Courtesy Photo | Soldiers from the 213th Regional Support Group, Pennsylvania Army National Guard...... read more read more
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Story by Spc. Hannah Baker
FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – Logistics specialists from the 213th Regional Support Group, Pennsylvania National Guard returned from their annual training mission in Grafenwoehr, Germany where they participated in U.S. European Command's exercise Austere Challenge 2017, a computer-assisted global command-and-control exercise, which focused on European security.
Working under U.S. Army Europe's 21st Theater Sustainment Command, the unit’s primary objectives consisted of managing the opening of new operational theaters, while continuing logistical support to the existing theater. This included managing aerial and sea ports that receive products and personnel, in addition to providing explosive ordinance disposal assets, maintaining roadways and all the requested product of supply and replacement personnel.
Spc. Lloyd Braxton, a logistics specialist in the 213th Regional Support Group, joined the Pennsylvania Army National Guard five years ago. He attended five previous annual training periods and said this one was different because it put his job in logistics into a greater perspective.
“Normally I just get to see things from a company level, this was kind of like sitting on the mountain and seeing how everything was done,” said Braxton.
Regardless of rank, Soldiers valued the chance to experience logistics in a broader spectrum.
The opportunity for the unit’s Soldiers to understand how their work in logistics affects an entire campaign, rather than just one unit, was the most vital training they received, according to Maj. Meadow Reeder a logistics officer with the 213th RSG.
“This mission gave the Soldiers experience in joint logistics at a more strategic level,” said Reeder. “This was higher than the operational level we’re used to. It gave the unit the opportunity to look at different challenges they might face, in a much broader perspective.”
Reeder attributed the success of the mission to the high level of knowledge and professionalism demonstrated by every member of the unit.
“The most memorable part of the exercise, for me, was the group I went over with,” said Reeder. “Seeing everyone work together at a level that was extremely functional and professional was very rewarding.”
Austere Challenge 2017 was a massive command post exercise involving the participation of thousands of U.S. troops in Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and the U.S. The exercise, commenced in October and culminated in February and was designed to train multi-combatant command coordination in fictitious scenarios.
The 213th RSG served in several previous Joint Force Operations, including missions in South Korea, Spain and South Dakota.
| Date Taken: | 03.05.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 03.06.2017 08:51 |
| Story ID: | 225733 |
| Location: | FT. INDIANTOWN GAP, PENNSYLVANIA, US |
| Web Views: | 307 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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