FORT BRAGG, NC -- Soldiers of 3rd Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment conducted an emergency deployment readiness exercise as part of a transfer of equipment to another unit Feb. 27 to March 6.
Although the battalion is deployed, the remaining batteries shipped equipment to its sister unit, 1-7th ADA, to support air and missile defense operations in Central Command. While the battalion packed up equipment to ship overseas, they also exercises the unit movement plans to deploy to an overseas theater of operations.
The exercise, known by its abbreviation of "EDRE", exercised the battalion's ability to deploy within 96 hours of notification.
The training took place at Pope Army Airfield. To complete the training, the units had to undergo multiple rehearsals along with battery and the battalion's Unit Loading Area Control Center operations.
The exercise involved the movement of equipment from A and B Batteries.
"It took excellent preparation and effort by these units to push 30 pieces of rolling stock by air and 22 pieces by sea," said Capt. Joshua Aeschliman, the battalion's rear detachment operations officer.
"We are not allotted many opportunities to conduct this type of training and it is invaluable to be able to physically load aircraft for future deployments," said Aeschliman.
The training included an alert recall and equipment readiness validations. In a real-world scenario, units would receive a no-notice order to deploy. After the exercise, Aeschliman stated, "The battalion performed superbly.
"They made it through all inspections with first time go's and loaded all aircraft with no accidents or delays."
Social Sharing