Cold blast joins 75th Fires Brigade blasts
Feb 3, 2011
By Marie Berberea (U.S. Fires Center of Excellence, Fort Sill)
FORT SILL, Okla. -- The name Operation Diamond Freeze couldn't have been more appropriate during the last part of the 75th Fires Brigade's combined arms live fire exercise which took a pause from training to practice safety.
"We should be able to train and fight in adverse conditions, but that line of being stupid versus good training, we have to be cognizant of it," said Col. Joseph Harrington, 75th FiB commander.
On the afternoon of Jan. 31, the sky was still filled with rounds as commanders watched the weather progress. The 100th Brigade Support Battalion was furiously trying to oversupply those who may be in the field for an extended period of time.
"The first week was absolutely gorgeous here at Fort Sill. The second week has turned into a bit of a challenge," said Col. Gavin Gardner, 100th BSB commander. "We procured extra heaters and tents to make sure everyone has a warm place to sleep."
As everyone waited to see if the weather predictions were right, freezing rain and hail began to fall. Temperatures dropped drastically and the exercise was officially frozen; a stark contrast to the conditions of the previous week.
"It's interesting. Last week I thought Diamond Freeze was Diamond Sunshine, it's making up for it right now," said Harrington.
The onslaught of snow transformed the previously brown ranges to a blinding white as the slew of participants trudged on. The exercise began Jan. 24 focusing on combined arms maneuvers and counter fires. Soldiers, airmen, Marines and even Singaporean observers practiced their part in real-world combat joint operations.
"In 2004, the Army went from all the divisions running how we fight to all the brigades. Each brigade is now independently deployable," said Harrington. "Fires brigades are supposed to integrate fire support assets and we're focused on the team fight."
However, Harrington said with current operations, Soldiers found themselves serving as truck drivers or military police while deployed and weren't afforded the opportunity to practice the transition.
The Diamond Brigade is making up for that now as this is their third major joint exercise, and they brought in even more participants.
"If you screw it up here, who cares? These guys are learning how to put all of this together. There's not a script when you get deployed. If you learn to make multiple contingency operations and make decisions on the fly-that's a lesson you can't replace," said Harrington.
While the weather may have slowed down operations in the second week, the training is still viewed as a success.
"This is the last major exercise that we have to complete before our company will say, 'Yep, you guys are certified to go to Afghanistan,'" said Maj. Kevin Stout, 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, Camp Pendleton, Calif.
Stout said the exercise offers a unique training opportunity with the Army, and one his fellow Marines seem to enjoy.
"I just like getting out and actually doing my job, you know dropping bombs and whatnot," Cpl. Vincent Scognamiglio, 1st ANGLICO.
Scognamiglio explained that Operation Diamond Freeze gives them objectives and goals to meet with ever-changing scenarios to keep those in the field on their toes.
"This puts everything together, it's big picture training," said Scognamiglio.
Elements from across the United States and beyond have come together to train in joint operations at the Fires Center of Excellence. For such a massive exercise, it sprouted from one simple tasking.
"We were given a tasking to support Rangers coming in with one platoon firing rounds," said Harrington.
Harrington said along with Lt. Col. Thomas Roe, who now commands 3-13th FA, they figured out how to make it so much more.
"Marines, airmen, Soldiers, being supported by two MLRS battalions from the 75th Fires Brigade; 2nd Battalion, 14th Field Artillery; 2nd Battalion, 5th Field Artillery; 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery, mortars from Fort Carson, planes coming out of Fort Worth ... it was a tasking that we turned into an opportunity and it's just taken off from there."
Coordinating the ground and air piece was described as an invaluable exercise in communication and is something Harrington and others would like to see continue on.
"I really hope Fort Sill, and the 75th Fires Brigade, continues this because there's a lot of growth in training all these folks and people are hungry to get the field artillery and fire supporters together."
Operation Diamond Freeze ends Feb. 4.
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