Photo By Capt. Jeffrey Dallin Belnap | CAMP REDLEG, United Arab Emirates – Col. Adam Robinson, brigade commander for the...... read more read more
By Staff Sgt. Matthew Keeler
28th Infantry Division/ Task Force Spartan Public Affairs
CAMP REDLEG, UAE – Delta Battery “Diamondbacks,” 1st Battalion, 14th Field Artillery Regiment, completed its deployment mission and transferred authority July 16 to the incoming unit, Echo Battery, also with 1-14th FA.
“Our mission was to safeguard a strategic theater asset, the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers – a very important piece of equipment,” said Maj. David Johnson, commander of Delta Battery, a unit serving overseas with 65th Field Artillery Brigade, Task Force Spartan.
At home, Delta Battery, is part of the 145th Field Artillery Regiment, Utah National Guard.
“When we arrived here the mission was relatively immature, probably the best way to describe it,” said Johnson. “Historically, the mission was a collateral or an additional duty for an infantry unit. They would send a platoon to … fulfill the security forces responsibilities on behalf of the HIMARS’ battalion. It … wasn’t the best way of doing business. ARCENT [U.S. Army Central] made the decision to dedicate a unit to the HIMARS to fulfill that security role, and we’re the first unit to do that.”
The change in mission required additional training and planning that the artillery unit was not used to, said Johnson.
“The battery came in; we identified where the gaps were in the mission and were able to make a positive impact as we improved on those gaps, and were really able to take this mission from its infancy and build a foundation that units in the future can really build on,” Johnson said.
In continuing to develop their mission, Delta Battery’s Soldiers helped develop partnerships with another nation’s forces.
“Using our cannon artillery skills we worked with our partners on the rocket side of the Emirati military. We were able to link up and start a relationship with a cannon unit here in the United Arab Emirates,” Johnson remarked. “We are proud that we have helped start up a whole new line of effort for the security force. It’s an important line of effort that ties together the strategic goals for both the brigade and the division, and enables us to enhance our interoperability in UAE; that is going to outlive our unit for years to come.”
Providing the security element for the battalion required additional training in infantry skills that were outside the normal operations of a field artillery Soldier, Johnson said. To promote and develop these additional skills, Delta Battery worked in tandem with Soldiers from a Rhode Island National Guard unit and Marines from the 7th Marine Regiment, during exercise Diamond Strike.
“It was a three-week-long training operation where we set up a notional village that was replete with insurgents, and of course had to have many different missions in a real world environment,” said Johnson. “We coordinated at the battery level across units and, working at the battalion level with other battalions, we were able to put that training operation together. It really went off in a big way.”
Diamond Strike was the culminating event of several weeks of training, said Spc. Joseph Jensen, a cannon crewmember for Delta Battery. During that time, he enjoyed working with the Marines and gaining an understanding of their methods in conjunction with Army methods.
“They gave us a lot of pointers on doing MOUT (military operations in urban terrain) training, like how to clear buildings and doing security; because we are a bunch of 13 Bravos (cannon crewmembers), we are not used to doing infantry stuff,” explained Jensen. “That was one thing that we had to learn on the fly - and in a short couple of weeks - how to enter into a village, create security, and then actually go in and clear the buildings with proper procedures.”
For Jensen, working with other forces was a rare experience and one he was glad to have on this deployment.
“I think it was fun to learn different skillsets that could help you out in different ways. Being artillery, we are pulled to do all types of different missions; SECFOR (Security Forces) and other types of infantry jobs is what we get pulled to do,” Jensen said. “So, I think it’s cool to get to learn those different skills. Whether that is on a base learning how to pull security or fortifying the area that you are in. It’s been a good experience overall.”
“Not only was the battery able to build mission readiness in their infantry skills and develop interoperability with other U.S. and partner nation forces, they were able to continue to hone their artillery skills as well,” said Johnson.
With the help of 4th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, Task Force Spartan, the Soldiers of Bravo Battery were able to do just that.
“[Utah] Artillerymen primarily get pulled out of their primary MOS (military occupational specialty) on non-centered missions, and it has atrophied our skillset considerably,” Johnson said. “Having a couple week period where we have been able to get back on the [Paladins] and get recertified on those guns pays huge dividends for our brigade in the long run. We are going to go back with Soldiers who not only had good experiences with provisional infantry skills but also had an experience that they were able to hone.”
With the passing of the torch, Delta Battery has officially ended its portion of the Task Force Spartan mission as the Soldiers prepare to head home.
“Through the different training, security missions and operating at the entry control point, the mission has been a good one,” remarked Jensen.
“I’ve enjoyed it. I’ve got to see more of the world than I would have ever seen and got to work with and interact with a lot of great Soldiers,” Jensen said. “I learned a lot about myself too, being able to do things that I haven’t been able to do in the past, and seeing myself grow in different areas of leadership. I’ve been able to accomplish tasks that I’ve been given. I’ve definitely grown in these last nine months and it has been a good opportunity to be here and be a part of the ongoing operations.”
| Date Taken: | 07.17.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 08.14.2018 03:36 |
| Story ID: | 288643 |
| Location: | AE |
| Web Views: | 495 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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