SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii -- The chatter of machine guns, the booming of artillery and the sounds of cannon fire from helicopters signaled the live-fire portion of Bronco Strike throughout Battle Area Complex (BAX), here, in September.
Bronco Strike was held by the 3rd Brigade Combat Team (BCT), “Broncos,” 25th Infantry Division, to train and externally evaluate company teams’ ability to maneuver and integrate direct and indirect fires during the two weeks of the exercise.
“Bronco Strike is the culmination of six months’ worth of training for the entire Brigade Combat Team,” said Maj. Daniel Gregory, brigade operations officer, 3rd BCT. “At its core, it served to validate the infantry companies and their ability to conduct combined arms training through day and night live-fire maneuver live fires.”
The end goal of the exercise was to work out the brigade as a whole and certify companies that are able to fight and win in any environment, said Gregory.
“However, it went well beyond being a simple live-fire training event,” he said. “Bronco Strike tested 3IBCT’s ability to support and sustain itself through multi-modal resupply, testing the supply lines from the point of Battle Support Area (BSA), field casualty care, unmanned aerial surveillance, intelligence operations, beyond-line-of-sight communications and the movement of Soldiers across the battlefield to different locations.”
The exercise, broken up into three phases, began with company defensive operations, was followed by troop leading procedures at East Range and culminated with a combined arms live-fire exercise for Bronco Brigade’s 2nd Battalion, 27th Inf. Regt., and 2nd Bn., 35th Inf. Regt., at the BAX.
“Our companies conducted attacks against fortified enemy positions. To accomplish this, they will incorporate artillery and mortars, attack aviation, and direct fires to suppress, breach and clear the objectives,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Brian Disque, senior enlisted adviser, 2-35th Inf. Regt. “Additionally, companies will have to conduct a deliberate defense.
“Bronco Strike will prepare us to deploy and win in combat operations and overall build readiness and proficiency at mission essential tasks,” he added. “This event challenged our Soldiers and leaders to adapt.
“To me, the leader development is the most important thing,” he continued. “Combat will be chaotic and uncertain, and this mission will put leaders in a situation to lead in those conditions.”
Attached enablers from the 29th Bde. Engineer Bn., 325th Bde. Support Bn., and 3rd Bn., 7th Field Artillery Regt., 25th Division Artillery, 25th ID, assisted in the live fire for both infantry battalions.
“All of our Soldiers will participate in one form or fashion – about 600 total,” Disque said. “We are also working with several enablers to include our fire support team from 3-7th FAR, our engineers and intelligence team from 29th BEB, as well as others. All in all, it’s a great opportunity for us to fight as an entire team and work together.”
The 2nd Bn., 11th FAR, 25th DIVARTY, 25th ID, and members assigned to the 163 Battery, 16 Field Regiment, Royal New Zealand Artillery, working as multinational partners, also added fire support with howitzers.
Disque stated the end goal for his battalion was simply to “build lethal platoons and companies, develop adaptive and confident leaders, and be more prepared to fight and win against any opponent.”
“Bronco Strike will give our leaders and Soldiers confidence and a great repetition in a pretty complex scenario. Taking this experience forward with all the things we did well, as well as closing our gaps, is an important step in preparing for Lightning Forge,” he said.