FORT SILL, Okla. (March 26, 2015) -- Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 13th Field Artillery, the "Red Dragons" completed a joint expeditionary operation March 11, with the Tennessee Air National Guard.
Weeks of preparation culminated with Soldiers and vehicles boarding a C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft here and flying to Fort Irwin, Calif., to conduct artillery operations as part of their National Training Center deployment.
The C-17 took off from Memphis Air National Guard Base, Tenn., to participate in an emergency deployment readiness exercise (EDRE) with the Red Dragon Battalion. Upon arrival at Lawton-Fort Sill Regional Airport, Soldiers worked alongside Airmen from the 155th Airlift Squadron to secure an M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) and an M1165A1 Command High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle in the cargo hold.
"The Air Force guys were very friendly and knowledgeable about loading procedures," said Spc. Michael Norman, a hazardous material operator. "They completed all the safety checks and did a thorough inspection once we got our vehicles on board. Our folks at the Logistics Readiness Center made the paperwork process very smooth. It was a team effort by everyone involved -- military and civilian."
One important focus of an EDRE is challenging Army units to rapidly deploy by land, air and sea. Success often depends on Soldiers, vehicles and equipment being combat ready at a moment's notice. It also requires close coordination with the Air Force, Navy and other agencies to ensure a fast departure to the area of operations.
"The air operations group at Memphis was very enthusiastic about the idea," said 1st Lt. William Johnson, unit liaison officer. "Their flight crews rarely get to do training with the Army and most had never worked with an artillery unit before. The experience both of our organizations gained by working together was invaluable."
The next morning, 44 Soldiers flew to Bicycle Lake Army Airfield, Calif., in the Mojave Desert. Despite strong winds and an unimproved landing strip composed of paved dirt and sand, pilots and crew landed the aircraft without incident.
"It takes a little longer to take off and land, so we have to calculate and plan for the dirt surface," said Maj. Will Abernathy, a C-17 pilot.
Soldiers and Airmen moved swiftly to offload personnel and vehicles from the C-17 in preparation for the next phase of the operation, a dry-fire exercise. The battalion's fire direction center (FDC) at Fort Sill successfully transmitted data from more than 1,200 miles away. The launcher crew received and executed simulated fire missions with the Army Tactical Missile System.
"We've definitely improved our systems over the past year. We've reached 1st Infantry Division at Fort Riley, [Kan.], III Corps down at Fort Hood, [Texas], and now Fort Irwin," said Sgt. Alexander McHenry, an FDC chief. "Being able to shoot, move and communicate from one side of a country to the other is a huge advantage to have."
Overall, the success of the EDRE was a significant accomplishment for the battalion. Soldiers were challenged to synchronize a wide range of capabilities, including digital, radio and voice systems. The Red Dragons' success proved they are ready to deploy by aircraft and provide accurate, timely and decisive rocket and missile fires on the battlefield. The next few weeks will test their ability to integrate long range precision fires at multiple echelons.
The joint operation was the first major event for 3-13th FA at the National Training Center. It was also the first time in more a decade that the battalion has deployed MLRS by aircraft.
More than 200 Red Dragon Soldiers will participate in the rotation, providing fire support for 11 battalions under 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division from Fort Riley.
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