88th RD's MCP-OD provides support during Warfighter Exercise 23-1

WA, UNITED STATES

09.27.2022

Story by Staff Sgt. Kris Wright 

358th Public Affairs Detachment

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCORD, Wa. - Army intelligence analysts, supply and mechanic specialists from the Main Command Post-Operational Detachment, 88th Readiness Division, provided support for First Corps during the Warfighter Exercise 23-1 from 24 September through 03 October 2022.

WFX 23-1 is a training opportunity that occurs at multiple locations including Joint Base Lewis-McCord. It demonstrates First Corps’ ability to execute actions and multi-domain operations in order to seize, retain, and exploit the initiative during large scale ground combat operations. By supplementing the exercise with knowledgeable and capable Soldiers, the MCP-OD is successful in filling the gaps and deficiencies that existed during the previous exercise two years ago; particularly with the support of intelligence analysts who could provide a battle damage assessment cell.

Sergeant First Class Theresa Baht, an intelligence analyst for the MCP-OD, talked about her role in improving this year's exercise and how their information gathering enhanced the exercise.

"What I do is serve as a liaison between the targeting cell and the fusion cell. We collect all of the information from all of the intelligence functions and put together a product that allows them to go after high value targets and equipment that we identify as threats to our maneuvering forces."

When asked about how they fixed the gaps First Corps had on the last exercise, Baht explained how they were able to contribute to effect that change.

"One of the issues that was identified during the last War Fighter Exercise were the gaps. So, what they did this time was create a battle damage assessment cell to address that. So, if we destroy or we lose a piece of equipment that cell keeps track of that, this helps us assess what the enemy has to combat against us and helps us determine how effective we are in our operations."

Beyond her specific contributions to the exercise as a member of the MCP-OD, Baht also explained her unit's overall role in the supporting First Corps, the main element who is tasked to seize, retain, and exploit the initiative during large scale ground combat operations in the Pacific in the event of an enemy incursion in that region.

"I am a Reservist. So, we are here for our annual training. Part of our mission with the MCP-OD is to support First Corps in this exercise and we are here to supplement and provide personnel and knowledge functions. They needed intel analysts and they don't have that on their organic staff. So, MCP-OD Soldiers supplement, teach and use their experience to help First Corps, and that's what we are doing now."

Army Reservists from the MCP-OD supporting WFX- 23-1 exercise are filling those gaps. They are assisting with that battle damage assessment throughout the entire exercise helping First Corps prepare for any potential incursion in the Pacific region.

Warfighter 23-1 is directed by the Department of the Army. It features a scenario in the Pacific for the first time, and it's the Army’s capstone training event for the Corps and Division echelons. The exercise stretches across a wide array of locations, from the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii, the 4th ID out of Fort Carson, Colorado, and First Corps out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state.

• Date Taken: 09.27.2022
• Date Posted: 10.05.2022 15:10
• Story ID: 430779
• Location: WA, US