SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii -- Despite the rain and muggy weather, Soldiers with the 25th Special Troops Battalion, 25th Sustainment Brigade, conducted tactical sustainment operations 28-30th April, during operation Orion Strike in preparation for an upcoming exercise at the Pohakula Training Area, Hawaii. During the training exercise each unit trained in their respective area of expertise, but were also required to run through a convoy live fire exercise.
From postal services to financial aid, the units that comprise the 25th Special Troops Battalion, can provide a large variety of sustainment capabilities to war fighters in austere environments. Exercise Orion Strike was designed to hone Sustainers military occupation specialty while maintaining their basic Soldier skills to reaction to enemy contact in order to sustain the fight.
"In actual combat anything can happen," said Staff Sgt. Eduardo Rivera, an operations and planning noncommissioned officer for the 25th Special Troops Battalion. "These Soldiers are training on live fire lanes so that they are able to react to any type of enemy fire without any issues."
The convoy live fire was performed in three stages: a dry run, a run of the lane with blank ammunitions, and ending with a run through firing live rounds.
"The purpose of this range is to familiarize Soldiers with their weapons and firing them from turrets and practicing convoy movements while firing," said 1Lt. Sherril Rawlinson, a platoon leader with 259th Human Resources Company, 25th Special Troops Battalion and the officer in charge of the live fire range. "We want the Soldiers to hone-in to become comfortable and confident in their skills before executing the convoy live fire exercise at Pohakula Training Area."
While the convoy live fire range was an overall focus, each unit trained to perfect their individual craft in the field. In particular the postal service team worked diligently at handling mail and inspecting packages.
"The postal service is one of the top morale boosters for all Soldiers," said Rivera. "This is something that must be maintained, and the Soldiers operating that mission must be qualified to handle mail."
At the end of the exercise Soldiers from the 25th Special Troops Battalion emerged competent in convoy operation, base fortification and technically proficient in their occupation specialties. Now the "Whatever It takes" Battalion stands ready to execute operation U'ila Pau, which begin in the middle of May until the beginning of June on the island of Hawai'i at the Pohakula Training Area.
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