Canadian Exercise Worthington Challenge

30 January-March 2015 Canadian Exercise Worthington Challenge: Opportunities in Theater-Security Cooperation by MAJ Chris Manglicmot and CPT David M. Kennedy Theater-security-cooperation missions provide the opportunity for a renewed focus on competition and partnership as a means of assessing Soldier readi ness, building esprit de corps and maintaining interoperability among units and countries. The 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT), 3rd Infan try Division, sent two M1A2 crews and two M2A3 crews to Canada’s Exercise Worthington Challenge – hosted at 5th Canadian Division Support Base in Gagetown, New Brunswick, Sept. 29- Oct. 2, 2014. Worthington Challenge, similar to the U.S. Army’s Sullivan and Gainey cups, is a competition among the best armored vehicle crews from across the Canadian Army. The 3rd ABCT’s regional alignment with U.S. Northern Command resulted in its selection to send teams to compete in the challenge. SFC James Grider, com mander of the winning tank crew from the Sullivan Cup, 2-69 Armored Regi ment, selected SFC Michael Deleon as wingman for the competition. The 3-1 Cavalry hosted a gunnery shoot-off to select the two best M2A3 crews from the brigade. Each unit from within the brigade sent top-performing crews from gunnery that would best represent the United States during an international competition. Crews com manded by SSG Matthew Doty and SGT Aaron Savage from 3-1 Cavalry and 1-15 Infantry, respectively, were select ed to participate in the competition’s 25mm division. Background This year was the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps School’s (RCACS) third iteration of the modern Exercise Worthington Challenge and the first time the U.S. Army sent teams to par ticipate since 2001. In 2012, the exer cise was purely a tank-gunnery compe tition in which Canadian Regular Force armored units sent one Leopard II sec tion each. The competition was ex panded in 2013 to include units from the Canadian Army Combat Training Center and 5th Canadian Division Sup port Base Gagetown. The 2013 chal lenge grew further to include a 25mm category for Canadian light armored vehicles (LAV); however, the exercise was still based entirely on armored-fighting-vehicle (AFV) gunnery. This year’s iteration of Worthington Challenge was a major departure from previous competitions in its expansion to include all four Canadian Army Figure 1. The tank section led by tank commanders SFC Michael Deleon (foreground) and SFC James Grider (back ground) from 2-69 Armored Regiment, 3rd ABCT, 3rd Infantry Division, races to the first battle position during a gunnery run in Exercise Worthington Challenge Oct. 2, 2014. The event was hosted by 5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown in New Brunswick, Canada. (Photo by Canadian Army Learning Support Center)

31 January-March 2015 divisions, teams from the U.S. Army and the 25mm category’s opening to infantry and engineer LAV crews. The competition format also changed to in clude a variety of critical Soldier and AFV crew skill tasks in addition to di rect-fire gunnery. In the spirit of ex panding the competition to include other members of the American, Brit ish, Canadian, Australian and New Zea land armies’ programs, observers from the U.S. Marine Corps, British and Aus tralian armies also attended in hopes of sending teams to compete in the fu ture. The RCACS commandant, LTC John An drews, wrote that his “primary intent in developing and executing Exercise Worthington Challenge is to enhance unit focus on AFV-mounted direct-fire gunnery, crew and individual soldier skills across the Canadian Army.” Of particular note, among the competi tion’s secondary goals were the at tempt to promote esprit de corps and foster camaraderie; enable an assess ment of the state of the army’s gun nery skills; and “foster relations and in teroperability with Allied partners.” The U.S. 3rd Infantry Division crews who participated can attest to the ac complishment of the ancillary objec tives through participation in thorough after-action reviews (AAR), shared field and social time with Canadian Soldiers, and execution of combined-gunnery runs with American and Canadian ve hicles. Stands The competition itself spanned four days, during which teams, grouped by divisions, rotated through each of four separate daylong “stands” in a round-robin fashion. Tanks competed as sec tions, whereas the 25mm crews com peted as single vehicles due to engi neer and infantry task organization. The tank section from 2-69 Armored Regiment was paired with Canada’s 12th Armoured Regiment; the M2A3 crew from 3-1 Cavalry was paired with the Royal Canadian Dragoons; and the M2A3 crew from 1-15 Infantry was paired with Princess Patricia’s Canadi an Light Infantry Regiment. The four stands in which teams were assessed were AFV identification (AF VID)/range estimation/all-arms call for fire (AACFF), the driving and mainte nance challenge, the “march and shoot” stand and live-fire gunnery. Teams performed the AFVID/range es timation/AACFF stand by rotating through each of the three substations by crew. In a departure from the norm, crews did not test AFVID by watching a slide show. For the first portion of AF VID, crewmembers crawled into a sim ulated hide site and watched footage of vehicles on a screen while battle noise played in the background. Por tions of the vehicles were blacked out to make identification more challeng ing. The second portion involved crews identifying vehicles from the turret of their vehicle. “It was nice to conduct vehicle identi fication in a setting other than a class room,” commented Grider. “[The Cana dians] made it challenging. The test made you focus on something other than a gun tube or turret. You really had to look at the fine details to prop erly identify the vehicle.” Competitors tested range estimation with binoculars from a foxhole in the same stand; however, targets were not to scale. According to Grider, “The lack of scaled targets forced individuals to rely solely on pure estimation rather than formal means, such as the ‘width over radians times mils’ method.” Finally, the AACFF provided a standard test to ensure competitors knew the basic tasks. RCACS planners provided a breath of fresh air in a traditionally dry event by presenting unique challenges and testing formats not commonly seen in similar training today. Crews started the driving and mainte nance challenge by sprinting to a staged vehicle about 100 meters away while wearing their fighting-load car rier (FLC), Advanced Combat Helmet (ACH) and protective masks at their sides. For time, tank and Bradley crews changed a road wheel, while LAV crews changed a tire. Crews then continued to run to a first-aid station, where ba sic skills were tested, and they were re quired to carry a weighted litter. The stand finished with each crew negoti ating a closed-circuit driving course that had a variety of challenging obsta cles ranging from steep dropoffs to se vere washboards. “The driving and maintenance stand was particularly demanding, as it com bined elements of fitness, application of first aid, conducting maintenance and obstacle driving on a closed circuit into one single event,” said MAJ Sylvain Gagnon, RCACS’ chief instructor. “This offered a variety of challenges, creat ing a complex environment where competitors were forced to adapt quickly.” The “march and shoot” tested crews’ teamwork, physical fitness and mas tery of small-arms marksmanship. Competitors began the day’s stand by negotiating the RCACS obstacle course as crews. Soldiers executed a variety of high and low obstacles while wearing Figure 2. SFC James Grider from 2-69 Armored Regiment, 3rd ABCT, 3rd Infantry Division, executes the Exercise Worthington Challenge live-fire range Oct. 2,

