Photo By 1st Lt. Hannah Morgan | Arriving from Amberg Training Area on April 21, 2nd Cavalry Regiment's Support...... read more read more
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HOHENFELS, Germany - Clouds of dust billowed around a long line of military supply vehicles, as Soldiers from the 2nd Cavalry Regimental Support Squadron moved closer to the front lines during Exercise Saber Junction 15.
Saber Junction 15 is a multinational exercise spanning training areas in Germany, Lithuania and Romania, focusing on building relationships between 17 allied partners through realistic military scenarios. This year, the exercise included complex challenges support units face when supplying forces engaged in offensive and defensive operations.
The biggest obstacle the logistics element faced when force-on-force training started on April 21 was relocating the center of support, often referred to as a “jump,” closer to the simulated battle. The 16th Sustainment Brigade and 2nd Cavalry Regiment Support Squadron fielded the logistics support for this exercise.
“Jumping something this big and crucial is difficult, especially with the distance, but despite the challenges we were able to do it in one push. The key is to practice, practice, practice,” said Capt. James Jones, commander of Alpha Troop, responsible for distribution under the Regimental Support Squadron.
The logistical hub, or Regimental Support Area, was situated at the Amberg Training Area and hosted the Support Squadron and attached sustainment assets such as bulk fuel and maintenance facilities. The jump moved all of the support assets more than 25 miles closer to the action in Hohenfels Training Area.
The process of moving the Regimental Support Area to the Hohenfels Training Area is an essential aspect of the tactical logistics mission. Such maneuvers allow units to provide maximum support but also guard against attacks from opposition forces.
Increased missions and heightened security requirements during the exercise added to the stress as logistics Soldiers practiced vital skills for future operations. Fuel and water platoon leader from the 16th Sustainment Brigade 2nd Lt. April Lybbert led a section of 40 Soldiers who pushed fuel to the front lines and simultaneously provided security to logistical convoys.
“They get out here and react to tactical scenarios while still providing real life support to the training units. We keep pushing fuel to Alpha Troop and forward as needed, but also run the gun truck teams escorting other logistical convoys,” Lybbert said.
Both logistical units emphasized tactical skills such as the use of red-lens lights for “black-out” operations at night and fortification techniques.
“Rotating out gun truck teams got Soldiers up in the turret to get experience with crew-served weapons and more than just their job. They got a taste of what operating in the field is like, building defensive positions and being tactical about everything while still doing their assigned job,” said Sgt. Jaimie Swartz, a gun truck commander from the 16th Sustainment Brigade.
As the dust settled and dusk shrouded the newly-established Regimental Support Area on hill no. 476, faint flickers of red lenses dotted the tree line as logistics Soldiers manned the foxholes and began to prepare for another day’s support missions.
“What is important is applying the lessons learned at Saber Junction 15 to future missions and exercises,” Lybbert said. “What you expect never happens, so plan for the unexpected.”
| Date Taken: | 04.28.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 04.30.2015 04:08 |
| Story ID: | 161743 |
| Location: | HOHENFELS, BY, DE |
| Web Views: | 61 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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