Utah Army National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant William Cowley, 11JUN2022.

At the beginning of June 2022, and while many Idaho National Guard personnel are still deployed/deploying overseas, as well as to other locations within the United States, about 2-thousand National Guard artillery personnel from California, Iowa, North Carolina, Utah, and an Army Reserve unit from Texas (2-364 Training Support Battalion ), as well as Active Army ‘gods’ (Observer, Coach, Trainers aka OCTs from 189th Infantry Brigade) from Washington, invaded Southwestern Idaho!

Pulling the lanyard of an M109A6. Utah Army National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant William Cowley, 11JUN2022.

Utah National Guard’s 65th Field Artillery Brigade led the charge, blasting Idaho’s Orchard Combat Training Center (formerly Orchard Training Area) with its artillery guns.  Orchard Combat Training Center is 18 miles south of Boise.

Utah suffered some casualties. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sergeant Scott Evans, 07JUN2022.

Utah Army National Guard’s 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 211 Aviation Regiment, provided air transport. Video by Sergeant Alejandro Lucero, 05JUN2022:

The invasion was planned 15 months ago, called Western Strike 22.  Western Strike 22 is about training-up National Guard artillery units for the coming Third World War, which is the continuation of the 2017 Near Peer Threat doctrine.

A ‘flat’ of 155mm ammo is off-loaded. Utah Army National Guard photo by Sergeant James Bunn, 10JUN2022.

California’s 340th Brigade Support Battalion helped supply the 155mm ammo for the guns of Utah’s M109A6 Paladins.

Moment of launch. Utah Army National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant William Cowley, 11JUN2022.

Video of some M109A6 Paladin action, by Sergeant Alejandro Lucero:

North Carolina Army National Guard sent in their 13F FiST-ers (Fire Support Team, artillery forward observers) to help guide Utah’s artillery fire: “Our motto is ‘the eyes of the battlefield,’ we observe everything including mortars, artillery, fixed and rotary winged aircraft, and even naval gunfire.”-Corporal Joshua Morris, 1st Battalion, 113th Field Artillery Regiment, North Carolina Army National Guard

‘My’ M981 FiSTV (artillery forward observer M113), on Idaho’s Orchard Training Area (now called Orchard Combat Training Center), Summer 1997.

Been there done that, in the late 1990s.

FiST-ers board UH-60 Black Hawks, Utah Army National Guard video by Sergeant Alejandro Lucero, 09JUN2022:

But the North Carolina Army National Guard’s 5th Battalion, 113th Field Artillery Regiment also brought their artillery rocket system called HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System).

HIMARS launcher tubes get sling-loaded by UH-60 Black Hawk. Utah Army National Guard photo by Sergeant Rebecca Call, 13JUN2022.

An M142 HIMARS moves into launching position. Utah Army National Guard photo by Sergeant Rebecca Call, 13JUN2022.

(SKI-BIRD AND THE HIMARS)

HIMARS launch. Utah Army National Guard photo by Sergeant Alejandro Lucero, 06JUN2022.

Utah Army National Guard video by Sergeant Alejandro Lucero, showing North Carolina’s HIMARS in action, 06JUN2022:

Utah SF soldier launches a rocket out of the AT4. Utah Army National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Ariel J. Solomon, 13JUN2022.

Utah Army National Guard also sent in their Special Forces unit, the 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne). Here’s a dramatic music promo-video by Staff Sergeant Jordan Hack, 11JUN2022:

An 81mm round is launched out of the M252 mortar. Utah Army National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Ariel J. Solomon, 12JUN2022.

Iowa Army National Guard deployed their 734th Regional Support Group and 883rd Engineer Company. Here is video of some fun explosions brought to you by the 883rd Engineer Company, video by Sergeant Alejandro Lucero, 10JUN2022:

Iowa National Guard personnel also had fun with the M2HB, Utah Army National Guard video by Sergeant Ariel Solomon, 05JUN2022:

Emergency, emergency! Tactical Toilet system on it’s way, just hold it in a little longer! Utah Army National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Jordan Hack, 11JUN2022.

Western Strike 22 also included the successful deployment of tactical toilets (I assume).

You can’t camp on the OCTC without your Tactical Toilet. Utah Army National Guard photo by Sergeant Ariel Solomon, 05JUN2022.

Idaho’s OCTC actually sits on federal Bureau of Land Management (the real BLM) property, which strictly enforces rules about when, where and what you can or cannot do….doo.

Arty rounds impact Idaho’s OCTC. Utah Army National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Jordan Hack, 11JUN2022.

This year’s artillery wargame ended on 16JUN2022.  Just short of 3-thousand rounds were fired during 14 days: “The Idaho National Guard and Orchard Combat Training Center have been great hosts, allowing us to take full advantage of the training facilities.”-Colonel Shawn Fuellenbach, brigade commander, 65th Field Artillery Brigade, Utah Army National Guard

Night shot…..out! Utah Army National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Ariel J. Solomon, 10JUN2022.

February 2022: IDAHO ARMY NATIONAL GUARD MEDEVACS WOUNDED FROM GOWEN FIELD!

2021: U-S-A-F PREPS TO USE C-130 ON HIGHWAYS IN WYOMING! RED DAWN FOR REALS?

2020: T-A-C-P-S USE HORSE POWER TO CALL IN AIR STRIKES ON IDAHO MOUNTAINS!

2019: UNITED STATES INVADES IDAHO!