GAGETOWN, Canada -- Soldiers assigned to 3rd Battalion, 197th Field Artillery Regiment, New Hampshire Army National Guard, conducted a live-fire exercise using their High Mobility Artillery Rocket System on June 12 in Gagetown, Canada. The unit launched 30 rockets during the exercise.
"The goal for the exercise was to qualify our launcher crews, which is an annual requirement for National Guard HIMARS units," said Lt. Col. Davis Ulricson, Commander of 3rd Battalion, 197th Field Artillery Regiment. "Whether real world or simulated, it's important that we're able to respond quickly and effectively to field artillery missions. We were able achieve that goal and increase our proficiency during our training in Gagetown."
The live-fire demonstration was the culminating event of the unit's two-week annual training, which began June 4 and concluded on June 18. In addition to live-fire drills, Soldiers with 3rd Battalion participated in medical evacuation drills and sling load operations with help from the 238th Medical Evacuation Company and 744th Forward Support Company of the New Hampshire Army National Guard.
"Working together with supporting units prepares us for missions both stateside and abroad," said Maj. Christopher Thompson, operations officer for 3rd Battalion. "It's been a valuable training opportunity for our staff, and a great learning experience for all soldiers involved."
The annual training kicked off with a tactical exercise on June 4, when soldiers loaded two HIMARS launchers onto a C-17 aircraft operated by the 105th Airlift Wing of the New York National Guard. When the aircraft landed in Gagetown, Canada, Soldiers rapidly deployed the HIMARS launchers for a simulated mission, locating and neutralizing a notional target.
By June 5, more than 200 New Hampshire National Guard soldiers were on route to Gagetown by convoy. When the Soldiers arrived, they were tasked with building their area of operations site from the ground up.
"We teach sustainment tasks that support survivability in the field, which means we're responsible for the maintenance of our vehicles and equipment," said Sgt. 1st Class Joel Nault, who oversees sustainment operations for 3rd Battalion. "We also provide meals and medical care for our soldiers with our own assets. We train as we fight, so it's critical for our soldiers to learn how the unit can sustain itself."'
As annual training got underway, soldiers completed warrior tasks daily, including land navigation and night drivers' training. For Bravo Battery, 3rd Battalion, soldiers' tasks turned into a competition, pitting platoons against each other in timed events including a crew-served weapons assembly, a 5-kilometer ruck march and a team Humvee push.
Canadian Armed Forces also participated in 3rd Battalion's training with site visits to each battery's area of operations. With a focus on radar systems, 3rd Battalion's Echo Battery provided a demonstration of their radar equipment to Canadian Armed Forces, while 3rd Battalion's HIMARS firing battery showcased their launchers.
"Overall, the training in Gagetown adds to our level of readiness to react to upcoming missions, and speaks to our willingness to work with an artillery coalition partner," added Ulricson.
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