Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Robert Jordan | Soldiers assigned to the 5th Battalion, 113th Field Artillery Regiment (High Mobility...... read more read more
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DRAWSKO POMORSKIE, Poland – The training exercise is complete for Soldiers of the 5th Battalion, 113th Field Artillery Regiment (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System), North Carolina National Guard, during Exercise Anakonda 16 here June 2 – 16, 2016.
AN16 is one of the largest multinational exercises in Europe deploying more than 20,000 personnel representing more than 20 NATO and partner nations spread across numerous Polish training areas. Ensuring Allies and partners are able to rapidly assemble, train and deal with any future contingency operation.
“The Soldiers had an opportunity to fire rockets, calculate and control fire missions and maintain launchers while demonstrating our capabilities to our Polish counterparts,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. John Ebbighausen, the commander of the 5-113th FAR.
The Griffin Battalion’s mission of rapidly deploying and coordinating live fire operations in a field environment with their M142 HIMARS light multiple rocket launchers was a unique, historic mission for them. They were the only unit participating in the training exercise equipped with the 12-foot-long, telephone pole sized rockets. Crews completed hundreds of simulated fires, drove nearly 300 miles on mission through European towns and countrysides, including a convoy from the port of Szczecin, Poland, to Drawsko Pomorskie Training Area (DPTA), Poland, and fired approximately 24 live-fire rockets on two ranges at DPTA. The 5-113th joined other U.S. Soldiers and several other countries soldiers during the multi-national weapons demonstration reviewed by distinguished dignitaries, including the president of Poland, Andrzej Duda.
“The most important thing is common understanding especially with live-fire operations,” said Polish Army Lt. Col. Warek Wasielewski.
The unit arrived by jet in Berlin from Raleigh-Durham International Airport, North Carolina, May 31, 2016, and within 24 hours the unit began training operations at the Polish training site. Seventeen vehicles including the 25.5 feet HIMARS launchers, resupply vehicles, fire-direction-center vehicles and several Humvees rolled out from the port to DPTA.
After arriving at DPTA, Griffin battalion communication specialists established the network for the numerous units, including U.S. Army active-duty, National Guard and Army Reserve organizations, to talk among themselves through radios and Internet connections. The maintenance personnel started diesel-powered generators and prepared the six-wheeled HIMARS for the two-week training exercise.
Polish military leaders coordinated with 5-113th FAR officers and noncommissioned officers shared best practices and experiences learned from numerous years of training and multiple deployments in support of contingent operations throughout the world. Polish defense industry executives studied the units operations and training plans.
“I want to get as much (HIMARS) knowledge as I can,” said Polish Army 2nd Lt. Marek Sierdzki.
The Soldiers continued operation throughout the training cycle improving their knowledge about convoy operations, field exercises, command and control, and artillery operations, all in a joint environment. This training knowledge better prepares the Griffin battalion to rapidly deploy, within a moment notice, in support of contingency operation.
“It was a learning experience and a training opportunity for the NCNG (specifically the 5-113th FAR) will remember for years to come and contributes to retaining high quality Soldiers,” said Ebbighausen.
At the end of the deployment the Soldiers packed their bags, disassembled their camp, turned in their equipment and said farewell to their new friends and comrades.
“We thank you and I look forward to seeing you again at Anakonda 18,” said Polish Army Col. Slawomir Owczarek, the chief of field artillery for the Polish Forces.
| Date Taken: | 06.16.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 06.30.2016 06:02 |
| Story ID: | 202826 |
| Location: | PL |
| Web Views: | 156 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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