WHEELER AAF, Hawaii - 25th Sustainment Brigade Soldiers conducted a Rehearsal of Concept Drill at Wheeler Gulch, Jan. 21. The drill was intended to brief Soldiers on the upcoming Lightning Forge exercise they have been preparing for since early October.
"Lightning Forge is probably our biggest division exercise on Schofield," said Maj. Eddie Gray, Support Operations Officer for the 25th Sustainment Brigade. "It provides an opportunity for all of our systems, units, and processes to be exercised over a three week period."
The exercise involves all units under the 25th Infantry Division. The drill was presented by 25th Sustainment Brigade leaders to Soldiers across the 25th Infantry Division and other U.S. Army Hawaii units to coordinate and synchronize distribution activities.
"As a sustainment unit our job is to plan and think ahead," said Gray. "We are the ones receiving the force on the ground, transporting Soldiers and equipment to tactical areas, and supporting troops for the duration of the fight."
The three week exercise is meant to simulate a deployment for troops to anywhere in the world. Soldiers will get a chance to practice specific tasks associated with their military specialty as well as general field operations such as establishing a unit area, operating a vehicle on a convoy, and establishing host communications while supporting 25th I.D. training objectives.
"The ROC Drill really allows us to communicate and get on the same sheet of music with everyone in the exercise," said Gray. "It's a high payoff for us because we learn how to plan and execute much more quickly than we would have to with an actual deployment."
The range of equipment and troops involved makes preliminary planning and communication a necessity. There are still many operations to work out in the upcoming week as Lightning Forge begins.
"The biggest challenge so far has been synchronization between individual unit plans and the plan as a whole," said Gray. "I've learned a lot and am looking forward to being in the field again. I think it will be a great experience."