Photo By Staff Sgt. Tracy Mack | U.S. Army Sgt. Felicia Hillis, assigned to the 122nd Aviation Support Battalion, 82nd...... read more read more
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FORT BRAGG, N.C. – In a secluded training area outside Fort Bragg, a unit establishes its battalion-sized forward operating base away from their hangars and aircraft with a defensive position fortified with razor wire and heavy machine guns. From the outside looking in, it reminds senior Soldiers of what deployments used to be like, no established infrastructure, no running water, and a constant state of readiness in the event of an attack.
The 122nd Aviation Support Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, conducted a battalion field training exercise to assess current tactics, techniques, and procedures Dec. 7-11. The FTX gave Soldiers some insight to what conditions may be like in the event they are deployed in support of the Global Response Force to a potentially austere environment.
Training for a potential threats required Soldiers at all levels to hone their tactical abilities to respond to different events.
“We started with a permissive environment with low threats,” said Command. Sgt. Maj. Jonnathan Logan, the senior enlisted member for the ASB. “As the days went on, we ramped up the scenarios to where everyone is in their full combat gear, to include a gas mask.”
With the bulky gas mask hanging at their hip, the Soldiers would quickly learn of the real-world application in utilizing this life-saving piece of gear.
“Once the chemical attack occurred, we quickly donned our mask and continued to guard the ECP,” said Pfc. Daveon Jones, CH-47 Helicopter Repairer, 122 ASB, 82nd CAB. “Even with the mask on, we have to stay positive. Everyone around me is in the same uniform, training for future missions. Once the tear gas canisters went off, we realized how important all of our gear is. If we didn’t have this mask, we would become unable to help our battle buddies in the fight.”
For the Soldiers manning the entry control points, which control access to the FOB, there was a large focus on how to improve their base defenses with multiple battle positions.
“On the second day, we dug foxholes to improve our fighting position,” said Jones. “It was fun and everyone was pretty pumped up to do it. It was a great way to improve the camaraderie in our unit because we were all out there, working together to improve our area.”
For the senior enlisted leader of the unit, this FTX reminded him of previous deployments he had been on and something not familiar to the younger generations of Soldiers in his formation.
“In late 2001, I was deployed to Bagram, Afghanistan,” said Logan. “It wasn’t like it is today. There were no armored vehicles or hard buildings everywhere. This training helps them prepare to deploy to an environment without established infrastructures.”
With austere environments in mind, Logan took the chance to reinforce essential Soldier skills many combat support enablers may take for granted such as ammunition, water, and food.
“There are little things that we can overlook nowadays,” said Logan. “A great example of that is water. Before we left, our leaders down to the lowest level ensured that every canteen and camelback was topped off. If we deploy to an unimproved area, you never know when you will come across clean drinking water.”
The training was to simulate deploying a support aviation element anywhere in the world, and for Jones, it hit home.
“This training helps me prepare to take the fight to the enemy,” said Jones. “I want to protect not only what I believe in, but what my family believes in. This training makes me feel more confident about doing just that.”
| Date Taken: | 12.17.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 12.18.2015 16:13 |
| Story ID: | 184942 |
| Location: | FORT BRAGG, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 370 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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