FORT SILL, Okla. -- 1st Battalion, 14th Field Artillery conducted a culminating training exercise (CTE) Feb. 28 to March 4 at Fort Sill, to certify the unit's readiness for its upcoming deployment to a Central Command (CENTCOM) area of operations.
Soldiers sacrificed time to train, prior to block leave in mid-March, to certify as a battalion simulating conditions they may experience.
The exercise included Table VI Certification, forward operating base operations and reload operations in the Quanah Training Area. Multiple training events during the CTE allowed integration of members from across the 214th Fires Brigade into the 1-14th FA.
The "Leader Brigade" provided resources and personnel to augment 1-14th FA. Many Soldiers volunteered from sister battalions, 2nd Battalion, 4th Field Artillery; and the 168th Brigade Support Battalion, to train and deploy with the battalion.
"I really wanted to deploy again, I like being down range," said Spc. Noah Liebel, 2-4th FA, a transfer volunteer.
Sgt. Brandon Neitzel, also from 2-4th FA said, "I've been in 2-4th FA and the M270 MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) for a while and wanted a change of pace that I thought a HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) battalion could give."
A Battery, 2nd Battalion, 5th Field Artillery will conduct a security force mission and will be with 1-14th FA during the deployment.
The unit also had an assumption of command immediately before the exercise. Lt. Col. Jon-Paul Maddaloni assumed command of the 1-14th FA one day prior to the first unit rolling out to the field.
"The CTE is the culminating event for the battalion in its preparations for deployment in the spring of this year," said Maddaloni. "We will certify launcher sections, train air load preparations for HIMARS raid, and integrate our security force battery into operations. Overall goals are to ensure we meet all of our deployment tasks to best prepare the Soldiers of 1-14th FA for the deployment and to build the team that will serve the nation in support of theater specific contingency operations."
Movement to and from the different training sites was dual-purpose, focused on the training and integration of Soldiers from the A/2-5th FA security force, 168th BSB, and 2-4th FA, with the existing tactics, techniques and procedures of the 1-14th FA. It was also meant to simulate convoys traveling across the desert from locations in the CENTCOM area of operation.
High mobility is crucial to the 1-14th FA, which is an M142 HIMARS battalion. To support the mobility training, the unit rehearsed air/land operations, simulating a load-up onto a C-130 airplane.
"Air/land operations are a crucial part of what HIMARS is capable of doing, and this was really good training to ensure the successful completion of any mission we may be called on," said Staff Sgt. Geoffery Landon.
This high-mobility technique is unique to HIMARS, making it a valuable combat tool on the battlefield. Both firing batteries received instruction from civilians and military trainers on how to prepare a launcher for transport by air.
The 1-14th FA was able to successfully execute its CTE that evaluated the battalion on many of the crucial tasks which are critical to a successful HIMARS mission. The Department of Logistics and Range Operations provided key resources and support to the CTE. 1-14th FA Soldiers proved they could successfully conduct forward operating base operations and move securely from location to location from air or land and successfully provide precision fires.
A HIMARS was fired during 1-14th FA's training exercise here to certify the battalion as fully prepared to embark on its upcoming deployment.
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