204th Air Defense Artillery Training

Photo By Cpl. Justin Humphreys | Sgt. Cameron Woullard and Sgt. Anterio Finklea, Soldiers with 1st Battalion, 204th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, Mississippi Army National Guard, discuss vehicle maintenance prior to going to their training area at Fort Hood, Texas, for the Multi-echelon Integrated Brigade Training (MiBT). A MiBT is a multicomponent training event that sustains readiness of reserve and active components in accordance with the U.S. Army’s Total Force policy. Total force training benefits include increased individual Soldier and collective battle staff proficiency, standard operating procedure exchanges, and stronger cross component relationships. (Mississippi National Guard photo by Pfc. Justin Humphreys, 102d Public Affairs Detachment/Released)  

FORT HOOD, TEXAS, UNITED STATES

06.06.2016

Story by Pfc. Justin Humphreys 

102d Public Affairs Detachment

FORT HOOD, Texas— A large-scale military training exercise can be daunting even for a seasoned Soldier, but with elements of the battalion already deployed, the young Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 204th Air Defense Artillery Regiment of the Mississippi National Guard are especially challenged during this year’s Annual Training here.
Early on a dry summer morning June 6, Soldiers were packing gear in preparation for the Multi-echelon Integrated Brigade Training exercise. The 204th is supporting the 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team and other units of the MSNG, active Army, and U.S. Army Reserve. Collectively, approximately 4,500 Army and Air personnel are participating in the joint exercise. The MiBT is a multicomponent training event that sustains readiness of reserve and active components and helps prepare the 155th for a trip to the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif., in 2017.
With the forward battalion already deployed to provide air defense for the National Capital Region, the unit consists mostly of Soldiers who recently finished schooling for their military career.
“The Soldiers I have here are fresh out of AIT, so this is their first actual field training in their military career,” said Sgt. 1st Class Brandon Hillman, readiness NCO with the 204th. “This is an opportunity for them to get on par with the guys who have already been through training and are deployed.”
In AIT, Soldiers are given a foundation of knowledge for their specific job in the military. Once they get to their unit and begin performing their job, they build off that foundation.
Training can be challenging for new Soldiers who don’t know what exactly to expect.
“AIT was hard enough, but actually going out into the field is a whole different challenge,” said Pfc. Desmond Stingey, who’s been with the unit for three years.
After training and field practice, the new Soldiers will be prepared for any potential mission.

• Date Taken: 06.06.2016
• Date Posted: 06.06.2016 23:05
• Story ID: 200172
• Location: FORT HOOD, TEXAS, US