• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Idaho National Guard unit conducts rehearsal drill at Camp Shelby

Aug 5, 2010

By Capt. Kurt Van Slooten

CAMP SHELBY, Miss. - The 188th Infantry Brigade recently hosted the rehearsal of concept drill for the deploying 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team on Thursday at Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center.

The ROC drill reviewed the 116th CBCT's pre- and post-mobilization training plan. It also provided an opportunity for 116th CBCT commanders and senior enlisted advisors to review the First Army Division East training support platform plan for the unit.

The 116th CBCT, Idaho's largest National Guard formation with contributing units in Montana and Oregon, will conduct its post-mobilization training and validation at CSJFTC starting in September in preparation for its deployment to Iraq in support of Operation New Dawn. Operation New Dawn is the new moniker for the war in Iraq and reflects the reduced role U.S. troops will play in securing this country this year as troop levels fall, according to a memo from Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates released in February.

"This is an interesting mission that the 116th is taking on as they assume battlespace previously assigned to three brigades," said Maj. Gen. Mick Bednarek, First Army Division East commanding general.

Bednarek added that the training provided at CSJFTC will continue to evolve to ensure theater relevant training is provided for deploying Reserve Component formations.

"My goal is for the 188th Infantry Brigade, supported by the 177th Armor Brigade, the 4/75th Battle Command Training Brigade and Camp Shelby, to provide an operationally relevant combat training center-like training platform for the 116th CBCT in preparation for their deployment to Iraq," said Col. Robert A. Warburg, 188th Infantry Brigade commander.

The 188th Infantry Brigade, along with the other training support brigades in First Army Division East, provides and facilitates theater-focused training for deploying National Guard and Reserve formations. Based out of Fort Stewart, the 188th has been training deploying National Guard and Reserve units for Iraq deployments continuously since 2003.