2014. Also manning the tank are SGT Kevin Luu as gunner, SPC Thomas Carter as loader and PFC Arturo Jimenez as driver. (Photo by CPL Nick Alonso, Canadi an Public Affairs)

32 January-March 2015 FLC, ACH and protective mask on their hips, and while carrying a dummy rifle. The best crews used teamwork to get through challenging obstacles quickly. Upon completion of the obstacle course, crews tested on the Canadian C6 machine gun (M240B equivalent). Soldiers demonstrated proficiency in clearing, disassembling and reassem bling, then simulated loading and re ducing stoppages on the C6. Crews then immediately began a timed foot movement of more than four miles, largely over gravel roads, to a small-arms range. Individuals received their assigned rifle and pistol and were tested on proficiency in immediate-ac tion drills before they received ammu nition. Competitors then zeroed rifles and moved to the stress shoot. Crews conducted a controlled, but timed, run through a range requiring sprints, fir ing from a variety of positions, chang ing weapons from rifle to pistol and back again, and carrying a casualty. Doty said he found the use of iron sights rather than optics to be particu larly refreshing as a test of basic shoot ing skills. The variety of target shapes and sizes, coupled with a strict engage ment order, proved to be a difficult test for even the best marksmen. The fourth stand, live-fire gunnery, was constructed with two scenarios: one for a tank section and one for a single LAV/Bradley crew. Each section/crew executed the range twice during its as signed day. The range, executed in sev eral bounds, presented unheated pop up and moving-vehicle targets, as well as very small metal “falling plates” as troop targets. “Our aim was to have a dynamic range that centered on fire team/crew skills,” said CPT Michael Bastien about devel oping the gunnery scenario. Bastien serves as the Canadian Army’s instruc tor-gunnery (master gunner) team leader. “We wanted to incorporate minimal supervision to enable commu nication among the fire team and offer a complex array that forced crews to use their skills. Targetry was aimed with multiple presentations and timed exposures focusing on acquisition skills and quick engagements, both main and secondary armament.” The reliance on daysights and the na ked eye rather than thermals, coupled with rapidly changing and varied targ etry, presented an incredible challenge for all participants. “I really enjoyed the higher speeds needed during the runs; it helped challenge the crew and show the capabilities of the Bradley,” said Doty. After-action While not part of the scoring, it was evident in the tower that crews with the best radio communication practic es largely scored better than sections that did not use the radio. The tank sections representing 3rd Infantry Divi sion and RCACS received high praise for working effectively as teams. Bas tien and his Army instructor-gunnery (AIG) personnel conducted thorough AARs with sections and crews at the conclusion of their battle runs to en sure lessons-learned were both im parted on competitors and recorded for later use. Event cadre updated the scoreboard as teams completed events; however, there was still no clear winner going into the final day, as the round-robin format meant that all four “stands” had teams executing them. The tank section from 2-69 Armored Regiment placed third out of five teams in the tank division, and 1-15 Infantry placed fourth and 3-1 Cavalry placed first out of 14 teams in the 25mm division. The competition was fierce, with teams having been thoroughly assessed on gunnery, physical fitness and a variety of Soldier skills. Not wanting to let the opportunity pass by, American and Canadian crews executed a combined battle run imme diately before the awards ceremony. Our M2A3s conducted a full battle run with Canadian LAVs with outstanding results. The 2-69 Armored Regiment’s M1A2s then paired up with Leopard IIs in a devastating demonstration of Al lied firepower. “The last battle run we conducted with a Canadian-American troop was a per fect example of our two armies’ ability to interoperate,” Andrews commented. RCACS capitalized on regimental atten dance at Exercise Worthington Chal lenge by conducting an AIG conference the day after the competition’s conclu sion. AIGs came together to share in formation on a variety of topics, in cluding their army’s testing and field ing of future equipment, simulations programs and updates on the future military budget. The 3rd ABCT master gunners on the trip – SFC Patrick Smith, Grider, Deleon and Doty – attended the conference at RCACS’ invitation. Smith, 3rd ABCT’s master gunner, briefed attendees on the Bradley Fight ing Vehicle and programs to develop replacements. The American noncom missioned officers’ attendance led to arrangements for Deleon to attend the Canadian AIG course as part of our Figure 3. SPC Nolan Weigand (foreground) and SGT Aaron Savage (back ground) from 1-15 Infantry test on the Canadian C6 machinegun during the ‘march and shoot’ stand Sept. 29, 2014, during Exercise Worthington Chal lenge in Canada. (Photo by CPT David M. Kennedy)

