Illinois Guardsmen, Second Dragoons Conduct Multinational Overseas Training Exercise

Soldiers from Across the State Travel to Germany to Train Active Duty Troops

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HOHENFELS,GERMANY (04/07/2013)(readMedia)-- Illinois National Guard (ILNG) Soldiers from across the state had a unique opportunity to travel to the Joint Multinational Readiness Center(JMRC) in Hohenfels, Feb. 25, for a month-long mission to observe, coach and train the 2nd Cavalry Regiment (2CR) as they prepare for deployment to Afghanistan.

More than 320 Reserve and National Guard Soldiers from across the nation participated participated in the mission readiness exercise (MRE) for the "Second Dragoons" held at JMRC.

"The Reserve Component (RC), both National Guard and Reserve, routinely provides operational mission support (OMS) to JMRC," saidLt. Col. Ricky Utley, JMRC Reserve Component Advisor. "However, this rotation was a bit different than in the past."

In previous rotations, RC units assisted the 1st Battalion 4th Infantry Regiment, replicate the enemy, while active duty brigades stationed in U.S. Army Europe (USAREUR) filled the observer, coach,trainer (O/C-T) augmentee mission, said Utley.

Due to the recent deactivation of two brigades inUSAREUR, deployment of another and the current fiscal situation, USAREUR wasunable to resource the O/C-T augmentee mission, Utley explained.

"A request asking for assistance in sourcing the shortfall eventually found its way to the National Guard Bureau," said Utley."That began the process of looking for volunteers among the States. While most OMS missions are planned 2-3 years in advanced, these Soldiers had less than 60 days to prepare."

Nine states – Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois,Iowa, Oregon, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin, plus Soldiers from the Muscatatuck Training Center in Indiana, and the National Guard Bureau in Arlington – provided the 68 Soldiers needed to fill the O/C-T augmentee shortfall. Illinois sent the most volunteers, 14 total, representing three of the four major brigades within the state.

After arriving at United States Army Garrison Hohenfels,the Soldiers attended the JMRC Observer/Coach Academy – a three day course designed to teach augmentees the basics of the O/C-T role. The Soldiers were then assigned to one of 10 O/C-T teams based on military occupational skill and background.

"The observer, coach, trainer teams at JMRC provide assessment, feedback and mentoring from the individual Soldier level all the way to the brigade commander," said Maj. William Griffin, JMRC Public Affairs Officer.

Each of the 10 O/C-T teams, called "critter teams", work with a specific functional element of the unit, explained Griffin. "For example, Mustang team covers the brigade commander and staff, Vampire team mentors the field artillery battalion, and Adler team coaches the sustainment units, to name a few," said Griffin.

The objective of the O/C-T teams is to provide a 360 degree look that allows the unit to see itself in order to learn and grow as an organization, said Griffin.

"Illinois Guard O/C-Ts worked at various echelons within the regiment – from developing the 2CR's platoon battle drills to training the regimental staff," said Maj. Del Saam of Chatham, Ill., executive officer for 2nd Squadron, 106th Cavalry Regiment, Illinois Army National Guard.

Saam worked directly with regimental staff officers and noncommissioned officers to increase their understanding of doctrine with a focus on improving the speed and accuracy of staff battle drills they may face in theater.

Maj. Kent Ketter of Chicago, personnel officer assigned to the 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, Illinois Army National Guard, drew upon on his previous training and experience as a military police officer to function as the provost marshal for the exercise's higher command – the element responsible for replicating Regional Command-South in Afghanistan.

"It was a rewarding experience working with our NATO and interagency partners. It opened my eyes to the complexities of the working environment, not only in training but what the deploying unit will face downrange," said Ketter.

Ketter was responsible for providing analysis, planning and coordination for military police functions and missions during the exercise.

As the only U.S. Army combat training center outside the United States, JMRC offers the unique experience of training in a multinational,coalition environment. A total of 14 nations participated in the MRE.

"I think the thing you get when you bring in all these multinational elements that you don't get at other training centers is we are replicating not just the Afghan National Security Forces, but the friction of language differences, cultural differences – that's probably the biggest component," said Lt. Col. Dan Kelley,senior maneuver task force trainer for the JMRC maneuver O/C-T team, in an interview with Armed Forces Network Bavaria.

While the MRE for the 2CR is not unique, its mission certainly is. As the last Stryker brigade combat team scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan, the 2CR will be at the tip of the spear during the transition to full Afghan control.

"The mission has shifted more from the U.S. in the fore front to more of an advise and assist role," said Lt. Gen. Donald Campbell,U.S. Army Europe commander, in an interview with Armed Forces Network Bavaria."So that's what the regiment is going through right now – training to be a Security Force Advise and Assist Brigade (SFAAB). It's so very important to transition the lead to the Afghan security forces."

Col. Douglas Sims, 2CR commander, recognizes the differencein mission compared to previous deployments.

"In the past, we talked a lot about how we would deal specifically with the enemy – how we will clear the enemy from a certain location or how we will work to help a village or help governance," said Sims during a phone interview with American Forces Press Service. "But in this case,in every respect, we are talking about how we will work to enable the Afghan security forces do all those things."

As current training at JMRC reflects a major shift from the combat-focused operations many servicemembers experienced in the decade-long war, the ILNG Soldiers used the opportunity to draw upon their own experiences to share techniques, tactics and procedures with the 2CR.

