Photo By Sgt. Jason Boyd | Soldiers from the 1-296th Infantry Battalion, Puerto Rico National Guard, and security...... read more read more
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ALPENA, Mich. – Soldiers from the 1-296th Infantry Battalion, Puerto Rico National Guard, acted as a quick reaction force (QRF) at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, Alpena, Mich., Aug. 9, 2018, during a base defense training exercise during Northern Strike 18.
Puerto Rico soldiers were responsible for running perimeter checks after receiving word of a “suspicious vehicle” near one of the installations gates.
The Opposing Forces (OPFOR), comprised of Alpena CRTC security forces and Soldiers from the 1-296th Infantry Battalion, Puerto Rico National Guard, attempted to simulate a breach of the base perimeter to test the response time of the QRF and other bases defense procedures.
“This inject is going to replicate an airfield probing attack from a near-peer threat,” said defense contractor Mike Manning, a counter improvised explosive device and asymmetric threat live training integrator for Booz Allen Hamilton.
The exercise was created to help soldiers and airman working as QRFs who don’t normally work as first responders prepare for – and repel – attacks on military installations. Along with training experience, it also ensures a high standard of unit readiness.
“Having these different players throughout the exercise has been great for us to be able to interact with different branches along with our allies,” said Torres. “It helps us get a better understating of how different aspects of planning for base defense and the different types of ways they perform under pressure.”
QRFs are generally platoon-sized military units capable of rapid response to developing situations. They are to have equipment ready to respond to any type of emergency, typically within ten minutes or less.
“This training is important because in real world situations people have tried to breach the wire,” said Staff Sgt. Clifford Prince, Bravo Co. 1-125 Infantry, Saginaw, Mich., one of the exercise’s planners. “In these situations soldiers and airman need to properly respond to something trying to breach their defense.”
The OPFOR in the exercise positioned themselves in an area near the back gate of the base and attempted to breach the base’s security measures in an attempt to gain access. They were met with swift resistance from the QRF, which has one objective in instances such as these: neutralize the threat.
“The OPFOR emulate a small-scale attack to illicit a response; once getting that response they withdraw and put the information gained back into the planning cycle,” said Manning.
During this simulated event, the QRF utilized Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs) to call in close air support to assist in repelling the attack and gaining control of the situation to restore the installation back to its secure state.
“The exercise here has given us the opportunity work with other units and other countries and it is great training for us.” said Spc. Jose Torres, 1-296th Infantry Battalion, Puerto Rico National Guard.
JTAC is the term used in the United States Armed Forces and some other military forces for a qualified service member who directs the action of combat aircraft engaged in close air support and other offensive air operations from a forward position.
Security Forces personnel from Alpena CRTC also participated in the scenario.
“This exercise has given us as security forces an opportunity we haven’t had before,” said Master. Sgt. Michael Jasman, Security Forces superintendent, Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center. “It allowed us to work with the Joint Terminal Attack Controllers, which I haven’t seen happen in my 20 years of service, and it’s great to see how all the components of the air aspect work together during base defense.”
Northern Strike 18 is a National Guard Bureau-sponsored exercise uniting over 5,000 service members from many states, multiple service branches, and nine coalition countries during the first three weeks of August 2018 at the Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center and the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, both located in northern Michigan and operated by the Michigan National Guard. The accredited Joint National Training Capabilities exercise demonstrates the Michigan National Guard's ability to provide accessible, readiness-building opportunities for military units from all service branches to achieve and sustain proficiency in conducting mission command, air, sea, and ground maneuver integration, together with the synchronization of fires in a joint, multinational, decisive action environment.
| Date Taken: | 08.14.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 08.14.2018 11:50 |
| Story ID: | 288669 |
| Location: | ALPENA, MICHIGAN, US |
| Web Views: | 145 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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