ANDERSON, S.C. -- The 1st Battalion, 362nd Air Defense Artillery, Task Force Renegade, 5th Armored Brigade, initiated the road to war with an initial assessment to validate a South Carolina National Guard Air Defense Artillery unit for their National Capital Region mission.
The South Carolina Army National Guard's 2nd Battalion, 263rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment will ultimately work alongside other State and Department of Defense agencies to protect, deter and prevent airborne threats from entering the National Capital Region.
The initial assessment is the first in a series of pre-mobilization readiness exercises and evaluations that will occur over the next 12 months. These exercises will prepare the Soldiers for their crucial role in defense of the National Capital Region in support of "Operation Noble Eagle".
Trainers from Task Force Renegade have been tasked to ensure the South Carolina unit is mission-ready, and began their training partnership with the Guardsmen during August 2013.
The initial assessment is merely the beginning of things to come and it sets the tone for future training assessment visits.
"The major piece of any initial assessment is the training plan that is derived from this stage in the planning process. This crucial phase will certainly keep this battalion on the right path as we move forward," said Task Force Renegade's Master Gunner, Sgt. 1st Class Richard Wilson.
During this initial issessment, the Renegades assessed the unit's capabilities in various areas including staff operations, maintenance and crew drill training.
The areas the Air Defense Artillery crews will be evaluated are crew drills, Air Defense Artillery general knowledge, visual aircraft recognition, various engagement tables and standard tactics, techniques and procedures which would later progress into live-flight engagements.
Although many Soldiers in the unit have executed these specific missions, the missions are constantly changing. The unit will be successful due to the diligence of the unit's master gunners as well as the willingness of every Soldier involved to want to be better at their current job and expand their knowledge base.
Knowledge, expertise and experience are what master gunners bring to the table. They will be expected to lead the unit through the Table Certification process while TF Renegade provides oversight and assistance along the way.
"These crews have to be on their 'A-game' throughout these exercise's because if they forget or miss something it could be life threatening or catastrophic," said Sgt. 1st Class Nathan Maneke, Task Force Renegade observer controller/trainer.
The initial assessment of the 2-263 ADA was successful because it identified key factors that needed to be addressed and improved before their next training event. It was also an opportunity for those who had not performed this mission to have questions answered, while also providing a networking opportunity allowing TF Renegade Soldiers to meet with their specific counterparts and share vital information.
Overall the training event gave the 2-263 ADA the motivation it needed in making its next training event a success, as well as taking one gigantic leap towards certification, validation and ultimately mission readiness.
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