Operation Winged Devil: Preparation to JRTC

Photo By Mark Olsen | U.S. Army Soldiers with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 114th Infantry Regiment, 44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, New Jersey Army National Guard, provide cover fire as they take a building during a field training at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, Feb. 10, 2023. More than 350 Soldiers with the Battalion participated in an air assault and a field training exercise in preparation for the unit’s rotation to the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana, later this year. (New Jersey National Guard photo by Mark C. Olsen)  

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, NJ, UNITED STATES

03.02.2023

Story by Mark Olsen  

New Jersey National Guard   

It never gets old.
The Black Hawks suddenly rising above the tree line and touching down in the landing zone; distant bars of Fortunate Son or Ride of the Valkyries; infantrymen jumping out and taking defensive positions on either side of the helicopters before the Black Hawks take off to get the next squad of Soldiers.
This is air assault, and it is just one part of the 1st Battalion, 114th Infantry Regiment, 44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, New Jersey Army National Guard’s field training exercise at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, Feb. 9-12, 2023.
It is the largest combined arms FTX the New Jersey Army National Guard has performed at JB-MDL in more than a decade. It will evaluate the battalion’s proficiency in conducting these types of combat operations continuously and also serves as a proving ground for the battalion’s training that addresses threats seen in recent wars.
“It gives us the opportunity to perform a combined arms exercise with our engineers, artillery, and New Jersey Air National Guard tactical air control party specialists,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Timothy Sorrentino, commander, 1st Battalion, 114th Infantry Regiment. “It also allows us to get one more rep in before our rotation at the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana.”
It took six months of planning to get to this stage.
“We’ve been working to ensure that we had all the resources within the brigade and the partner organizations lined up and coordinate," said 1st Lt. Keith M. Burkhart, training officer, 1st Battalion, 114th Infantry Regiment. “This exercise is unique because of the size and scope of what is being done on a drill weekend – three company-level combined arms operations nested under the battalion’s command and control and supported by higher level assets. This is typically done only at larger events, such as at the JRTC, not on a drill weekend.”
The exercise has three goals: train and operate as a joint force combined arms battalion task force for the first time; integrate units required for the battalion's success; and finally, identify any issues before the battalion arrives at the JRTC.
“This is a big exercise for us; we haven’t done this in years,” Sorrentino said.
By 10 a.m. on Feb. 10, UH-60M Black Hawks from the 1st Battalion, 150th Assault Helicopter Regiment had ferried more than 350 Soldiers with the 114th Infantry Regiment and the 2nd Battalion, 113th Infantry Regiment; forward observers from the 3rd Battalion, 112th Field Artillery Regiment; and engineers from 104th Brigade Engineer Battalion. Tactical air control party specialists with the 227th Air Support Operations Squadron, 177th Fighter Wing, NJANG, ensured that the aircraft could land safely.
The Soldiers headed toward the tree line and split up into three companies: Alpha 114th, Bravo 114th, and Alpha 113th.
“Each of our three companies will be conducting an attack to seize a village, followed by defensive operations for 12 to 18 hours,” said Burkhart.
Countering that will be opposing forces from the Observer Coach/Trainer Operations Group.
“We have a team of 20 Soldiers that will be rotating between the three objectives,” said U.S. Army Maj. Rob Roma, infantry team chief, Observer Coach/Trainer Operations Group.
Keeping an eye out for the opposing forces will be New Jersey Army National Guard RQ-7 Shadows with the Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems Platoon, 104th Brigade Engineer Battalion, and the 114th’s RQ-11 Ravens.
“We’re incorporating small unmanned aircraft systems with our Ravens,” said Burkhart. “They will provide intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance down to the company level. This gives them the ability to observe where the enemy is located, so we can adjust our plan of attack”
The opposing forces will be doing the same.
“We have a UAS that has thermal imaging that will pick up on body heat signatures and we have one that has the ability to drop simulated munitions on positions,” said Roma. “Ukrainian forces are using UASs for offensive operations against the Russians. We’re going to give our guys a taste of that over the next 48 hours.”
“The time between now and JRTC is short,” said Burkhart. “This exercise enables us to adjust and make improvements that will allow us to increase our effectiveness and lethality.”

• Date Taken: 03.02.2023
• Date Posted: 03.01.2023 10:29
• Story ID: 439457
• Location: JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, NJ, US