YUKON TRAINING AREA, Alaska (The 5th Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, recently conducted a big-scale, joint training event on the Yukon Training Area, Alaska.
More than 450 Troopers and support Soldiers deployed to the Yukon Training Area, and transitioned immediately into multiple combat training scenarios. The exercise provided a chance for the squadron to hone cavalry skills, in addition to coach together with the U.S. Air Force’s Red Flag Exercise.
“Working with the Air Force was a great opportunity for us to govern fixed-wing air assets from the floor, that’s a unprecedented opportunity for Soldiers outside of tangible combat operations,” said Lt. Col. Erik Krivda, 5-1 CAV commander. “In turn, the participating pilots capitalized on a good chance to reinforce their training by coordinating with actual ground units rather than utilizing a (pre-written plan) with a notional element at the ground. This event paid dividends to both the Air Force and the military by providing realistic training by using real-time planning and on-the-ground coordination.”
The Air Force uses Airmen known as Joint Terminal Attack Controllers, or JTACs, to best control air assets. These airmen augmented 5-1 CAV, to ensure the squadron received the needed combat air support to destroy the enemy. During the course of the two-week exercise, the squadron executed two air assault missions near Fort Greely, Alaska, which enabled several JTAC airmen to embed with the Squadron and conduct operations. The selected landing zone at Donnelly Training Area, Alaska, had not been used for more than six years. This environment provided realistic conditions both the Squadron and the air support would experience in future endeavors.
“The troops, to include the JTACs, who walk side-by-side with us, experienced first-hand how they can be placed in austere, challenging conditions at a moment’s notice, requiring them to remain in top physical condition and current at their reconnaissance tasks continually,” said Maj. Jason Moncuse, Squadron executive officer.
Combatant commanders use aviation assets to help in combat operations which includes air assault, reconnaissance and re-supply missions. The first Battalion, 52nd Aviation Regiment, proved their effectiveness in the course of the execution of the air assaults by successfully placing 75 troopers and 6 JTACs onto the landing zone in a simulated combat scenario.
“Air assaults enable line pilots and battalion planners to conduct the mandatory coordination by using air mission coordination meetings, air mission briefs, aviation task force rehearsals, combined arms rehearsals and air crew mission briefs,” said Capt. Wesley Solway, an assistant planner with 1-52 Aviation. “Crew members become more familiar with handling passengers and conducting passenger briefs, while executing egress at the (landing zone), so Soldiers don’t run into the aircraft external fuel tanks, or worse, into the rotor system. Pilots further developed a way of the way the aircraft reacts to a heavier load and the way long it takes to load or unload an aircraft with passengers and gear. It really is critical for both aircraft survivability and fuel-planning purposes.”
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