Fort Bliss Monitor

Live fire brings reality to 1-1 training

1ST LT. VICTOR HOFFER
31st ADA Bde.

A 1-1 Air Defense Artillery Battalion, 31st Brigade Patriot launcher prepares to fire during live-fire training at McGregor Range.

The sound of a Patriot launch echoes across the open desert as a cloud of smoke engulfs the launcher, a white exhaust trail following the missile to its target. In a flash of light, the missile explodes, tearing its enemy into fiery pieces, flaming fragments and a puff of smoke the only remains.

Successful in the engagement over the sands of McGregor Range, the Soldiers from 31st Air Defense Artillery Brigade’s 1-1 ADA Battalion feel the greater confidence in their system and their training, and a new commander has seen firsthand the readiness of his new brigade.

“It helps me kind of ascertain the readiness of the units,” said Col. Jeffrey Oeser, commander of the 31st ADA Bde, adding that it was his “first look at units in a field exercise.”

Built into a weeklong Field Training Exercise, the live fire prepared Soldiers to operate the Patriot equipment, including all aspects of emplacement, march order, road march and support operations relating to Patriot and the final, exercise-culminating live-fire launch.

Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Brian Disinger saw the event as a way to reinforce the training in a very practical, hands-on manner. “They know all that training,” he said, but when “they see that missile going downrange — puts it in a whole different light.”

At the end of the live-fire exercise, Soldiers of the units packed up their gear and their equipment and made the convoy home. For some, it was their first time witnessing, let alone participating in, a Patriot live fire, and their excitement was obvious.

“It’s not often we get to do this kind of stuff,” Oeser said of the Patriot live fire. “I think they [Soldiers] get excited the same way they do when they go to the M16 range.”

For the Soldiers of the 1-1 ADA Bn., the training was worthwhile and exciting, just as predicted by their commanders. “I look forward to seeing the Soldiers get excited and motivated about the live fire,” Oeser said prior to the event, and sure enough, that is just what he saw.



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	August 12, 2004

<map name="boxmap-b4"> <area shape="rect" coords="0, 589, 120, 600" href="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm/privacy-policy.html?o=1" > <area coords="0,0,10000,10000" href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=&creative=92501&camp=8117&link_code=dl1&path=subst/misc/amazon-cobrand-cc/v3/marketing-from-associates-step1.html/ref%3Db1_assoc_29" > </map>	Live fire brings reality to 1-1 training 1ST LT. VICTOR HOFFER 31st ADA Bde. A 1-1 Air Defense Artillery Battalion, 31st Brigade Patriot launcher prepares to fire during live-fire training at McGregor Range. The sound of a Patriot launch echoes across the open desert as a cloud of smoke engulfs the launcher, a white exhaust trail following the missile to its target. In a flash of light, the missile explodes, tearing its enemy into fiery pieces, flaming fragments and a puff of smoke the only remains. Successful in the engagement over the sands of McGregor Range, the Soldiers from 31st Air Defense Artillery Brigade’s 1-1 ADA Battalion feel the greater confidence in their system and their training, and a new commander has seen firsthand the readiness of his new brigade. “It helps me kind of ascertain the readiness of the units,” said Col. Jeffrey Oeser, commander of the 31st ADA Bde, adding that it was his “first look at units in a field exercise.” Built into a weeklong Field Training Exercise, the live fire prepared Soldiers to operate the Patriot equipment, including all aspects of emplacement, march order, road march and support operations relating to Patriot and the final, exercise-culminating live-fire launch. Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Brian Disinger saw the event as a way to reinforce the training in a very practical, hands-on manner. “They know all that training,” he said, but when “they see that missile going downrange — puts it in a whole different light.” At the end of the live-fire exercise, Soldiers of the units packed up their gear and their equipment and made the convoy home. For some, it was their first time witnessing, let alone participating in, a Patriot live fire, and their excitement was obvious. “It’s not often we get to do this kind of stuff,” Oeser said of the Patriot live fire. “I think they [Soldiers] get excited the same way they do when they go to the M16 range.” For the Soldiers of the 1-1 ADA Bn., the training was worthwhile and exciting, just as predicted by their commanders. “I look forward to seeing the Soldiers get excited and motivated about the live fire,” Oeser said prior to the event, and sure enough, that is just what he saw.