Wolfhounds gear up for Alaska live fire exercise

By Pfc. Sean Kimmons Staff writer

FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska -- It was dry run after dry run as the Wolfhounds of 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment prepared for their live-fire training exercises, as part of the Air Bridge mission which began here Aug. 10 and runs through Saturday. A, B, C, and Headquarters and Headquarters companies of 2nd Bn., 27th Inf. Rgt. sent Soldiers to the tundra of Alaska to train. But before the Wolfhounds could lock and load with live rounds, they had to carry out preparation exercises. Staff Sgt. Christopher Jones, a platoon sergeant with Co. A, 2nd Bn., 27th Inf. Rgt., said there are five critical tasks Soldiers are training on in the Air Bridge mission. "They include, reacting to contact, clearing a building or trench, clearing a mine/wire obstacle, performing a tactical movement and conducting an ambush," Jones said. These five critical tasks are nothing new to the Wolfhounds, but learning how to air assault from CH-47 Chinook helicopters is. "In the live-fire exercises, Soldiers will be dropped off near their objective points by Chinooks," said Cpl. Dusty Miller, A Co., 2nd Bn., 27th Inf. Rgt., communications chief for headquarters platoon. "Most of 2nd Bn., 27th Inf. Rgt. Soldiers haven’t trained or executed this type of exercise with Chinooks in years." Something else new for the Wolfhounds has been the chance to train in Alaska. "This is just another way we can train in a different environment," said Jones. "To my understanding, our objective area in the live-fire exercise is not as elevated as the Kahuku Mountain Range [on Oahu]. The Alaskan terrain has rolling hills rather than the mountainous terrain that we are used to." Besides training on different terrain, Soldiers are learning their jobs better, and Jones said that’s one of the reasons this mission is important to the Wolfhounds. "Our main goal is to stay proficient at our jobs and train for war," Jones said. The most difficult thing for the Wolfhounds to overcome so far in Alaska has been the weather. "I think for the amount of time we are here, we’re not going to get  acclimated to the environment, especially coming from 80 degree weather to 30 degree temperatures," said Jones. But even the cold weather hasn’t damaged the Wolfhounds’ morale. "The morale is pretty high, partly due to the day of rest and relaxation, where Soldiers had a chance to go out and enjoy what Alaska has to offer," said Jones.