Canadian forces experience wealth of training possibilities provided at 188th Razorback Range

Photo By Senior Airman Cody Martin | Tech. Sgt. Rob Ellis, 188th Wing joint terminal attack controller, shakes hands with Capt. James Neely, Y Battery 2nd Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery JTAC, Feb. 10, 2016, during training held at Razorback Range, Fort Chaffee Joint Maneuver Training Center, Fort Smith, Ark. Nelly and Ellis met in Gilla Bend, Ariz., and discussed the possibility of having the 2RCHA train at Razorback Range. Canadian JTACs are required to train abroad at least twice a year and chose to come to Razorback Range for one of those sessions. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Cody Martin/Released)  

FORT SMITH, ARKANSAS, UNITED STATES

02.10.2016

Story by Senior Airman Cody Martin 

188th Wing

EBBING AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Ark. – Members of the Y Battery 2nd Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery arrived at the 188th Wing Detachment 1 Razorback Range at Fort Chaffee Joint Maneuver Training Center, Ark., for joint terminal attack controller training Feb. 8.
Canadian JTACs are required to train abroad at least twice a year and the 2RCHA chose Razorback Range as one of its two training areas for 2016.
“Compared to ranges back home we get a lot more access to live aircraft,” said Sgt. Paul Thomas, JTAC evaluator for the 2RCHA. “This range provides a lot of opportunities and there is definitely a lot of potential.”
The members of the 2RCHA trained at Razorback Range through Feb. 12, and were able to accomplish all of their required JTAC mission tasks.
“I believe their initial trip to Razorback Range exceeded expectations,” said Master Sgt. Robert Ellis II, Detachment 1 JTAC liaison and evaluator. “They are already looking to come back to the range and to double the number of JTACs for this next trip.”
In the future, the 2RCHA will look to implement hand-launched mini unmanned aerial systems in a larger scale exercise.
“We have the commander of our sub-unit here and we are going to take a look at some of the other installations within the range for the potential of doing a larger scale exercise,” said Capt. James Neeley. “One of the opportunities Razorback Range provides us with is the chance to use integrated training with aircraft and the MUAS.”
After finishing their training, the members of the 2RCHA returned home to Canada and hope to continue to build and maintain a long-term partnership with the 188th Wing.
“Training like this doesn’t happen without relationships,” Neeley stated. “Maj. Doug Davis, Ellis and the whole staff within Razorback Range have been extremely accommodating and helpful in making all of this happen.”

• Date Taken: 02.10.2016
• Date Posted: 04.01.2016 14:05
• Story ID: 194110
• Location: FORT SMITH, ARKANSAS, US