The document provides information about training conducted by the 2nd Battalion, 122nd Field Artillery Regiment as part of the XCTC program at Camp Ripley, Minnesota. It discusses how the battalion conducted artillery air assaults which involved sling loading Howitzer cannons onto helicopters to rapidly deploy them. It also describes fire missions conducted including different types of ammunition. Maintenance support from the 634th Brigade Support Battalion is highlighted as enabling the training to continue without disruption.

1. Crosswire
The
Issue 5 | July 20, 2012 Official Newsletter of the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team
Redlegs maximizing
XCTC experience
plosive Devices (IED) Defeat. IBCT utilizing the high capacity
In preparation for the FTX, 2nd line of sight antennas (HCLOS)
Bn., 122nd FA conducted emer- and blue force tracker TOC Net
gency fire missions, (known as kits to track vehicle movement
“Hip Shoots”) and sling-loaded and communicate real-time.
Howitzers utilizing CH-47 Chi- All of this could not be ac-
nooks and UH-60 Blackhawks complished without the sup-
for gun raids. Once at the gun port from Company G, 634th
emplacement, we shot different Brigade Support Battalion.
ammunition rounds to include Co. The 634th gained valuable
Soldiers from Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 122nd Field Artillery Regi- high explosives, smoke, white training at XCTC by planning
ment based in Sycamore secure a Howitzer M119A2 gun to a phosphorous, illumination and and delivering the logistical ne-
UH-60 Blackhawk from Company A, 1st Battalion, 106th Aviation infrared illumination - which cessities required to sustain our
Regiment out of Sycamore July 17 at Camp Ripley, Minn. The air can only be seen by night vision operations. CW3 Konopacki
lift was part of an artillery air assault. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. goggles with infrared. worked tirelessly coordinat-
Allison Lampe/released) Both Alpha and Bravo Battery ing the repair of three broken
were organized as ‘split pla- howitzers. The 2nd Bn., 122nd
By Lt. Col. Alexander D. Lawson, Minn. XCTC provides 2nd Bn., toons,’ an important event for FA’s energy is fueled by do-
Commander, 2nd Battalion, 122nd 122nd FA the opportunity to ag- our battalion. 2nd Bn., 122nd ing what we do best; sending
Field Artillery rounds down range to support
gressively train Soldiers which FA continues to build upon
will ultimately culminate into a their mission command utiliz- our mission to destroy, neutral-
The 2nd Battalion, 122nd Field spectacular three-day exercise. ing all Army Battle Command ize, or suppress the enemy by
Artillery Regiment is maximiz- 2nd Bn., 122nd FA started Systems (ABCS) and the Warf- our timely and accurate cannon
ing its training potential during training by completing various ighter Information Network fire. Redlegs out.
the course of the 33rd Infantry combat battle drills including (WIN-T). Most notably, 2nd
Brigade Combat Team’s XCTC mounted combat patrols, bat- Bn., 122nd FA established se-
program here at Camp Ripley, tery defense and Improved Ex- cure communications with 33rd
634th making sure training doesn’t break down
by: Sgt. Jesse Houk, 139th Mobile mission-critical machines con- E has been a part of some major
Public Affairs Detachment tinue to work properly. projects, namely a cracked en-
“Without maintenance the gine block that needed replaced Like us on Facebook!
Soldiers from Company E, Army can’t do much,” said Sgt. on a HMVEE www.facebook.com/33rdibct
634th Brigade Support Battalion 1st Class Joe A. Seiders of Farm- The Soldiers of Company E are
have been supporting the 33rd
Infantry Brigade Combat Team in
er City, platoon sergeant, Co. E., passionate about their work and it In this issue
634th BSB. “They can’t drive makes a difference. “We
the Army National Guard’s eX- to the fight without their vehicles have a lot of great Soldiers so it
portable Combat Training Capa- and weapons being maintained. makes everyone’s job easier,” Fire coming from the sky
bility (XCTC) program to ensure So without maintenance the said Sgt. Charles R. Anderson page 2-3
that the vehicles, weapons sys- Army is really at a standstill.” of Shorewood, generator repair-
tems, communications systems, Along with standard inspec- 2-122 sling guns, hitch ride
man,” Co. E., 634th BSB. “Ev-
page 4
air conditioning units, and other tions and minor fixes Company eryone is putting in a hand so
continued on page 4
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2. “The Guns. Thank God. The Guns...”
