First Army shifts focus from post-mobilization to pre-mobilization training

By Maj. Antonia Greene-EdwardsMarch 26, 2015

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JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- More than 45 senior noncommissioned officers and officers from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. traveled to the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC), Fort Polk, La. to support Collective Training Exercises, March 9-23, 2015.

Observer, Coach/Trainers of 174th Infantry Brigade teamed up with fellow instructors to form a Joint Integrated Evaluation Team (JIET) to provide training and validation support for the more than 2100 Soldiers of the 20th Engineer Brigade Combined Task Force.

The 20th task force was comprised of the 83rd Chemical Battalion, the 92nd Infantry Battalion, the 720th Military Police Battalion, the 63rd Expeditionary Signal Battalion and the 264th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion. All of the Soldiers being evaluated are active duty Army.

"The mission was non-standard -- a Defense Chemical, Biological, Nuclear, and Radiological (CBRN) Response Force (DCRF) mission -- but the theme remained constant for lessons learned," explained Army Capt. Jamie Michel, Light Infantry Team Chief for 1st Battalion, 314th Infantry Regiment and exercise OC/T.

Some of the training tasks and overarching events the 174th OC/T's helped manage included 'real world' engineering projects, disaster response, mass casualty decontamination, senior leader media interviews, key leader engagements, interagency activities, evacuation scenarios, and trench rescue.

"The DCRF rotation was unique. However, the lessons learned are applicable to all units across diverse environments," insisted Michel.

"Having OC/T experience in the DCRF environment gives our trainers the know-how to better train, partner and assist similar missions," explained Army Lt. Col. Dwight Griffith, commander, 1st Battalion, 314th Infantry and key leader OC/T. "For instance, the 28th Infantry Division (Pennsylvania Army National Guard) and 27th Infantry Division (New York Army National Guard) with their Homeland Response Force (HRF) missions."

By design, domestic disaster response requires military and civilian interagency collaboration.

"Since this was a DCRF mission there were lessons learned as far as interoperability and unity of effort with civil authorities," added Michel. "Mission command in a civil/military environment is complex, and responding to an incident in the Continental United States Area of Responsibility (CONUS AOR) comes with a host of legal challenges that the units in training had to work through as well."

Mission command is a challenge in any rapidly changing environment. The Army employs virtual tools and technology such as the Army Battle Command Systems (ABCS) to increase situational awareness and decrease response times. The civil authorities have similar systems.

"Familiarity with domestic response assists for both planning purposes and execution if it would come to it," Griffith added.

But sustainment is also tough. Due to the scenario-based 'radiological' threat, the unit was faced with additional challenges when it came to the rapid deployment of multiple units from multiple installations to form the 20th Engineer Brigade Task Force (Forward).

"For Example, the Forward Logistics Element (FLE) experienced difficulty in establishing logistical support at the onset of the mission due to a lack of existing systems and infrastructure inherent to organic units but the 720th FLE overcame that within the first day of operations through coordination with adjacent units and civil authorities," Michel observed first-hand. "The FLE was capable of providing potable water at the onset of the mission, despite operating in a radiological environment with a limited logistical infrastructure.

First Army will continue to execute its rotational enabler support and OC/T requirements as it undergoes Operation Bold Shift.

"Our mission, regardless of time or place, is to directly augment the training unit's staff to help them capture the key learning points," stressed Griffith. "Having certified OC/T's with real world experience and constant exposure are invaluable and will prove beneficial as we continue to OC/T."

While First Army's focus is shifting from post-mobilization training to pre-mobilization training support, it continues its core mission to "Train the Force."

"When the mission requirements pick up, so do the opportunities to observe the main take aways," Griffith added. "We provide the subject matter experts and continuity to help exercises flow smoothly."

The planned reduction of operational deployments coupled with the requirement to maintain the multi-component integration achieved in the last decade of warfighting requires First Army to shift its primary focus from post-mobilization to pre-mobilization to support Army Total Force Policy.

Related Links:

JRTC Official Site