2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division Tackles YTC

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Sinthia Rosario | An AH-64 Apache assigned to 16th Combat Aviation Brigade from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., fires on targets during a Joint Air Attack Training exercise at Yakima Training Center, Washington, Oct. 26. The JAAT, led by 2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, involves F/A-18 Super Hornet aircraft, Apaches and direct and indirect fires on an objective. The extensive exercise brought together personnel and capabilities from Army, Navy and Air Force components. The JAAT was a culminating exercise for 2nd Bde., 2nd Inf. Div. in preparation for their rotation at the National Training Center.  

YAKIMA TRAINING CENTER, WA, UNITED STATES

10.30.2015

Story by Sgt. Sinthia Rosario 

5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment   

YAKIMA TRAINING CENTER, Wash. – The ground shook as multiple artillery rounds impacted unseen targets, causing waves of dust and smoke to litter the training area. Soldiers scurried around an M777 Howitzer, some barking orders, others slamming rounds in the tube. The 2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division led this effort during an exercise at Yakima Training Center, Washington, Oct. 26.

The training was the culminating exercise for the brigade in preparation for its rotation at the National Training Center, California, this January.

The monthlong training was part of a series of exercises to prepare the brigade for Pacific Pathways, which is designed to bolster readiness while strengthening partnership with Pacific nations.

The 2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, based out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, coordinated this joint air attack training exercise with elements from Army, Navy and Air Force to culminate all the training objectives.

“We’re essentially executing a brigade deep fight with our enablers,” said Col. Jerry A. Turner, commander of 2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division. “This exercise takes more than just our brigade; it takes the total force here at JBLM.”

The brigade and its counterparts worked together bringing different systems to the fight including the unmanned aerial system, the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System and rocket assisted projectiles to work through this mission. This enhanced the unit’s ability to synchronize all those effects on the battlefield, Turner added.

Having the chance to bring these assets into motion played an important role in a successful mission.

“This is one of the rare opportunities you get to bring the whole brigade together before NTC to work company-level live fires,” said Lt. Col. Timothy Mungie, commander of 2nd Battalion, 17th Field Artillery Regiment. He added that this live fire was great because it brought together many elements of the brigade who normally don’t get the opportunity to work together. “This certainly is an outstanding professional opportunity for all the Soldiers across the formation.”

The exercise helped the brigade bolster readiness for future operations.

“We’ll take our lessons learned from this event and apply them to a command post training exercise that we’ll be doing in about two weeks,” Turner said. “I just couldn’t be prouder of the Lancers and the Bayonet Soldiers. As well as the other Soldiers, who’ve really gone out of the way to support our training level."

• Date Taken: 10.30.2015
• Date Posted: 10.30.2015 13:08
• Story ID: 180433
• Location: YAKIMA TRAINING CENTER, WA, US