Not just another day in paradise: Hawaii training increases Soldiers' adaptability, readiness

POHAKULOA TRAINING AREA, Hawaii -- Say the word "Hawaii," and most people envision a relaxing environment with sparkling white beaches and crystal clear waters. For Soldiers from the maneuver elements of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, however, their recent tropical experience was starkly different than that of the typical tourist.

The Soldiers traveled to the Pohakuloa Training Area on the big island of Hawaii for a fire support coordination exercise from June 24 -- 26, situated on a mile high plateau of rocky and sparse terrain between Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea and the Hualalai volcanic mountains. The purpose of the fire support coordination exercise, also known as an FCX, was to provide realistic training, which includes support from support from mortar, artillery and helicopter gunships and maximum flexibility during the company-level maneuvers.

Second Lt. Victor Perez, a fire support officer assigned to 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, said the FCX "allows us to practice with our maneuver element and also be able to de-conflict measures such as coordination and indirect fires."

Perez said the training with close air support assets, such as the AH-64 Apache helicopter, provides an excellent opportunity to ensure the smooth utility of air and indirect fire assets.

"We get down here to really train and focus on for when the next war that happens," he said. "It's not exactly being overseas, but allows us to get really good training out here."

Capt. Trent Sutterfield, commander of Blackfoot Troop, 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, said it was a great experience for his troops on the Pohakuloa Training Area, also known as PTA.

"It's a chance to not only work with your platoon leaders, which you work with quite a bit, but that external audience such as your FSO (fire support officer), your fire support coordination piece with the artillery and mortars," Sutterfield said.

He stated that the ranges were doable on the island of Oahu, but that there are a great many constraints for training on the highly populated island.

"This allows us to build again not to just shoot our maneuver elements or normal direct fire systems such as the M2 machine gun and Mark 19 grenade launcher, but also emphasis our fire capabilities and air platforms," he said. "We have the land and the ability without constricting training of other units on Schofield."

The company-level leadership involved their FSOs during their operational planning.

"We involved them in our planning process, and directly through our fire support officer and fire support NCO," he said. "They develop the fires plan as we conduct the maneuvers piece, and build that on top in support of us."

Spc. Matthew Blankenship, a fire support specialist assigned to 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, worked directly with the maneuver elements on the simulated battlefield.

Blankenship stated the tight constraints on the ranges on Oahu made it difficult for the M777 150 mm howitzer to fire with full affect during training.

"There's a lot of wide open places so we can use some of our larger caliber weapon systems," he said. "You can't really fire that well at Schofield because there isn't enough range to. So when we come to PTA, we get to actually use the larger caliber weapons in the way it was designed to be used."

This being his second rotation at PTA, Blankenship's views on the PTA ranges were highly positive.

"I never imagined Hawaii being like this," he said. "It's sort of a desert climate, and it's really different. It's a really good place to train."