Photo By Cpl. Hannah Baker | Soldiers of the 1-108th Field Artillery Regiment, 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team,...... read more read more
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FORT IRWIN, Calif. – Soldiers of Alpha Battery, 1-108th Field Artillery Regiment, 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division, Pennsylvania National Guard are currently training at the National Training Center here.
As part of their month-long combat training center rotation, these Guardsmen spend 15 long, intense days operating in the maneuver training area, which is nicknamed “the box.” They train through realistic, decisive-action exercises, learning from NTC's vast space and harsh climate. NTC is located in California’s Mojave Desert and is roughly the size of Rhode Island, with temperatures that often reach triple digits.
Cpl. Noah Griffie, a canon crewmember with Alpha Battery, 1-108th Field Artillery Regiment from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, said his first experience in the box has pushed his body to new limits. He estimates each of the Soldiers in his squad sleeps an average of three hours a night.
“The biggest challenge out here is getting all the little details right when you’re running on such little sleep in such a harsh environment,” said Griffie. “This training environment shows you what to expect from yourself and what your limits are.”
Staff Sgt. Ross Greenzweig, a canon crew chief with Alpha Battery, said that as a leader of the platoon, enforcing sleep plans and a strong battle buddy system for his Soldiers is vital to ensuring their safety.
Greenzweig, a Palmerton, Pennsylvania native, also stressed the important role leaders play by staying in the elements with their troops.
“When the Soldiers see that it’s 115 degrees and you could be sitting in an air conditioned Humvee, but instead you’re out with your guys, you build respect,” said Greenzweig.
While the environment poses one of the biggest threats in the box, it simultaneously serves as one of the most important parts of the training exercise.
On their ninth day in the box Alpha Battery was caught in a sandstorm, which was a first-time experience for most of the Soldiers. Greenzweig said this experience was integral to making each Soldier stronger and more confident when facing such conditions in future situations.
“The training definitely teaches you to respect the desert climate and how harsh these environments can be,” said Greenzweig, “This place will test you to your breaking point; it’s important to have a strong heart and a strong mind.”
The severe desert climate is not the only beneficial training aspect the box has to offer. Spc. Anthony Wiatrowski, a canon crewmember with Alpha Battery and a New Oxford, Pennsylvania native, said the colossal training area offers the opportunity for more intensive training on the M777’s, their primary weapon system, as compared to their duty station back home in Pennsylvania.
“We usually set up and fire three to four times on a drill weekend,” said Waitrowski. “Out here there’s so much space we can fire, pick up and move to a new location and then fire again, six or seven times a day.”
Greenzweig said this space also allowed for the Howitzer’s to be staged 700 meters apart, making each squad independently rely on itself for equipment and guidance.
When the Soldiers are not practicing on the ranges they still lean on each other for support.
“For most of them this is the longest they’ve been away from their families. There are no cell phones and these guys are solely relying on each other,” said Greenzweig.
Waitrowski said that right before leaving for training his four-month-old daughter was diagnosed with pneumonia. While his wife was home to take care of her, he had a hard time focusing on his mission at the beginning of the rotation.
“[My fellow Soldiers] keep me busy, they congratulate me when I do good work, and [my leadership] put me up for a medal,” said Waitrowski. “It’s been great, they keep me thinking about this rather than being distracted and making a mistake that could cost somebody’s life.”
“We’re Soldiers but we’re brothers at the same time,” Greenzweig concluded.
| Date Taken: | 08.13.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 08.14.2018 20:54 |
| Story ID: | 288748 |
| Location: | NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER, FORT IRWIN, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 1,071 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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