FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- Soldiers assigned to B Battery, 2nd Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, conducted training on sling-load operations and air-assault raids in Fort Drum training areas last week to prepare for an upcoming 2nd Brigade Combat Team Mountain Peak rotation and, ultimately, howitzer section table two qualifications.
The intent of the training was to hone the artillerymen's abilities to prepare a M119A2 howitzer and A22 cargo bag for sling load and transport Soldiers from one location to another by CH-47 Chinook and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters instead of their vehicles.
Capt. Brian Reynolds, B Battery commander, planned the training for his Soldiers so they would be fully functioning combat multipliers ready to move out whenever and wherever needed.
"Rigging a howitzer and understanding how to get a howitzer ready to move by air is not a new concept to these guys," Reynolds said. "(This is) on-the-job training. It's working with your section chief, getting the assets and testing the ability of the equipment and the competence of the crews. A lot of these guys have never seen equipment fly by helicopter; a lot of these guys have never flown in a helicopter."
Each Soldier was either on a hookup team that attached the load to the helicopter, a rigger who prepared the howitzer, or an inspector who made sure the howitzer was rigged correctly for safe transport. Next to these certified artillerymen was an inexperienced Soldier for maximum participation and learning purposes.
The first day of training started in the crawl phase, where Soldiers went over the basics of air-assault operations, nine-line medevac procedures, and close-combat attack with aviation assets and aircraft capabilities.
Both while a helicopter was off and again while it was running, Soldiers practiced loading onto helicopters the second day along with elevator training with the howitzer and A22.
The training culminated on the third and fourth day with 1st and 2nd Platoon, respectively, executing a howitzer crew and equipment movement by air and conducting a two-gun artillery raid by air assault at their destination.
"Having somewhat of an idea of what the (Mountain Peak) mission is, it gives (B Battery), the battalion commander, brigade commander and my fellow maneuver commanders the flexibility to utilize an asset that's a combat multiplier," Reynolds said.
"Like Col. (David) Doyle (2nd BCT commander) says, 'We go where others dare not go,'" he added. "If we can't get there by our trucks and he needs us to get there quick, we just proved to the brigade we can jump on the bird, we can get out there quick, put rounds down range and then be ready to set up a defense or move on."
Social Sharing