Training requirements for National Guard Soldiers vary greatly with respect to their and their unit’s overall mission. In a unit like Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 117th Space Battalion, Colorado Army National Guard conducting training outside the readiness center only happens rarely, if maybe, once a year.
Regardless of a Soldier’s unit of assignment or military occupational specialty, basic warrior skills and leadership tasks must be rehearsed and challenged to maintain proficiency and readiness.
U.S. Army Capt. Edwin Wiley, commander, HHC, 117th SPBN, planned and executed a unique three-day training exercise from Sep. 6-8, 2024, for his unit in the White River National Forest in Colorado to give the Soldiers of his company a training experience they’d never forget.
“Over the last nine or 10 months, we have given the NCOs tasks to accomplish where they have to understand what needs to be trained, create a training plan, develop the training and then provide it,” Wiley said. “This training exercise was then the culminating event.”
The training itself included air movement to the White River National Forest by CH-47 Chinook helicopters from the 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion135th Regiment, several ascents of Shrine Mountain and Wringle Ridge, and training missions to rescue injured hikers allowing Soldiers to demonstrate casualty care, land navigation, and requesting medical evacuation support.
The Soldiers also conducted night operations to familiarize themselves with movement in no-light or low-light operations.
“Team cohesion is not only important at the lowest level, but also between the various battalions and organizations of the Colorado Guard,” Wiley said. “We greatly appreciate the support we received from the 2-135th GSAB, especially as some of our Soldiers had never flown in a helicopter before.”
In addition to the 2-135th, the 10th Mountain Division Hut Association, rangers of the Eagle Holy Cross Ranger District, 100th Missile Defense Brigade, and the 928th Area Medical Support Company all played vital roles in ensuring the training was a success.
The immense amount of coordination put into this planning was not just to have a weekend in the mountains. Wiley said trainings like this are ones that Soldiers will remember for the rest of their National Guard careers because of how unique and special it was.
“I believe that being able to see that there are alternative training options, where with a little bit of extra work you can find and do some pretty amazing things,” Wiley said. “It's a retention tool, it's a team building tool, and it's a Soldier development tool.”
U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Jeremy Christensen, 100th MDB CSM said the brigade command team was impressed and excited that Wiley was willing to put in the extra effort to give his Soldiers this once-in-a-lifetime training.
“Every Soldier has their job within the military they are trained for, but everyone likes to get out and do the Soldier tasks that get them out of the office,”. “This type of training puts strain on the leaders and the Soldiers which is crucial for development.”
Aside from the Soldier development this training provided, it was also a way to develop leaders and show them the extent of training that can be accomplished when they think outside the box.
“You just have to find the people to help you do it,” Wiley said. “There always are people who want to help you do it. You just have to reach out.”