"I was an O/C-T for a firing platoon of two M777, 155mm towed howitzers," said 1st Lt. James Hernan of Normal, Ill., a fire direction officer assigned to Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 122nd Field Artillery, Illinois Army National Guard. "My time was mostly spent inside the fire direction center (FDC). I was there to observe,mentor and coach the FDC crew – to make objective observations on mission processing and ensure safety on the gun line."

Being the most junior Soldier of the Illinois team did not faze the young lieutenant.

"Being a recent graduate from the Field Artillery Basic Officer Leadership Course at Fort Sill, and being a fire direction officer in my unit, allowed me to have good knowledge of the inner workings of the FDC,"said Hernan. "I was able to share what I know and help make the unit better. And,it was my first overseas deployment with the Guard, a lot of things I hadn't experienced before."

Coincidentally, the Illinois Army National Guard and 2CR have crossed paths in the past.

In April 1945, 2nd Battalion, 106th Cavalry Squadron,Illinois Army National Guard, assisted the 2nd Cavalry Group (previous name for the 2CR) advance into Bad Orb, Germany – a German prisoner of war camp approximately 40 miles east of Frankfurt.

"As the executive officer for the 106th Cavalry Regiment, I am proud to work with the 2CR," said Saam. "Once again, the Illinois National Guard continues to build on its prestigious lineage as we assist the 2CR prepare for Afghanistan."

Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers that participated in the exercise include Maj. Delbert Saam of Chatham, Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 2nd Squadron, 106th Cavalry Regiment; Maj. Kent Ketter of Chicago, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade; Maj. Marcus Matthews of Chicago, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade; Capt. Dustin Cammack of Chicago,Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 122nd Field Artillery Regiment; Capt. Shawn Haronik of Rock Island, Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 123rd Field Artillery Regiment; Capt.Dwayne Murrell of Matteson, Headquarters and Headquarters Service Battery, 2nd Battalion, 122nd Field Artillery Regiment; 1st Lt. James Hernan of Normal,Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 122nd Field Artillery Regiment; 1st Lt. Kyle Ullmark of Sycamore, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment; Master Sgt. Kevin Driscoll of Montgomery, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team; Sgt. First Class William Brewer of Catlin, Company D, 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment;Sgt. First Class Therron Hickmon of Dolton, Headquarters and Headquarters Service Battery, 2nd Battalion, 122nd Field Artillery Regiment; Sgt. First Class John Jones III of Bloomington, 631st Engineer Support Company, 766th Engineer Battalion; Sgt. First Class Steven Thomas of Hazel Crest, Battery B,2nd Battalion, 122nd Field Artillery Regiment; Staff Sgt. Brian Baird of Oswego, Troop C, 2nd Squadron, 106th Cavalry Regiment.

Photo 1: U.S. Army photo by Capt. Dustin Cammack, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs/ Illinois National Guard Soldiers Staff Sgt. Brian Baird of Oswego (left), Master Sgt. Kevin Driscoll of Montgomery and 1st Lt. Kyle Ullmark of Sycamore, listen and take notes during a presentation at the Joint Multinational Readiness Centers' Observer/Coach Academy – a three day course designed to teach Soldiers the basics of the observer, coach, trainer role they performed. The Illinois Army National Guard sent 14 Soldiers to Hohenfels, Germany, to participate in the 2nd Cavalry Regiments' mission readiness exercise, Feb. 25 to March 24.

Photo 2: U.S. Army photo by Capt. Dustin Cammack, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs/ Illinois National Guard Soldiers train on the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) Egress Assistance Trainer – known HEAT – at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC) in Hohenfels, Germany, March 2013. The training was part of a three day course designed to teach Soldiers the basics of the observer, coach, trainer role they performed. The Illinois Army National Guard sent 14 Soldiers to JMRC as observer, coach, trainers to participate in the 2nd Cavalry Regiments' mission readiness exercise Feb. 25 to March 24.

Photo 3: U.S. Army photo by Capt. Dustin Cammack, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs/ Sgt. First Class Therron Hickmon of Dolton, watches fellow Illinois Soldiers complete the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) Egress Assistance Trainer – known HEAT – at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center (JMRC) in Hohenfels, Germany, March 2013. The Illinois Army National Guard sent 14 Soldiers to JMRC as observer, coach, trainers to participate in the 2nd Cavalry Regiments' mission readiness exercise Feb. 25 to March 24.

Photo 4: U.S. Army photo by Capt. Dustin Cammack, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs/ Lt. Gen. Donald Campbell, U.S. Army Europe commander, stands next to a Stryker vehicle as he explains the 2nd Calvary Regiments mission readiness exercise in an interview with Armed Forces Network Bavaria at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, March 2013. The Illinois Army National Guard sent 14 Soldiers to JMRC as observer, coach, trainers to participate in the regiment's mission readiness exercise Feb. 25 to March 24.

Photo 5: U.S. Army photo by Capt. Dustin Cammack, Illinois National Guard Public Affairs/ Soldiers with the 2nd Calvary Regiment stand guard in front of a simulated Afghan National Police station during the regiments mission readiness exercise at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, March 2013. The Illinois Army National Guard sent 14 Soldiers to JMRC as observer, coach, trainers to participate in the exercise Feb. 25 to March 24.

For high resolution photos, please contact the Illinois National Guard Public Affairs Office at ng.il.ilarng.list.staff-pao@mail.mil

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