10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Joint FRIES exercise with 4th Combat Aviation Brigade

Photo By Sgt. Isaih Vega | A U.S. Army Green Beret assigned to 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) fast ropes from a UH-60 at Naval Air Station Joint Base Reserve in Fort Worth, Texas on March 29, 2023. Green Berets and 4th Combat Aviation Brigade worked together to successfully conduct fast roping infiltration/exfiltration system during the exercise. The exercise helped the units by allowing them to work in a realistic training environment and airspace that provided different training than they would in Fort Carson, Colorado. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Isaih Vega)  

UNITED STATES

04.21.2023

Story by Sgt. Isaih Vega 

10th Special Forces Group (Airborne)

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Two Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA) teams from 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) conducted combined training with 4th Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB), 4th Infantry Division at Naval Air Station Joint Base Reserve Fort Worth, Texas on March 26-29th, 2023. The joint training consisted of three direct action raids that included Fast Rope Infiltration/Exfiltration System (FRIES).

FRIES allows Green Berets to deploy by fast roping 20 feet down onto rooftops or the ground; therefore, enabling Green Berets to rapidly move into unfamiliar areas. The Dallas and Fort Worth location provided realistic training environments to increase lethality for both teams.

“It's very important to go out to an area and practice deliberate planning in an unfamiliar area and airspace,” said Capt. Thomas Brown, Commander of Bravo Company, Helicopter Assault Battalion, 4th CAB, 4th Infantry Division. “So that's useful for us and allows us to utilize our full resources.”

4th CAB enabled the Green Berets to be fully mission ready by providing air support. This allowed ODAs to complete the missions with ease by conducting FRIES to move in and out of the targeted raids.

“It was great to have 4th CAB as an asset to allow us not only to train, but also enable us to conduct full mission profiles in the most realistic way possible,” said an ODA team member. “In the future combat friction points can already be addressed and worked out now.”

One key to success during the raids was the communication between 4th CAB and Green Berets. Having good communication between the teams enabled them to move freely from the ground and air. Communication is important during these types of training events as FRIES can be dangerous. To minimize the danger, the air crew and teams rehearsed several times prior to the mission during the day and night.

“The helicopters and crew provided us with the opportunity to conduct training we needed but don’t always get the chance to do,” stated an ODA team member. “It was an experience I won’t forget.”

• Date Taken: 04.21.2023
• Date Posted: 04.25.2023 15:42
• Story ID: 443156
• Location: US