FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. –
U.S. Army Soldiers from the 7th Transportation Brigade (Expeditionary) supported the 143rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command, a U.S. Army Reserve unit from Florida, during a warfighter exercise at Fort Indiantown Gap, Sept. 11-Oct. 12, 2017.
The Warfighter Exercise simulated realistic combat scenarios where units combined their abilities to respond to a computer-simulated event.
In this scenario, 7th Trans. Bde. (Ex.) Soldiers were in charge of receiving, staging, onward movement and integrating supplies, fuel and ammunition necessary for the 143rd ESC to continue its mission.
“This exercise gives us an opportunity as a headquarters element to assist outside U.S. Army active components and gain the ability to evaluate our shortfalls,” said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Melissa Caleb, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 7th Trans. Bde. (Ex.) transportation management coordinator. “In this exercise, Soldiers learned how to react to real-world scenarios and how to pass the information to the proper channels.”
In this war simulator, Soldiers were challenged to multitask and to transport various companies from one location to another, using different access points to figure out how they can move them without being attacked.
“It's a realistic game; you know the enemy is there so you need to find different ways to ensure your personnel are safe,” said Sgt. Jerrod Pass, 119th Inland Cargo Transfer Company, 11th Transportation Battalion, 7th Trans. Bde. (Ex.) cargo specialist. “This is a good experience. (It is) a great way of learning how to manage a bigger situation, how to transfer companies into different locations and making sure they reach their destination.”
Soldiers from HHC, 7th Trans. Bde. (Ex.) were able to achieve their mission while simultaneously learning new skills, rendering the warfighter exercise a success for both U.S. Army components.