Soldiers from the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the New York Army National Guard traveled from all corners of the state to spend their annual training from July 11-31 at Fort Drum to employ the Exportable Combat Training Capability program, or XCTC.
Typically, Army National Guard units go to drill one weekend a month and one, two-week period called annual training. As the Northeast's premier training facility, Fort Drum has served as the annual training site for the 27th IBCT, headquartered at Syracuse, throughout the years. National Guardsmen came in preparation for next year's rotation to the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, La., and the XCTC training was important since their last JRTC rotation was in 2001.
Although on the surface the training looks much like any other training, the XCTC program is similar to the combat training centers at Fort Irwin, Calif., and JRTC. It is a brigade field training exercise, designed to certify platoon proficiency, and it provides an experience closer to their unit head-
quarters and usually in their home state.
The XCTC combined contractor support, the Army's latest technology, First Army Division East's observer / controller team's expertise and units from Fort Drum, such as Soldiers from 1st Brigade Combat Team, who served as the opposing force, to provide them with the proper train-up.
Platoon leaders such as 1st Lt. Alix Walls, of Rock City Falls, used the XCTC to work with her platoon sergeant in developing training plans on things that her artillery platoon needed to improve on and rehearsals they need both as a unit and as individuals. Although she was extremely happy with their performance during their first fire mission, she said there are items they need to continue to work, such as cross-level training and defensive missions to help protect their location.
"We'll continue to refine our (standard operating procedures) within our unit and get our sections and NCOs working together on the same page," she said. "We are getting better every day."
Fort Drum's training area has provided National Guardsmen with enough ranges and real estate to train in the way they need. For 2nd Lt. James Boyles, a platoon leader with 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry Regiment, the North Country environment is as "ideal" as training should be.
"It's a tough training environment to work in, but it's good because one minute (it) could be raining, cold, and an hour later it can be hot," said Boyles of High Park. "It helps just to be adaptive for any weather conditions that may arise."
Yet, as with all annual training events, the XCTC gave Boyles and his men the time to fully immerse the younger team members with the experience they need, as many of his Soldiers have had only infantry one-station, unit training. The learning curve during the first week of training was tough.
"I have 24 guys in my platoon, and about half of them are brand new out of basic," he said. "This is like real-world stuff and a lot different from just basic training."
It's exactly what Pvt. 2 Joshua Dubray, of B Company, 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry Regiment, needed during the XCTC, as this is his second time with his unit as an infantryman. He had served as a motor transport operator in the past, but he decided to become an infantryman a few drills ago.
"There's a huge learning curve to be a lineman," he said. "There's so much information to learn and retain."
With many different situational training exercise lanes all designed to maximize platoon proficiency by building competent leaders who are out training their Soldiers, the XCTC became a new experience for members of the Army National Guard, but one that would prepare them for the road that may lie ahead.
"The conditions and capabilities we refine here will benefit all of us (at JRTC)," said Lt. Col. Michael Hoblin, 27th IBCT deputy commander.
The 27th IBCT's battalions have served the state and the nation alongside regular Army units, other branches of the military and our partnering nations throughout the global war on terrorism. Yet, many of the regiments were steeped in lineage long before the last decade.
The 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment, "The Fighting 69th," based out of New York City, was created in 1849, when it was the 9th Regiment New York State Militia. A Company traces its roots to the American Revolution, and the regiment has served the nation in almost every campaign since. Its companies are in New York City, Farmingdale and Camp Smith.
The 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry Regiment, headquartered in Utica, has companies in Geneseo, Ogdensburg, Saranac Lake, Glen-ville and Gloversville.
The 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry Regiment, is headquartered out of Niagara Falls. The regiment itself was formed shortly after World War I and saw action in northwest Europe during World War II. Its companies are from Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Geneva and Jamestown.
The 1st Battalion, 258th Field Artillery Regiment, from Queens, also can trace its roots to the American Revolution. Although it rained sporadically during their time at Fort Drum, the artillerymen in turn "rained steel" on their targets with their M119A2 howitzers. Since the beginning of the global war on terrorism, its Soldiers deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan. Its batteries are stationed at Jamaica, New Windsor and Bronx.
The 427th Brigade Support Battalion, out of Syracuse, was established when the 27th IBCT converted to the modular brigade structure and was designed to closely support its brigade with supply, maintenance, and medical support companies. Its companies are headquartered in Rochester, Fort Drum and Buffalo.
The 27th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, of Syracuse, has companies in Buffalo, Lockport and Rochester. Like the 427th BSB, it was formed when the 27th IBCT become a modular brigade. It provides the brigade with engineer, signal and military intelligence support.
There were other units training with the 27th IBCT such as NYARNG's 42nd Infantry Division's Combat Aviation Brigade, which used the XCTC to help train Soldiers in the 427th BSB during sling load operations, and the 1st Battalion, 182nd Infantry Regiment, of Melrose, Mass.
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New York Army National Guard conducts premier training at Fort Drum
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