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 Photo(s) by Pfc. Sean Kimmons Soldiers from Co. A, 2nd Bn., 27th Inf. Rgt. conduct a trench-clearing exercise Aug. 22 at Fort Wainwright, Alaska.  Pfc. Sean Kimmons Soldiers from Co. A, 2nd Bn., 27th Inf. Rgt. lay down suppressive fire during the Air Bridge mission at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, Aug. 22. | Wolfhounds end Air Bridge mission with a bang By Pfc. Sean Kimmons Staff writer FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska - In the fog-covered hills of the Yukon Training Area here, Company A of 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment became the latest to execute a live-fire exercise in the two-week Air Bridge training mission, Aug. 22. The scenario of all the live-fire exercises was based on a ficticious terrorist organization linked to Osama Bin Laden called the Lugs. The Lugs recently bombed an urban area in nearby downtown Fairbanks, Bankistan, and the government of Bankistan called upon the U.S. to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure inside its borders. The terrorists had several camps located in the Bankistan countryside, and recent intelligence had confirmed the location of several of these camps. The Wolfhounds were then given the operation by President George W. Bush to establish forward operating bases and conduct search and attack operations to identify and destroy the Lugs and their ability to effectively operate in Bankistan. "In each company’s live-fire exercise, their mission was to seize their objective point and deny terrorists critical weapons caches and recover possible evidence of organizational links to Osama Bin Laden," said Capt. Mark Houston, Co. A commander. The live fire had platoons several kilometers apart with different objectives that consisted of conducting a support by fire (objective Bear), an ambush (objective Elk) and the main effort that penetrated the bunker system (objective Moose). "We’re working each amongst ourselves but as a whole, in part of a bigger element," said Staff Sgt. Torry Rice, a platoon sergeant with Co. A. On Aug. 18 and 20, Company B and C Soldiers were locked and loaded with live rounds for their exercises. But prior to the Wolfhounds’ going out into the woods and shooting up their objectives, they conducted dry runs to ensure success in their live fire experience. From these dry runs, Wolfhounds got used to the weather and terrain of Alaska. "Dry fire to the live fire, the process went a lot better," said Rice. "Soldiers understood what to wear on down to what use for a covered and concealed position, as opposed to a small shrub or brush." After air assaulting from CH-47 Chinook helicopters, the Wolfhounds moved toward their objectives. They then maneuvered through the wet, flatter land unlike any found on Oahu. "We trained on unfamiliar territory that added a whole new twist to our training," said Rice. [This didn’t phase the Wolfhounds as they adapted and kept their mind on the mission.] Wolfhound mortar squads and the Alaskan field artillery unit, 4th Bn., 11th FA, laid down fire support on objective Moose during the live fires. After the artillery and mortar rounds commenced, M240 and squad automatic weapon machine gun fire sprayed straight ahead toward the bunker system’s security, portrayed by paper targets. The piercing bullets destroyed them. Moments later, a two-man AT-4 crew blasted two rockets into the bunkers. Next, the Wolfhounds’ counterparts, 65th Engineering Bn. combat engineers, demolished a section of concertina wire with a Braiser charge, packed with C-4 explosive. One-by-one, Soldiers breached the perimeter of objective Moose while still receiving support by fire. Next, the Soldiers had to clear a trench system, and they did this by using a Rolling T formation, which consisted of two Soldiers in the front armed with M-4 rifles and everyone else in a single file line to their rear. But it wasn’t easy, given that each corner of the trench posed a challenge, as the two in the front had to throw grenades and swing their weapons around to kill the enemy targets. When the dust settled and the smoke from weapon barrels dissipated, it was time to reflect on the useful training received. "I think this training is invaluable, especially with our limited training land on Oahu," said Lt. Col. Thomas P. Guthrie, 2nd Bn., 27th Inf. Rgt. commander. "And to come to a place where the training area is almost as big as Oahu, you just can’t get beat that." The type of training the Wolfhounds underwent in Alaska is something that has a great deal of importance to the battalion. "This is our METL (Mission Essential Tasks Lists)," said Guthrie. "You can not do your METL training enough. And since training on Oahu can get repetitive, even though we did do the same types of tasks in Alaska, we did it on different terrain, in a different environment and in different positions. That’s what made this mission become a success for the battalion." During their time in Alaska, the Wolfhounds covered all eight major battle drills and went a little in-depth into patrolling techniques. |
