Photo By Sgt. 1st Class John Carkeet IV | Members of the 642nd Regional Support Group capped their two weeks of annual training...... read more read more
By Sgt. John L. Carkeet IV
143d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary)
FORT MCCELLAN, Ala. – In mid-August, an Army Reserve convoy laden with troops, weapons and other essential supplies reached its staging area in Fort McClellan, Ala.
As the trucks, vans and Humvees rolled to a stop, scores of Soldiers the from the 642nd Regional Support Group, a logistics command headquartered in Decatur, Ga., poured out of the vehicles to initiate a two-week training exercise that would evaluate and ultimately enhance their command’s capabilities.
“The 642nd is like a town on wheels,” said Lt. Col. Michael L. Woody, chief training officer for the unit and acting exercise commander, said. “You can deploy us to the most remote areas in the world, and within a few days we could establish a self-sufficient camp complete with barracks, bathrooms, supply depots, dining facilities, maintenance shops and command posts.”
Spread among four states, the 642nd Regional Support Group’s headquarters company and downtrace units converged at Fort McClellan to put his words into action.
“[Our convoy] pulled into a clearing surrounded by woodland,” said Woody, a native of Five Points, Ala. “In a matter of hours, our Soldiers had set up a functional forward base of operations with living quarters, power generators, computer networks, entry control points and tactical operations center.”
The 642nd Regional Support Group Soldiers spent four days in the field to apply their respective military occupation specialties, ranging from repairing vehicles and supplying power to providing security and preparing meals. Although polishing these job-related skills remained essential to the unit's mission, it remained secondary to the exercise’s primary focus.
“Individual Soldier readiness is our top priority for this exercise,” said Woody. “Our goals coincide with the U.S. Army Reserve Command’s ‘Fight Fast’ initiative that designates key units who at all times must be able to deploy within 30 days. {U.S. Army Reserve Command] has identified at least five 642nd Regional Support Group downtrace units that must meet the ‘Fight Fast’ criteria. [The exercise] offers an outstanding opportunity to prepare these units and the rest of our command to mobilize at a moment’s notice.”
For 1st Sgt. Brian M. McMichael, first sergeant of the 642nd Regional Support Group’s headquarters and headquarters company, readiness encompasses nearly every physical, mental, emotional and financial facet of his Soldiers.
“There’s simply not enough time to evaluate every Soldier’s status during a weekend Battle Assembly,” said McMichael, a Stockbridge, Ga., native. “This two-week [training exercise] gave us the time and resources to schedule medical appointments, resolve pay issues and complete online training courses.”
Although satisfying these administrative tasks helped materialize the 642nd Regional Support Group’s vision of a successful exercise, the roots of readiness remained firmly entrenched in basic Soldiering skills.
“The Army Reserve prides itself as the most lethal and capable federal Reserve force in American history,” said Woody, who, when not wearing the uniform, coaches the men’s basketball team at Chattahoochee Valley Community College in Phenix City, Ala. “We back that bold claim by physically leaving our Reserve Center to conduct realistic training in the field.”
This training covered numerous tasks outlined in the Army’s Mission Essential Task List. METL tasks include a variety of skills introduced at basic military training such as weapons qualification, radio communications and land navigation.
“These are perishable skills,” said McMichael. “It’s up to NCOs to ensure every Soldier remains proficient in METL tasks … If they can’t perform the basics, then how can we expect them to conduct complex operations?”
Woods, McMichael and their fellow leaders worked well into the late night and early morning hours to ensure their Soldiers had access to the tools, locations and equipment to demonstrate their proficiency.
“Our junior leaders did an outstanding job planning, organizing and executing every event,” said Woody. Their energy and enthusiasm made it happen.”
Unit activities included conducting physical fitness tests, navigating through rough terrain, qualifying with assigned weapons, familiarizing themselves with the M249 light machine gun and practicing urban operations.
“I was particularly proud that we achieved 100 percent qualification on the M9 [pistol] and M16 [rifle],” said McMichael, who also serves as unit administrator for one of the 642nd Regional Support Group’s downtrace units
Not one to succumb to superstition, the first sergeant attributed the flawless performance at the range to individual Soldier readiness rather than the total solar eclipse that temporarily blanketed long swaths of the country in darkness during the exercise.
“We reserved the ranges for three days,” said McMichael. “Everyone qualified by lunch on the second day, which was before the eclipse started. It’s just a shame that we couldn’t get our hands on the special glasses so our Soldiers could see it.”
Thanks to careful coordination and precise time management, the 642nd Regional Support Group gained full access to Fort McClellan’s advanced simulation systems like the Virtual Convoy Simulator and the Humvee Egress Assistance Trainer, the latter which literally flips Soldiers upside down before they attempt to exit the armored vehicle.
“That was my first time in the HEAT simulator,” said Spc. Cory L. Gates, a physical security specialist with the 642nd Regional Support Group. “I was pumped … the new experience kept me motivated to learn more, train harder and take the lead.”
Woody credited the support of Fort McClellan’s administrative staff and the Alabama National Guard with the large number of events the Soldiers were able to complete.
“They provided quick and easy access to living quarters, weapons ranges and training facilities. The post even boasted free commercial WiFi,” said Woody. “Their cooperation exemplified the Army’s ‘one team, one fight’ slogan.
After two weeks of constant training, teaching and mentoring, the exhausted and energetic Soldiers clambered aboard their assigned vehicles bound for Decatur. As headlights flashed and engines roared to life, several Soldiers reflected on their experience.
“This was the best [training exercise] I’ve had in my 19-year Army career,” said McMichael. “Every Soldier gave 110 percent. In my experience, that only happens when the unit has high morale and inspirational leaders. Still, I don’t consider any exercise a success until everyone comes home.”
Gates, a native of Conyers, Ga., also expressed enthusiasm for the event.
“This [exercise] kept me interested with new challenges and practical lessons,” he said “I love the Army even more because of it.”
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| Date Taken: | 08.25.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 09.20.2017 22:39 |
| Story ID: | 249056 |
| Location: | FORT MCCLELLAN, AL, US |
| Hometown: | CONYERS, GA, US |
| Hometown: | FIVE POINTS, AL, US |
| Hometown: | STOCKBRIDGE, GA, US |
| Web Views: | 115 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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