Photo By Sgt. Scott Tynes | Pfc. Jeremy Ellis with 1st, Battalion, 204th Air Defense Artillery, Mississippi Army...... read more read more
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Clearing the Air
FORT HOOD – Defending the air against long–range missiles and terrorist aerial strikes are some of the many ways the U.S Army helps to keep the air space safe.
Appropriate use and integration of the 2d Battalion, 204th Air Defense Artillery (ADA) Regiment’s capabilities is an emphasis for the 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team while at Fort Hood during the Multi-echelon Integrated Brigade Training exercise. A MiBT is a multicomponent training event that sustains readiness of reserve and active components in accordance with the U.S. Army’s Total Force policy.
Sgt. 1st Class James D. Sathornkich, an observer controller trainer, with the Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center Mississippi-based 177th Armor Brigade, describes the air defense mission and the use of the Avengers at the MiBT.
“The Avengers, when they came out, they had multiple rocket stinger missiles. This helps in not having to go through reload procedures, it fires one after another,” said Sathornkich. “The equipment is the same as active duty. As far as the training you have a lot of guys coming straight out of Advanced Individual Training (AIT). We have to make sure they know the basics prior to becoming really sufficient as far as (job field).”
During the MiBT, Total Force training will enhance Soldiers ability to conduct movement to contact, deliberate attack and defense operations. Total Force training benefits include increased individual Soldier and collective battle staff proficiency, standard operating procedure exchanges, and stronger cross component relationships.
“Everything has to be done prior to coming out to the field. That’s the whole point of the cohesion to work,” said Sathornkich. “They have to meet and plan together. If they don’t do this, if they don’t train together, if they don’t do that, you’re going to run the likelihood of running into training obstacles about how things are done.
“Everything is really started a year out prior to coming to these exercises,” he said.
Threats have become a new constant, especially when it is least expected. The ADA is making sure they keep the air clear for safety.
“The ADA is sometimes overlooked. But, as you know in our times today, there’s always some kind of air threat now. These are more unmanned than manned. So the aircraft themselves are used as missiles. So I see it as anything having to grow rather than fade away,” said Stahornkich.
Sgt. Cameron D. Woullard, an Avenger team chief with the 1st Battalion, 204thAir Defense Artillery Regiment, MSARNG, also elaborated on how important air defense is to the country.
“Air defense is vital. We are the only unit that supports air defense at the MiBT, so its really big on us to make sure that there are no air threats. And if there are any we destroy them. If we don’t do it, no one else out here can,” said Woullard.
The use of the Avengers and its capabilities also stuck very strongly with Woullard in defending the safety of the airways.
“The capabilities of the Avenger are that it shoots extended missiles up to 4,000 meters. Anything over 4,000, the missile itself explodes and it goes no further than that,” he said. “It has the .50 caliber mount on the side, which is also a weapon on the Avenger.”
This training will provide all Soldiers with important components of air defense and use of artillery.
“As long as training from the lower level is getting something out of it, it’s never going to be a failure in my eyes. As long as they know more than when they came out here, for any unit, that’s my job - to make sure my lane, air defense, and my teams are trained proficiently.”
Both Sathornkich and Woullard support the MiBT, as well as the effectiveness of all the training that has taken place.
“This MiBT training is us working with other companies - active and reserve components. It brings the crews together and it builds cohesion. We are out staying in the field for at least a week at a time. So the team chief and the gunner actually get to bond better. This is like a real world event, like we are at war, so that we will be ready to fight.”
| Date Taken: | 06.08.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 06.09.2016 14:52 |
| Story ID: | 200540 |
| Location: | FORT HOOD , TX, US |
| Hometown: | FORT CAVAZOS, TX, US |
| Web Views: | 219 |
| Downloads: | 3 |
This work, Clearing the Air, by SGT DeUndra Brown, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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