FORT CAMPBELL, Ky-Soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, completed Operation Cherokee Resolve, Oct. 16 and 17, 2012 at Fort Campbell, Ky.
Operation Cherokee Resolve was a battalion level field-training exercise in which the Soldiers were to conduct a simulated raid by aerial envelopment to disrupt an insurgent network.
"We are doing collective training in preparation for [Joint Readiness Training Center]," said 1st Lt. John Pitonyak, the battalion's Operations Air officer in charge with 2nd Bn., 506th Inf. Regt.
"This is really the first chance I've gotten to do my job in a tactical environment," said Pitonyak. "It kind of reminds everyone that this is an air assault unit. This is what distinguishes us amongst other light infantry units in the Army; our ability to plan and to conduct air assault operations on either a small or a large scale."
Though the intent was to conduct a simulated raid via aerial envelopment, aircraft transport was not available.
"We conducted a battalion attack in conjunction with a 20-mile movement over a 24-hour period in which we incorporate all the systems that we have available to us in the battalion," said Sgt. 1st Class Michael Ledbetter, a platoon sergeant with "Easy Company", 2nd Bn., 506th Inf. Regt.
"We got into [pickup zone] posture for aircraft to pick us up and fly us to our objective so we can conduct the raid," said Pitonyah. "After that we will exfill the PZ for other aircraft to pick us up and fly us back, however aircraft aren't actually coming so we will be walking back a full 20 miles."
Even with the grueling foot march, the Soldiers recognize what this type of training experience is preparing the battalion for.
"This training is important for everyone," said 1st Sgt. Kenneth S. Chaney, the first sergeant with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Bn., 506th Inf. Regt. "It is collaborative training that everyone has been going through for the last 12 month; it is pretty much the pinnacle training that we have done here at Fort Campbell."
"It is important because it is getting us ready for any future deployments, even though for a battalion it is a bit of a crucible experience for a lot of the Soldiers," said Pitonyak. "Twenty miles whether it is broken up or not, it is 20 miles. It was a team building event for the entire battalion which is something you don't get to see a lot."
"This training was important because it allowed us to see where we fit into the equation of how this battalion needs to fight," said 1st Sgt. Jamal Jenkins, the first sergeant with "Easy Company", 2nd Bn., 506th Inf. Regt. "Seeing where we fit into the equation on a larger scale allowed us to see what we need to work on for the future."
Related Links:
Currahees are flexible in combat patrol lanes
The 101st Airborne Division CORE Page
Official 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division Facebook Page
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