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Tropic Lightning -- 3 October 2002
 Photo(s) by Pfc. Sean Kimmons The sun rises behind a Soldier manning an M249 Machine Gun during 2nd Brigade’s Field Training Exercise Sept. 24.  Pvt. 2 Marc Moreau, Co. B, 1st Bn. 27th Inf. Rgt., sets up perimeter security with an M249 SAW during 2nd Brigade’s Field Training Exercise Sept. 24. | Warriors battle in Kahukus during FTX By Pfc. Sean Kimmons Staff writer It began with the sharp sound of Blackhawk and Chinook helicopter blades slicing through the humid air as essential equipment for the 2nd Brigade field training exercise was sling-loaded to the Kahuku Training Area Sept. 24. Replicating the scenario used at the Joint Readiness Training Center in Fort Polk, La., components of 2nd Bde. shared a similar mission during their exercise; "a force needs to enter a landing zone and establish itself," said Maj. George Glaze, 1st Bn., 27th Inf. Rgt. executive officer. "They will then expand that lodgment and bring in a ground force." Soldiers of 2nd Bde. air assaulted into the Kahukus to link up with a ground assault force. Then multipliers from air defense and artillery provided sustained features for a brigade combat team who established a forward operating base. "Once the FOB is established it will allow for future combat operations and a flexibility for the commander to continue operations," Glaze said. The FTX concludes on Oct. 10 and will provide Soldiers and their command teams the training they will need to become better at their tasks. "It's a building block process where we've had several individual skills training, but now are putting those skills together into a collective training atmosphere," Glaze said. "Also, we will be able to see how systems at a higher level can handle the Soldiers who train underneath them." For newer artillery Soldiers supporting this FTX, the experience they receive in the Kahukus will help them break into artillery work modes. "We have a lot of new guys in our battery and for them to be out here is important, since they'll get the chance to see how a fire base is built, receive field experience and witness a howitzer gun operate at a 360-degree capability," said Sgt. 1st Class Novel Phillip, chief of firing battery for Btry. A, 2nd Bn., 11th Field Artillery. Besides training in the Kahukus during the FTX, 2nd Bde. units will conduct blank and live-fire exercises on Schofield Barracks. |