Soldiers with Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 122nd Field Artillery Staff Sgt. Benjamin T. Allen of Paletine and Staff Sgt. Jorge A.
Regiment based in Sycamore begin preparing a M119 A2 How- Solis carry their M119A2 Howitzer gun equipment off of a UH-60
itzer for an air assualt July 17. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jesse Houk/ Blackhawk helicopter following an air assault training mission
released) for the XCTC program July 17. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Christopher A.
Garibay/ released)
A UH-60 Blackhawk from Company A, 1st Battalion, 106th Avia-
tion Regiment based in Decatur prepares to take off with a gun
crew from Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 122nd Field Artillery Regi-
ment based in Sycamore July 16. The UH-60 Blackhawk then
picked up their Howitzer M119A2 and made its way to the land-
ing zone for an artillery air assault exercise. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc.
Allison Lampe/released)
“..doing what we do best; sending
rounds down range to support our mis-
sion to destroy, neutralize, or suppress
the enemy by our timely and accurate
cannon fire.”
Lt. Col. Alexander D. Lawson,
Commander, 2nd Battalion, 122nd Field Artillery
Soldiers with Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 122nd Field Artillery Regi-
ment load an artillery round into their M119 A2 Howitzer during
a night fire mission. The mission brought the battery closer to
meeting the commander’s intent of achieving tactical excellence.
Additionally, the training ensures Soldiers are well equipped to Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 122nd Field Artillery Regiment sets up
respond to similar scenarios in overseas operations. (U.S. Army a gun emplacement in preparation for a night fire mission during
photo by Sgt. Jesse Houk/ released) XCTC on July 18. (U.S. Army photo by Maj. Nathan Westby/ released)
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3. A UH-60 Blackhawk with Company A,
1st Battalion, 106th Aviation Regiment
based in Decatur takes off with a Howit-
zer M119A2 gun and its crew from Bat-
tery A, 2nd Battalion, 122nd Field Artillery
Regiment July 17. The UH-60 Blackhawks,
along with two CH-47 Chinooks from the
1st Batt., 106th Avn. Regt., carried the bat-
tery’s Howitzer guns and their crews dur-
ing the artillery air assault exercise. (U.S.
Army photo by Pfc. Allison Lampe/released)
Soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 122nd Field
Artillery Regiment begin preparing a M119
A2 Howitzer gun for an air assault mis-
sion during the XCTC program on July 17.
The event will lead up to a field training
exercise (FTX). This training also prepares
Soldiers for live-combat scenerios where
“emergency fire missions” may be required
to neutralize or suppress enemy forces.
(U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jesse Houk/ released)
Staff Sgt. Andy A. Berg, section chief, Spc.
Kyle R. Batker of Crystal Lake, gunner, and
Spc. Cameron J. Delve of Antioch, number
one man, all from Battery A, 2nd Battal-
ion, 122nd Field Artillery Regiment fires a
round down range July 16. Battery A and
other field artillery units were support-
ing other Army components to achieve
their objectives during the Army National
Guard's XCTC program. (U.S. Army photo by
Sgt. Jesse Houk/ released)
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4. 2-122 FA get a lift, secure area, begin fire mission
by: Spc. Christopher Garibay, 33rd
they learned standard rigging pro-
IBCT Public Affairs.
cedures,” said Binning. “More
One could hear the sound of the importantly, we had several re-
UH-60 Blackhawks’ rotors break- hearsals that took place prior to
ing apart the wind as they maneu- the exercise.”
