SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii — U.S. Army Pacific Soldiers assigned to 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division out of Schofield Barracks, completed an emergency deployment readiness exercise to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam from Sept. 23-28, 2022.
One U.S. Air Force C-17 with the 21st Airlift Squadron, 60th Air Mobility Wing out of Travis Air Force Base, California, and one C-17 with the 3rd Airlift Squadron, 436th Airlift Wing from Dover, Delaware, transported approximately 100 Soldiers, seven pallets of equipment and an off-road tactical vehicle from Hawaii to Guam.
The joint training event provided an opportunity for the Ready Response Force to rehearse its core mission of deploying to the Indo-Pacific region with all their necessary equipment and assume military operations upon arriving.
“I think the biggest takeaway for us is our ability to show we are ready to deploy and fight tonight,” said Jamal Husien, executive officer, Alpha Company, 2-27 IN, 3IBCT. “We deployed with everything we need to go to war, from CBRN equipment, communication infrastructure, weapons, and munitions.”
With limited time in Guam, Alpha Company practiced military operations in urban terrain tactics, followed by an integrated training event with Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 94 Field Artillery Regiment, 17th Field Artillery Brigade and four High Mobility Artillery Rocket System vehicles.
“Our company executed a company attack to seize key terrain to enable Bravo Battery to emplace their HIMARS upon returning to the airfield from a different mission,” said Capt. Chad Adams, commander, Alpha Company, 2-27 IN, 3IBCT.
Bravo Battery, out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, participated in the exercise and deployed with approximately 30 Soldiers, four HIMARS, tactical vehicles, and other critical supplies and equipment.
One C-17 assigned to the 4th Airlift Squadron, 62nd Airlift Wing out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord and one C-17 with the 517th Airlift Squadron, 3rd Airlift Wing out of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska transported the 17th FAB personnel and equipment to Guam.
“This mission demonstrates our capability to project power across the Indo-Pacific,” said 1st Sgt. Dustin Elser, Bravo Battery, 1-94th FAR, 17th FAB. “The HIMARS are a force multiplier and they bring a game changing capability to every theater they operate.”
Bravo Battery rehearsed multiple HIMARS Rapid Infiltration, or HI-RAIN, missions deploying to nearby islands on consecutive days before teaming up with Alpha Company for their culminating training event.
During a HI-RAIN mission, HIMARS vehicles embark an aircraft and fly to a specific location, disembark the aircraft and engage a target, then board the aircraft and fly away, spending minimal time on ground.
“When you execute a HI-RAIN mission you deploy with everything you need to sustain yourself,” said Brandon Hebert, executive officer, Bravo Battery, 1-94th FAR, 17th FAB. “It reinforces discipline in your load plan because you have to anticipate potential friction points.”
The final training day consisted of joint inspections and pre-deployment procedures to prepare the units to return to their home stations.
“I’m extremely excited and proud of how our team performed,” said Adams. “I am confident our unit is ready to respond to any contingency across the Indo-Pacific.”
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