BIGGS ARMY AIRFIELD, Texas – Service members from the Air Force, Army and Marines participated in a joint, simulated global communication exercise at McGregor Range, New Mexico, and White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, from June 8 through 17.
Iron Rage validated communication protocols across the joint task force, with the mission of conducting a mock rocket artillery raid. It included units from Division Artillery, 1st Armored Division, Battery D, 2nd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, and the 40th and 39th Airlift Squadrons, 317th Airlift Group, Dyess Air Force Base, Texas.
For a second straight year, the DIVARTY led exercise provided an opportunity for the units to train on joint communications and mobility. Fire commands were relayed from the Tactical Action Center at McGregor Range to the Marines who fired their M142 High Mobility Artillery Rockets.
Following the live-fire validation at McGregor Range, the 317th Airlift Group came rolling in with C-130 aircraft. The loadmasters and their crews loaded the HIMARs into the aircraft. The planes flew their cargo from Biggs Army Airfield to White Sands Missile Range where it was unloaded.
This training was invaluable practice for the pilots and loadmasters, according to Capt. Laura Martineau, pilot, C-130J, 40th Airlift Squadron.
“For the pilots, we got great training with landing with heavy weights and taking off with heavy weights on unimproved landing zones,” Martineau said. “For the loadmasters, loading the HIMARs is one of the most challenging types of equipment loading that we do.”
According to Col. Heyward Hutson, commander, DIVARTY, 1st AD, the joint exercise was integral to developing skills in quickly maneuvering artillery around the battlefield and working as a joint force.
“Artillery is an irreplaceable asset to the commander. Mobilizing fire support enables maneuver commanders to synchronize warfighting functions while executing unified land operations,” Hutson said.
Marine Master Sgt. Lawrence Sommer, field artillery chief, Battery D, 2nd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment, emphasized the importance of working with other armed services.
“This is a rare opportunity that Marines hardly ever get,” said Sommer. “I think it was a good experience all around, all the way from the lowest ranking Marine to the battery CO.”
This is not the first time DIVARTY has coordinated joint training exercises.
“We’ve had a relationship with DIVARTY for at least two years,” said Maj. Michael Kozeliski, commander, Battery D, 2nd Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment. “They’re always coming to us saying, ‘How can we help you?’ and we’re always going to them saying, ‘How can we help you?’ ... we just work together to make sure both elements are successful.”