In the middle of the Mojave Desert, about halfway between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, lies the National Training Center (NTC) at Fort Irwin, Calif.
In this 1,000-square-mile section of desert 200 Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 18th Field Artillery worked through a large scale joint training exercise -- Operation Desert Heat.
The Soldiers of the "Mission Ready" Battalion augmented a force of nearly 5,000 Soldiers from across the country in a coalition headquartered by the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division of Fort Bliss, Texas.
The 5,000 Soldiers experienced days with massive temperature swings; over 100-degree days followed by nights in the 60s. The training was rigorous and rewarding for the Soldiers who worked through nights of little to no sleep, thwarted direct attacks from local insurgents, dodged enemy indirect fire and still managed to conduct fire missions.
On average the "Mission Ready" Soldiers completed their firing missions a half minute faster than the doctrinal standard.
The Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) unit is crucial during any conflict against a peer or near peer force. During the training 2-18th FA's MLRS fires proved to be the most reliable artillery on the battlefield. It was more responsive than cannon artillery; and they engaged more targets than mortars or cannons.
"Two-18's MLRS brought precision fires only we could bring, no other artillery is as accurate as we are," said Pfc. Dillon Emert, fire direction specialist for A Battery's operation center. "This was the best live fire I have ever been a part of because of the combined artillery force of cannon and MLRS."
The monthlong stay in the Mojave Desert consisted of two weeks of the large scale conflict that also involved a counter-insurgency component, thus allowing the units to train on tactics and techniques used in Iraq and Afghanistan. The unit also trained on warfare tactics that would be used against another standing army that has similar capabilities. The two weeks of training concluded with a live fire tactical raid where a platoon moved forward of the maneuver with cavalry scouts in support of a joint air attack. The joint attack consisted of cannon artillery, attack helicopters and 2-18th FA's rocket artillery.
The NTC provides around 600 experienced personnel who serve as observers, controllers and trainers (OCTs). These OCTs provide feedback and guidance to each unit as they operate throughout the month while also ensuring the units train safely.
"The National Training Center is pretty demanding. I wouldn't say this is a practice deployment; it is a deployment. This is battle focused training. We are trying to replicate everything we would do in combat," said 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division Command Sgt. Maj. Martin Celestine.
The battalion's Soldiers endured austere conditions, but they remained mission oriented throughout the entire exercise which allowed them to get high quality training, Celestine said.
"The training went better than I thought it would," said Pvt. Gabriel Owen, A Battery operation center radio telephone operator. "Realizing I could send rockets downrange like that, just by using a laptop, gave me goose bumps. Overall the training here has been a good experience."
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