POHAKULOA TRAINING AREA, Hawaii –
More than 130 Soldiers from the 45th Sustainment Brigade deployed to Pohakuloa Training Area on the Big Island the week of April 27 through May 1 for a three week long tactical training exercise designed to prepare them for future missions in the Pacific region and overseas.
The exercise involves multiple warrior tasks and drills, and unique hands on training for each company involved including the 73rd Signal Company, the 259th Human Resource Company, unit medical staff, the 125th Finance Company, the 18th Movement Control Team, and the 536th Maintenance Company among others. Pohakualoa simulates a potential deployment to Jordan for the troops.
The training is also meant to prepare some units for Pacific Pathways, an exercise developed to enhance quick responses to humanitarian or regional threat requirements. Other units are already scheduled to support operations across the world.
"The purpose of this training is to challenge and stress Soldiers, equipment, and systems we have in place that allow us to operate as a team," said Maj. Justin Redfern, executive officer for the 45th Special Troops Battalion. "It is also to leverage the training environment here on the Big Island and get a full picture of our battalion's capabilities operating together."
The exercise officially began on April 20, with the transport of training supplies and tactical vehicles to the Big Island on 45th Sust. Bde. Logistic Support Vessels out of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Personnel participating in the exercise were transported via helicopters throughout the week. Preparation for the exercise began weeks before for most of the Soldiers involved.
"We are using our actual vehicles, so we had to train our Soldiers on tasks like how to use radio sets, how to properly put the vehicle harness on, and how to enter and exit the vehicle in a tactical environment before we actually got to Pohakuloa," said Sgt. Jose Serra of the 18th MCT, 45th Sust. Bde.
The first week of the training is focused on weapons qualifications and individual and company-level tasks. Soldiers have a chance to qualify on multiple weapons systems including the Mk 19 grenade launcher, the M2 machine gun, the M16 rifle, the M4 carbine, and the M9 pistol, among others. They will also practice warrior tasks and battle drills such as casualty evacuation and first aid.
"(May 3) we got a chance to train on the M9 pistol," said Serra. "Most of us haven't held on to an M9 much, so it's fun, it's exciting, and we are definitely taking advantage of all the weapons training for the exercise."
The second week all personnel are slotted to move to Forward Operating Base Warrior on the Big Island for a two week field training exercise that includes night driver's training, medical evacuations with helicopters, and a joint convoy live fire exercise with the Marines.
"What we really want to focus on is becoming an expert in the tactical trade. As a sustainment brigade, sometimes it's hard to balance Soldiers sustainment skills with tactical skills," said Redfern. "We want to bring about a level of confidence in the tactical environment."
"There are things you run into that are immediately fixable, and other things you have to get done with more flexibility during the exercise," said Staff Sgt. Raven Monroe of the 18th MCT, 45th Sust. Bde. "As a noncommissioned officer, your job is to make it happen though, and make sure the mission is successful at the end of the day."
The days are long for Soldiers and leaders, with many skill sets and plans to develop over a short time period. The intensive schedule requires a lot of discipline and good leadership to ensure the exercise runs smoothly.
"We want to develop that expeditionary thinking where Soldiers develop their own sense of what their capabilities are, and leaders develop a sense of what their subordinates can do so we can effectively defend across the Pacific," said Redfern. "Our main goal with the field training is to get Soldiers in the field mindset and make sure they are confident in what they're doing if we ever have to deploy in the future." said Monroe.
As the collective exercise draws closer and Soldiers train with their individual companies, everyone is eager to see how all the pieces of the puzzle will fit together with the relocation to FOB Warrior at the end of the week.
"Everything will come together with the culmination phase," said Redfern. "This training is a once in a lifetime opportunity for both our Soldiers and leaders."