vered through the air to drop off Binning said that while it was
their cargo: Soldiers and M119A2 a cool experience to train his Sol-
Howitzers during an air assault diers, the most important thing
training mission as part of a dry- was safety.
fire exercise. Staff Sgt. Michael A. Sch-
Soldiers with Battery A, 2nd neider of Huntley, section chief
Battalion, 122nd Field Artillery of Gun 3 with Btry A, 1st. Bn.,
Regiment based in Sycamore 122nd FA said everyone stayed
took part in the training missio. safe. “The entire crew, including
Following their flight, they imme- myself, have never done this kind
diately secured the area by estab- of mission before and I’ve been Spc Kyle R. Batker of Crystal Lake prepares to set his sights on
lishing 360 degree security, then in the Guard for six years,” said a target as Pfc. Joseph A. Sikorski of Lombard, Spc. Cameron J.
conducted dry-fire operations Schneider. Delve of Antioch, Staff Sgt. Andre A. berg of Kenosha, Wisc., and
during an exercise for the XCTC “We mirrored more experi- Pfc. Luis A. Frausto of Aurora prepare the Howitzer for a suppres-
program July 17. enced subject matter experts, kept sive fire mission following an air assault. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Chris-
topher A. Garibay/ released)
This was the first time since abreast of the standard operations
2003 that the unit had conducted procedures and it all ended up he said. “It was a great experience a mission accomplished.”
an air assault training exercise. For working out very well,” said Sch- and we met the standard of our The training they are receiv-
most of the Soldiers in the battery, neider. mission.” ing is extremely important, said
it was their first time ever. He said his crew did very well Sgt. Nick D. Thompson of Binning. He said there may be
1st. Sgt David B. Binning, in meeting the expectations set Maple Park with Btry A, 1st. Bn., operations where other Soldiers
first sergeant of Btry. A, 1st. Bn., before them despite their short 122nd FA agreed with Schneider. may need artillery fire to hold off
122nd FA said there was plenty of time being in the Army National “It was great training for every- an attack and that would require
training that took place before this Guard. one, especially the lower enlisted Howitzers to be quickly air lifted,
particular exercise took place. “Some guys have only been in who had never done this kind of dropped and have the weapons
“The training really began the Guard for a year and they got training before - some who have fire off suppressive rounds.
last year as we had Soldiers go to do this air assault sling mis- never even been on a helicopter,” “This kind of training could
through a one week school where sion, which I think is pretty cool,” Thompson said. “Overall this was save lives,” said Binning.
634th making sure training doesn’t break down
continued from page 1 “We are just trying to make
work is flowing nice and easy. things work so that everybody
It’s always great to start some- can do their missions,” said
thing and then see it through; it’s Seiders.“I’ve got my mission,
the finished product.” they’ve got theirs. If my stuff
Soldiers in Company E go doesn’t go right then their stuff
above and beyond to repair ve- doesn’t go right.”
hicles in the field that can’t make
it back.
“The team is very resourceful,”
said Seiders. “They don’t just Stay Informed.
do stuff right here in our mainte-
nance area, they go out on contact Stay Connected.
teams constantly. We are flexible
and can go anywhere.”
When it comes down to it, pre-
Spc. Zach D. Erzinger of Elwood, Spc. Brandon T. Morse of Geneseo,
ventative maintenance is vital to
and Sgt. William S. Richards of Morris drop in a new engine to re-
getting the most out of the equip- www.facebook.com/33rdIBCT
place the engine of an inoperable High Mobility Multi-Purpose
ment that is used.
Wheeled Vehicle July 17 at Camp Ripley, Minn. The Soldiers do
“Maintenance is key,” said Spc.
what it takes to keep everything else operational so missions can
Zach D. Erzinger of Elwood, util-
be achieved. (Photo courtesy of Sgt. 1st Class Joe A. Seiders)
ities equipment repair specialist,
Co. E., 634th BSB. Follow: @xctc2012ilng
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