12 September 2014 (23:59 UTC-07 Tango 11 September 2014)/16 Dhu l-Qa’da 1435/20 Shahrivar 1393/19 Gui-You 4712
“…we’re re-energizing that thing that we knew, and applying the new systems that are available to us. It continues what we’ve established over the last 10 years in Afghanistan and Iraq; it’s an opportunity for us to combine forces and re-engage the heavy fight….”-Colonel Brad Christopher, 116th Cav Brigade Combat Team Idaho National Guard
After a decade of training for low intensity conflicts (like the questionable occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan) the Idaho and Oregon National Guards just concluded new Total Force warfare training, similar to what we trained for during the Cold War and in the 1990s.
Back in the day, we trained hard for massive force on force warfare with the ultimate ground force wargame being held at Fort Irwin National Training Center (NTC) in California. But that all went away with the occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq. (remember, not one Afghan or Iraqi was involved in the 9-11 attacks on the U.S., the alleged attackers were Saudi, Egyptian, Lebanese or from the UAE)
Apparently the growing tensions with Russia is pushing the U.S. Army to return to Cold War training, even though the Obama regime continues to deny that we’re returning to a Cold War mentality.
“Being at the Orchard Training Center allows leaders to get their tanks, their Bradleys and their crews and Soldiers with live-fire and tactical maneuver and practice those skills, so when and if it becomes time to use them, they are already trained, proficient and confident.”-Lieutenant Colonel Brian Dean, 3-116th Cav Battalion Oregon National Guard
Orchard Training Area (OTA), south of Boise, was recently the scene of massive armor and artillery (I assume Pocatello’s 1-148th Arti was there, for a couple of years I was a 13F with that unit) wargames not seen since the late 1990s. Units from the U.S. Army’s Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington, as well as Army Reserve and the Idaho and Oregon National Guards went head to head in the eXportable Combat Training Capability (XCTC, pronounced ‘ecstasy’) operation.
As a former 19K with B Co 2-116th Armored Cav (as it was known then), as well as a former 19E with California’s D Co 1-185th Armor (I was also a 12F with CSC 1-185th Armor before that, and somewhere in between I was an IsoDock crew chief on C-130s with 463rd MAC at Dyess AFB), I can tell you that being on the line during tank gunnery is XCTC.
Click the pics to make bigger (unfortunately some of the photos were taken with crappy 110 camera with fixed focus lens and are fuzzy)
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- Fort “lost in the woods”, 1982. I’m the one holding the ‘pig’.
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- This is what happens when your unit forgets you during two weeks of field training. I’m the one with the hair! Combat Support Company 1st 185th Armor, Camp Roberts, 1985.
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- Me on top of the abandoned and forgotten X-21A, Edwards AFB California, 1985.
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- 1986: C-130H on the flight line, Dyess AFB, where I was a C-130 IsoDock Crew Chief.
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- B-1B bombers, Dyess AFB Texas, 1986. Note classic Pinto ‘delivery’ wagon in foreground.
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- I’m the one in the middle of the group. Camp Roberts, California, 1994.
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- Bore sighting the old 105mm gunned M1 at Idaho’s OTA, M1 Transition Training 1995.
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- An Idaho National Guard 120mm gunned M1A1 Abrams, OTA 1997.
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- The 116th Armored Cav NTC, California, 1998.
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- An NTC OpFor Sheridan overrunning my OP, back when I was 13F for Idaho’s 1st 148th Artillery, 1998.
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- Last ride on a C-130H, this time as a M1A2 TC with the Idaho Army National Guard, on the way back from a ‘friendly’ with Canadian armor in Alberta, 2002.
A couple of sergeants from Oregon accuratly describe what it’s like training at the OTA: “This environment and these big guns going off just adds to the chaos. We eat a lot of dirt out here, a lot of dirt!”-Staff Sergeant Brian Allender
“It’s an adrenaline rush when you’ve got tanks and Bradleys and armor meshing out here in the middle of nowhere. It’s a lot of fun! The training value out here is invaluable. This is where armor fights!”– Staff Sergeant David Wahlstrom
Of note, a woman has become the first female M1A2 SEP mechanic in the Oregon National Guard. Specialist Samantha Brumley also took part in the recent XCTC wargames, but never thought she’d be a first: “I wanted to be a nurse. I actually wanted to be a medic when I got in, but that didn’t happen….I like getting hands-on. I like getting dirty…I never thought I would join the National Guard and be a tank mechanic. I certainly never thought I’d be the first woman.”
TRILATERAL COMMISSION PLAN IN MOTION: JAPAN TO JOIN U.S. & U.K. IN CREATING JOINT MILITARY FORCE! PREPARATIONS FOR TOTAL WORLD WAR?