'Ghost Brigade' operations touch all corners of the world

Courtesy Photo | Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 1-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team, conduct a simultaneous ground and air assault from Joint Base Lewis-McChord into Yakima Training Center in late February 2016. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Army)  

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, UNITED STATES

02.29.2016

Courtesy Story

1-2 SBCT, 7th Infantry Division

By 1st Lt. Jalisa Cannon
1-2 SBCT

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. – In one corner of the world, in the sweltering heat, a U.S. Soldier instructs a Thai Soldier how to apply a tourniquet to a limb. In South Korea, U.S. Soldiers conduct gunneries with their Republic of Korea Army counterparts in the bitter cold. Misty rain falls from the graphite skies of Washington on Soldiers pushing through the tough conditions of their combined arms live fire exercise at Yakima Training Center.

At any given moment, Soldiers of 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team “Ghost Brigade,” 2nd Infantry Division, are engaging in missions and training around the U.S. and the world.

Each year, U.S. and dozens of nations participate in an event known as Operation Pacific Pathways. It consists of multiple exercises in which U.S. Soldiers, Marines, Airmen and Sailors train with Soldiers from our allies in the Pacific. These operations aim to build tactical and technical cohesion, strengthen army-to-army relationships within the Pacific, and increase interoperability through humanitarian efforts and improved cultural exchange.

Pacific Pathways began this year with Operation Cobra Gold, which was cohosted by the U.S. and the Thai government from January to February in Thailand. Cobra Gold focused on global security in the region and support for regional stability. Ghost Brigade Soldiers united with the 31st Regiment of the Royal Thai Army to conduct command post exercises designed to perfect security operations and thwart piracy.

In the second phase of Pacific Pathways, Operation Foal Eagle, Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, deployed to South Korea. The 2-3 Inf. Soldiers and the ROK Army’s 8th Infantry Division are scheduled to conduct platoon and company level training, gunnery and situational training exercises, cultural training and a Joint Security Area tour.

Pacific Pathways will wrap up with Operation Balikatan, which will take place in the Philippines toward the end of March and continue through April.

Meanwhile, back in the U.S., the 23rd Brigade Engineer Battalion is gearing up to go to Fort Polk, Louisiana, to the Joint Readiness Training Center in support of the Defense CBRNE (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive) Reactionary Force mission. Upon completion of the rotation, Soldiers of the 23rd BEB will be ready to provide support to civil authorities in the event of a CBRNE disaster in the homeland. The rigorous training focuses on all aspects of recovery operations to include saving lives and eliminating potential human suffering.

In Washington, the Ghost Brigade can routinely be found training at the Yakima Training Center. Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, trained hard during their two-week rotation at YTC in early February. The training consisted of platoon live fire exercises and tactical operation center procedures.

The 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment, wasn’t too far away, conducting their own training at YTC. The 5-20th Inf. practiced room clearing, platoon exercises and even a live fire exercise.

Comprehensive training doesn’t always have to occur overseas with joint armies or even at major training sites. Often, the fundamentals are learned and perfected right at home. The 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, conducted its combined arms live fire exercise in mid-February at JBLM. The Warhorse Squadron trained through the President’s Day weekend, certifying troops and companies in day and night live fire scenarios. Individual platoons also used the time to complete situational training exercise lanes, rehearse self-recovery operations and brush up on maintenance operations.

In the month of February alone, 1-2 SBCT has had mobile command posts in Thailand, South Korea, Yakima Training Center and on JBLM! The ability of the Ghost Brigade to execute seamless, concurrent operations in multiple locations across the world shows how proficient and agile a unit can be, given competent, professional leaders and Soldiers alike. It is the perfect example of amazing functionality, widespread influence and mission readiness that the Ghost Brigade undoubtedly accomplishes.

• Date Taken: 02.29.2016
• Date Posted: 03.01.2016 19:11
• Story ID: 190761
• Location: JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, US