Joint Air Attack Team unleashes deadly force on Fort Stewart

Photo By Sgt. William Begley | UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters lift off on their way to providing over watch at the artillery impact area at Fort Stewart during the Joint Air Attack Team training held during Marne Focus June 30. (Photo by Sgt. William Begley, 3rd CAB Public Affairs)  

HINESVILLE, GA, UNITED STATES

06.29.2015

Story by Sgt. William Begley 

3rd Combat Aviation Brigade

FORT STEWART, Ga. – The AH-64 Apache attack helicopter pilots of the 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade along with field artillery from 1st Battalion, 41st Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division Artillery teamed with the Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II pilots of the 74th Fighter Squadron to deliver deadly accurate fire during Joint Air Attack Team training on Fort Stewart June 30.

According to Col. John D. Kline, commander, 3rd CAB the exercise was a culmination of a number of events held during Marne Focus which once again highlighted Fort Stewart/Hunter Army Airfield as the national strategic power projection platform and Joint Training System for the East Coast.

“What’s significant about today’s event is that they are all going to be able to shoot simultaneously, but also that we can do all of this here at Fort Stewart,” Kline said. “This is not just an installation where we are able to train with Bradleys and tanks, we are now incorporating joint assets as well.”

Kline said this is key in today’s military where we need to maximize the value of our training dollar. The training is also important as the unit prepares to go to Joint Readiness Training Center in Fort Polk, Louisiana.

Additionally, the Vipers of 1st Battalion, 3rd Aviation Reg. integrated the support once again of the MQ-1C Gray Eagle from Company E, 3rd CAB and conducted manned and unmanned teaming (MUM-T) between the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter pilots and the MQ-1C Gray Eagle unmanned aerial system.

Capt. Jason Galletta, brigade fire support officer, 3rd CAB spoke of the added benefit the unmanned aerial system.
“The importance of the MQ-1C Gray Eagle as an asset is that it doesn’t risk anyone’s life. It’s unmanned and can give you a heads-up on what’s going on in the battlefield before anyone gets there,” Galleta said.

During the exercise, the 1st Battalion, 41st Field Artillery Reg. put almost 100 rounds downrange utilizing the M109A6 Paladin Howitzer. The “King of Battle” was accompanied by over 300 rockets from the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter, and additional ordnance from the A-10 Thunderbolt II who worked in concert with the Air Force Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC).

After the training, Kline commented on how he felt everything went.

“I thought the training was fantastic. Any mistakes that were made will lend to quick lessons learned for the next execution which will be at JRTC,” Kline said. “We integrated Air Force, artillery, JTAC, the Gray Eagle and the Apache’s all right here. Fort Stewart is a great place to train.”

• Date Taken: 06.29.2015
• Date Posted: 07.02.2015 13:49
• Story ID: 168948
• Location: HINESVILLE, GA, US