33 January-March 2015 continued partnership. As for the general experience of trav eling to Canada, our allies treated our Soldiers as honored guests. RCACS per sonnel assisted 3rd ABCT, 3rd Infantry Di vision, in planning support for our re ception, participation and return with the greatest of care. The planning be gan well before our arrival with de tailed coordination for support re quirements and ensuring 3rd Infantry Division had information about the competition itself. Most importantly, the Canadian Soldiers with whom our crews worked, competed and social ized were extremely welcoming. “The entire exercise was extremely well thought out and professionally and smoothly run,” summarized Grid er. “The tasks we conducted related di rectly to the profession of mounted warfare. It was a challenging and thor oughly enjoyable competition that did an excellent job of pointing out strengths and weaknesses in our train ing while building international cama raderie.” The incredible detail RCACS invested in planning paid dividends in a truly first-class and highly challenging competition. American and Canadian Soldiers were afforded the opportunity to build relationships both on- and off-duty; put their skills to the test against each other; share tactics, techniques and procedures; and demonstrate our forces’ interoperability in a tactical en vironment. In an environment of slow ing deployments, TSC missions orient ed on competition and partnered train ing will continue to provide our Sol diers with outstanding opportunities to work with partnered nations. We look forward to more exchanges with our close allies to the north in future Exercises Worthington Challenge and as they participate in the Sullivan and Gainey cups in the United States. MAJ Chris Manglicmot is squadron op erations officer with 3rd BCT, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Benning, GA. Previous duty assignments include brigade plan ner, 3rd Brigade, 3rd ABCT, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning; national pro grams director, Soldier for Life Pro gram, Office of the Chief of Staff of the Army, Washington, DC; national pro grams director, Warrior and Family Support Program, Office of the Chair man of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Wash ington, DC; troop commander, Figure 4. The tank section from 2-69 Armored Regiment, 3rd ABCT, 3rd Infantry Division, conducts a joint gunnery run with a Canadian Leopard II section at the close of Exercise Worthington Challenge Oct. 2, 2014. SFC James Grider’s tank is pictured with a Canadian Leopard C2 during combined-gunnery execu tion. Also manning the tank are SGT Kevin Luu as gunner, SPC Thomas Carter as loader and PFC Arturo Jimenez as driver. (Photo by Canadian Army Learning Support Center) 1st Brigade, 7th Cavalry Division, Fort Benning; and squadron operations of ficer, 1st Brigade, 7th Cavalry Division, Fort Benning. His military schooling in cludes Command and General Staff College, Cavalry Leader’s Course, Ar mor Maneuver Captain’s Career Course, Armor Basic Leader’s Course, Master Fitness Trainer Course and Air Assault Course. MAJ Manglicmot holds a bachelor’s of science degree in engi neering management from U.S. Mili tary Academy and a master’s of science degree in policy management from Georgetown University. He is the recip ient of the three Bronze Star Medals and two Meritorious Service Medals. He was also a Joint Chiefs of Staff/ Army Staff intern. CPT David Kennedy is an assistant plans officer with 3rd ABCT, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning. Previous duty assignments include commander, Com pany B, 4th Ranger Training Battalion, and adjutant, Ranger Training Brigade, Fort Benning; and scout-platoon leader and tank-platoon leader, 1st Battalion, 64th Armored Regiment, 2nd ABCT, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, GA. His military schooling includes Maneuver Captain’s Career Course, Armor Basic Officer Leader’s Course and Ranger, Jumpmaster, Pathfinder and Airborne schools. CPT Kennedy holds a bache lor’s of science degree in engineering management from U.S. Military Acad emy. Acronym Quick-Scan AACFF – all-arms call for fire AAR – after-action review ABCT – armored brigade combat team ACH – Advanced Combat Helmet AFV – armored fighting vehicle AFVID – armored-fighting-vehicle identification AIG – Army instruction gunnery FLC – fighting-load carrier LAV – light armored vehicle RCACS – Royal Canadian Armoured Corps School