An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Archives

NEWS | Oct. 30, 2024

Colorado Army National Guard space battalion takes training to the mountains

By Staff Sgt. Taylor Lakey-Tamacori

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.”

 

December 2024 (1)
November 2024 (6)
October 2024 (9)
September 2024 (2)
August 2024 (4)
July 2024 (8)
June 2024 (1)
May 2024 (4)
April 2024 (5)
March 2024 (5)
February 2024 (1)
January 2024 (3)
December 2023 (5)
November 2023 (3)
October 2023 (6)
September 2023 (2)
August 2023 (3)
July 2023 (6)
June 2023 (4)
May 2023 (6)
April 2023 (2)
March 2023 (2)
February 2023 (2)
January 2023 (6)
December 2022 (5)
November 2022 (5)
October 2022 (2)
September 2022 (7)
August 2022 (5)
July 2022 (3)
June 2022 (7)
May 2022 (3)
April 2022 (4)
March 2022 (3)
February 2022 (4)
January 2022 (5)
December 2021 (7)
November 2021 (3)
October 2021 (2)
September 2021 (2)
August 2021 (6)
July 2021 (4)
June 2021 (1)
May 2021 (5)
April 2021 (5)
March 2021 (5)
February 2021 (2)
January 2021 (3)
December 2020 (3)
November 2020 (7)
October 2020 (6)
September 2020 (6)
August 2020 (8)
July 2020 (9)
June 2020 (7)
May 2020 (10)
April 2020 (9)
March 2020 (2)
February 2020 (4)
January 2020 (5)
December 2019 (6)
November 2019 (2)
October 2019 (8)
September 2019 (4)
August 2019 (7)
July 2019 (5)
June 2019 (2)
May 2019 (6)
April 2019 (9)
March 2019 (2)
February 2019 (2)
January 2019 (3)
December 2018 (4)
November 2018 (6)
October 2018 (2)
September 2018 (3)
August 2018 (9)
July 2018 (1)
June 2018 (1)
May 2018 (1)
April 2018 (5)
October 2017 (1)
May 2017 (1)
April 2017 (2)
March 2017 (2)
February 2017 (3)
January 2017 (1)
November 2016 (1)
October 2016 (2)
September 2016 (5)
August 2016 (3)
July 2016 (4)
May 2016 (2)
April 2016 (3)
March 2016 (1)
February 2016 (4)
January 2016 (1)
December 2015 (1)
November 2015 (3)
October 2015 (3)
September 2015 (2)
August 2015 (1)
July 2015 (1)
June 2015 (2)
May 2015 (3)
March 2015 (1)
February 2015 (1)
October 2014 (1)
September 2014 (1)
June 2014 (1)
April 2014 (1)
May 2013 (1)
April 2013 (4)
March 2013 (8)
February 2013 (9)
January 2013 (7)
November 2012 (1)
April 2012 (2)
January 2012 (1)
March 2010 (1)