FORT STEWART, Ga. - Soldiers of 703rd Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, demonstrated how the U.S. Army leads efforts for land-based joint operations during a joint aerial delivery exercise on Fort Stewart, Ga., Feb. 26, 2015.
"It's a precise and rapid way of getting supplies to the front lines," said U.S. Army 1st Lt. Kyle Palentino, the transportation platoon leader with Company A, 703rd BSB. "It's applicable anywhere."
The 703rd BSB soldiers, known as "Maintainers," didn't conduct the logistic mission alone, which was part of Vanguard Focus, a brigade-level training exercise to validate the brigade's readiness to fight and win anywhere. Members of Company A trained with members of the 75th Ranger Regiment at Hunter Army Airfield on rigging loads for transport and recovery operations.
"My role was part of the recovery team," said U.S. Army Sgt. Monzell Woolridge, a motor transport operator with Company A, and a Petersburg, Virginia, native. "It was pretty tedious, I'd say, but the training that the Rangers gave us, it all came into effect."
The C-130 Hercules aircraft from the 165th Airlift Wing of the Georgia Air National Guard, which dropped the supplies and the air mobility liaison officers of the U.S. Air Force's 621st Contingency Operations Support Group, based out of McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey, attached to 3rd ID, were also a very integral part of the planning and execution of the operation.
The exercise solidified joint efforts that help prevent conflicts, create stability and shape the security environment.
"We support 3rd ID in anything air mobility related from the tactical fun stuff we're doing out here today, airdrop, air land, to strategic air movements," said U.S. Air Force Capt. Luke Berreckman, a native of Fayetteville, Arkansas. "This is one of the first times we've had the opportunity to help 3rd ID do our tactical mission. We're very happy to get to start this up here with 4th Brigade."
"I like doing joint operations," said Palentino. "It's the reality of what we do down range [or in combat zones]."
Palentino, a native of Richmond, Virginia, said the largest portion of the training event for his soldiers was to rig the loads prior to movement and recover them once they were on the ground, which he added was very important to the troops of 4th IBCT.
"Any time guys need supplies really quickly, this is the most effective way, in my eyes, that we can accomplish that mission," Woolridge said.
Berreckman said his team plans to train soldiers from around the Marne Division to be able to plan and execute these type of operations without their assistance.
"We're here to train, educate and assist," said Berreckman. "There's some outstanding work by 4th Brigade that went into making this happen. The goal is to get them almost 100 percent self-supporting in the future."
"Really, airdrop resupply is a necessity; it's a force multiplier," added Berreckman. "There's a lot of work that goes into it, but it pays off."
"We're warrior logisticians and being able to do this, adds on to our tool kit of what we're able to accomplish," concluded Palentino.
Related Links:
The 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division DVIDS page.
The official 3rd Infantry Division and Fort Stewart Facebook page.
The official 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Facebook page.
The official 3rd Infantry Division and Fort Stewart website.
Social Sharing