Arkansas artillerymen prove their worth for new mission

Photo By Staff Sgt. Katie Grandori | Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 142nd Field Artillery, load the Army Tactical Missile System onto a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System in preparation for launching the missile at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., July 10, 2015.  

WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, NM, UNITED STATES

07.10.2015

Story by Sgt. Katie Grandori 

Arkansas National Guard Public Affairs Office

WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, New Mexico – The earth rumbled as the projectile blasted out of the pod with the sudden flash of flame and smoke. The Arkansans watched as their missile gained altitude emitting a loud, jet engine-like sizzling until it disappeared during a rare mission to fire one of the U.S. military’s largest projectiles at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.

Staff Sgt. Brian Teel, 1st Battalion, 142nd Mission non-commissioned officer in charge, watched from the fire direction control center along with the rest of his team on July 10, 2015. They were responsible for the first successful launch of the missile by a National Guard unit at White Sands

“Everything happened very fast and was truly amazing. Experiencing this event helped me fully comprehend the shock and awe that our great military is capable of producing,” said Teel, a resident of Rogers, Arkansas. “I’m glad that I don’t have to be on the receiving end of such a devastating weapon.”

The missile fired was an Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) which is a long range missile capable of destroying targets over 100 miles away. This type of munition has been used in theater since combat operations started after 9/11.

Arkansas National Guard soldiers shot the missile from a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMAR), but it can also be fired from the Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) which the 142nd already possesses.

“The actual firing systems are similar.” said Teel. “The fact that our soldiers were able to abruptly transition from our equipment to the HIMAR is a testament to how prepared our soldiers are to go anywhere and do anything.”

The 142nd was charged with testing a single missile from one lot to insure that the entire lot was functional. The mission has largely been performed by active duty Marines.

“It proves that the National Guard is capable of doing the same thing as our active duty counterparts,” said Teel. “We are fully qualified to accept the same tasks they can accomplish,”

The mission was a huge success. The 142nd verified the potency of the lot and showed their own potential as a future asset.

“We would like to thank the Arkansas National Guard for their outstanding support of the ATACMS test,” said Lt. Col Jonathan Shepard, Precision Guidance Munitions and Rockets Program Manager. “They brought great credit upon the Arkansas National Guard.”

Shepard said that their efforts supported the continued development of the finest weapons systems in the world.

“Because of the performance of our team, the project lead specifically requested us to continue as the selected unit,” said Lt. Col. David Gibbons, 1st Battalion, 142nd Commander. “This mission provides us unique training opportunities which better postures us for potential deployments.”

Gibbons, a resident of Van Buren, Arkansas, speculates that they will be performing this service on a quarterly or greater basis.

Teel said that in the future soldiers will be chosen from the 142nd based on a selection board that serves not only to select the most deserving and qualified soldiers for the mission but also encourages professional development.

“The benefit to our soldiers is two-fold,” said Gibbons, “One, it is a once in a lifetime opportunity to do something new and exciting. Two, it better prepares us for real world missions and you just can’t get that training anywhere else.”

• Date Taken: 07.10.2015
• Date Posted: 09.22.2015 15:54
• Story ID: 176880
• Location: WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, NM, US
• Hometown: BENTONVILLE, AR, US
• Hometown: FAYETTEVILLE, AR, US
• Hometown: GRAVETTE, AR, US
• Hometown: GREENWOOD, AR, US
• Hometown: ROGERS, AR, US
• Hometown: SPRINGDALE, AR, US
• Hometown: VAN BUREN, AR, US
• Hometown: WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, NM, US
• Hometown: WITTER, AR, US