8th Squadron, 1st Cavalry (Blackhawks) participate in Rainier War

Photo By Staff Sgt. Kenneth Pawlak | Airmen from the 7th Airlift Squadron, 62nd Airlift Wing, and Soldiers from 8th Squadron, 1st U.S. Cavalry, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, guide a Humvee aboard a C-17 aircraft before departure to Fort Hunter-Liggett, California during a Joint Deployment Readiness Exercise, Rainier War at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, June 6, 2018. Reoccurring realistic training exercises like Rainier War clearly demonstrates 2-2 SBCT’s readiness to rapidly deploy via strategic airlift. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Kenneth G. Pawlak)  

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, UNITED STATES

06.06.2018

Story by Staff Sgt. Kenneth Pawlak 

2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. - Soldiers from 8th Squadron, 1st U.S. Cavalry, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, and airmen from the 7th Airlift Squadron, 62nd Airlift Wing, participated in a Joint Deployment Readiness Exercise, Rainier War at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, June 6, 2018.


A top priority for the Army is unit readiness, to ensure Soldiers have the necessary tools and training needed to rapidly deploy, fight and win our nation’s war in any environment. An exercise like Rainier War allows both the Army and Air Force to train rapid deployment tactics as a team.


“If we were to deploy, this type of training is good for our unit’s overall readiness,” said Spec. Garrett Proctor, an infantryman with D Troop, 8-1 Cav. “We learned a new skill set which would be beneficial not only for our unit, but the brigade.”


During the exercise the Soldiers were taught by the airmen on how to load, tie down, and unload their equipment onto a C-17 aircraft efficiently. The C-17 is capable of rapid strategic delivery of troops and all types of cargo to main operating bases across the globe.

“There is a lot of work to get the vehicles into the plane, having to do all the tips and scales, then putting the vehicles on the plane perfectly,” said Spec. Edward Joseph, an infantryman from D Troop, 8-1 Cav.

D Troop was able to carry out the mission flawlessly and now understand what it takes to deploy 36 Soldiers and airmen and six Strykers by air from JBLM to Fort Hunter-Liggett, California.

“We now have a platoon within the brigade that knows how to load, unload an aircraft, quickly, properly, and efficiently,” said Proctor. “We would be able to assist the other platoons load and unload when called upon.”

Reoccurring realistic training exercises like Rainier War clearly demonstrates 2-2 SBCT’s readiness to rapidly deploy via strategic airlift.

“Training with the Air Force, we became more familiarized with the C-17 and loading equipment onto them,” said Joseph. “In case we ever are called to battle, we will be prepared, we will be able to just knock it out instead of relying on the Air Force working most of the load.”

• Date Taken: 06.06.2018
• Date Posted: 06.19.2018 16:49
• Story ID: 281553
• Location: JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, US