommodations. Walk outside your living quarters to the latrine at night and your breath is illuminated by the moonlight. Add in random attacks from Operation Force and you’ve entered WAREX 2015.

WAREX tests Soldiers’ abilities to live in adverse conditions and react tactically and safely in a simulated combat environment. The 321st Sustainment Brigade, from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is one of more than 15 U.S. Army Reserve units that came together to complete this month-long culmination training exercise. These groups journeyed from as far west as Hawaii, as far east as New York, as far south as Florida and as far north as Wisconsin to participate in the training.

“Culminations like this show Soldiers what right looks like in large numbers,” said Army 1st Sgt. Edwin Williams, 324th Expeditionary Signal Battalion from Fort Gordon, Georgia, and one of the leaders participating in the exercise. “It also helps troops understand you’re not always going to deploy into hard building structures. Sometimes you’ll have to create your own living and work environments when you head downrange.”

Downrange can be an unforgiving environment that places junior Soldiers in leadership roles. Spc. Quenyetta Howard, native of New Orleans, Louisiana, and 573rd Movement Control Team transportation coordinator, became one of those troops who are called upon. Even a specialist can be the convoy commander.

This is Howard’s time to practice the pre-combat checks and inspections with her Soldiers. This is that time to practice the 9-line medical evacuation plan. Reserve troops have the opportunity to serve in the Army and also contribute to the civilian sector, which makes it easy to forget military knowledge. WAREX is the type of exercise that helps troops keep those perishable skills intact from junior enlisted all the way up to the highest brass.

The first day on ground at the exercise presented a challenge and started a lesson — enduring seven degrees of brick wind whipping faces while assembling a DRASH tent. It’s completely dark out with nothing but vehicle headlights and phone flashlights to light up the operation area, but the mission must go on. Many Soldiers did not have the necessary training to assemble a piece of equipment that size. With the help of more experienced troops and cold weather gear, they achieved a first-time go.

Troops from the 321st Sustainment Brigade walked through slush and snow while conquering many challenges during this culmination. They exuded courage and class on ice. Accomplishing missions in a cold weather environment became their newest successfully jumped-over hurdle.

“Soldiers love to come home from exercises like this with badges of honor — those you don’t get an award or a coin for,” said Army Lt. Col. April Myrick, 321st Special Troops Battalion commander. “There are certain memories and certain hard times you get through, which make you better, stronger and wiser. The 321st Soldiers are picking up those badges and wearing them proudly.”

This exercise covered a lot of ground. The mission of sustaining Atropia included other camps, some of which required traveling across states. Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia, housed Soldiers who provided life support for the main base, Col Victory, in the culmination simulation. Just a couple of miles down the road from Victory was the detainee operation camp.

Camp Pegasus was operated by multiple military police units including the 224th Military Police Company from Phoenix, Arizona. The confinement setup was very close to standards of the real thing, and the 224th used that to its advantage. The company is scheduled to deploy to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in the coming months to take charge of guarding the detainees on the Joint Task Force at Naval Base Guantanamo Bay.

“I run this facility, sir,” Spc. Aldo Nunez of 224th said to Army Maj. Gen. Scottie Carpenter, 84th Training Command commander, while being recognized for outstanding work in an impromptu formation. “It’s my battle buddies and my responsibility to keep this placing running 24 hours a day, sir.”

Pride, a sense of responsibility and leadership is what WAREX brings out in the troops. It also teaches them balance is one of the most important things in life. After those long 12-hour work days, they wind down and relax in preparation for the next day. Some have snow ball fights. Some hit the gym, and several watch movies together. Others play card games. At the end of the day, WAREX showed Soldiers how to work hard and play hard.

• Date Taken: 01.31.2015
• Date Posted: 02.03.2015 14:49
• Story ID: 153408
• Location: JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, NJ, US