• Military Menu                       

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

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Fires Brigade hosts joint exercise at Fort Sill

Sep 7, 2010

By Staff Sgt. David Chapman, 75th Fires Brigade

FORT SILL, Okla. (Sept. 7, 2010) -- Under the blazing Oklahoma sun and oppressive heat, Marines and Soldiers stream off a helicopter to secure a position on a deserted hill top. From this position, the teams of forward observers can best identify enemy targets and call in rockets, howitzer shells, and aircraft carried bombs. The sound of bombs and artillery soon rumbles through the valley below.

Over 1,000 Soldiers, Marines, Air Force and Sailors flooded the training area of Fort Sill to take part in Operation Diamond Inferno, one of the largest training exercises to take place here. The purpose of this exercise was to bridge the gap between Army communications systems and those of the Marine Corps.

"The purpose of the training exercise was many folds. First it was to train many Soldiers, marines, and airmen on their war fighting functions. Second purpose was to work in a joint environment where soldiers and marines who do the same job could share tactics, techniques, and procedures; knowledge and understanding, and tools of the trade," said Lt. Col. Roderick Herron, 75th Fires Brigade deputy commander. "It is a fact that we will only fight wars jointly from here on. Lastly, this exercise was to highlight Fort Sill as a great place to come and train. We have world class faculties and can support joint training."

Taking part in the exercise included Marines of the Air Naval Liaison Company, Camp Pendleton, Cali., F-18 close air support, VMFA-112, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron, Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth Texas, and CH-47D Chinook support from Army Reserve, B Company, 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment, Oletha, Kan.

Due to the 75th Fires Brigades' Paladin unit being deployed currently, they were able to draw from the Fort Sill area and receive artillery assistance from the 2nd Battalion, 5th Field Artillery Regiment, 214th Fires Brigade, and radar training with Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 31st Air Defense Artillery Brigade.

A majority of the training included calls for close air support from air assets and howitzer and Multiple Launch Rocket System. But there was also vital training for the 100th Brigade Support Battalion, who was responsible for all of the day to day support responsibilities during the exercise. This was the first time that the 100th BSB had been able to perform the role that they had been trained to do since their deployment 4 years ago.

The battalion conducted "in lieu of" missions during their last deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan.

"What our battalion does is provide all of the logistical support for the Brigade," said Lt. Col. Gavin Gardner, 100th BSB commander. "Our soldiers are the ones who give them all the resources- the food, the fuel, the water and most importantly the ammunition. So, for the last 10 days our battalion's been out here pushing all of our supplies to the brigade combat team so they can go out and do all these great fire missions."

But Operation Diamond Inferno was not just about bringing a joint service operation to Fort Sill, it served as a vital educational source for real world operations taking place in combat zones across the globe.

"Joint exercises like this has little benefit for those war fighters who are already downrange unless we discover a new TTP during training that could be applied downrange. Those war fighters downrange have already received very detailed and complex training," said Herron. "The true benefit of this training is for the young pilots, soldiers, marines, sailors who have yet to deploy. This environment allows them to have realistic training opportunities that prepare them to do their jobs downrange and to give them the self confidence that they need to be successful. This is a true, train as you fight situation. What the soldiers and marines did here is the exact same things they would have to do in combat."

At the end of the exercise over 2,400 artillery rounds, 200 rockets and almost 100 500-pound bombs had impacted in the Fort Sill training area and provided a training environment for those who may have to work in a joint atmosphere while deployed in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

"The general expectation is that this was a very successful exercise. This exercise exceeded all expectations. Don't get me wrong, we had problems and not everything went perfectly. We learned and improved every day. We trained young staffs, gun crews, and Fire Direction Centers," said Herron. "Most importantly, we have a better understanding of ourselves and a much better understanding of the things we need to work on to get to the next level. What we learned this week will drive our training for the next few months. We will take our lessons learned from this event and grow. I am sure that we will get to the next level during our next exercise."