National Guard Cavalry Squadron Executes on SIMNET

In April, the 1st Squadron, 124th Cavalry, the divisional cavalry squadron for the 49th Armored Division, was the first unit from the Texas Army National Guard to conduct SIMNET training. Boarding C-130 Air National Guard aircraft, they flew from Waco, Texas to Fort Knox, Kentucky (ground troops) and from Austin, Texas to Fort Rucker, Alabama (air troops). The mission was to conduct combined troop-level SIMNET operations (ground and air), using a long haul link between Fort Knox and Fort Rucker. The exercise enabled troop commanders to evaluate their platoons (ground) and scout weapons teams (air) on platoon-level ARTEP tasks and on their ability to work as an air and ground combined arms team. In completing this training, the squadron paved the way for other units in the 49th Armored Division to use this outstanding training opportunity. Conception In June of 1993, the squadron held a training meeting to finalize the Fiscal Year 1994 yearly training plan. Due to the fielding of the M1 tank to the division, OPTEMPO costs increased. This, in conjunction with funding restraints, spawned a recommendation to determine whether SIMNET could be a viable alternative to a three-day practice ARTEP at Fort Hood. The squadron commander tasked the S3 to conduct a cost analysis as a basis for justification (see Figure

1). OPTEMPO

figures were compiled from several sources, including the Mobilization and Training Equipment Site (MATES) at Fort Hood, the U.S. Army Aviation Center at Fort Rucker, and the 136th Airlift Wing, Texas Air National Guard. Planning Once the concept of conducting the long haul SIMNET exercise was cost-justified and endorsed by the division, the planning process began. Packets containing airlift requests and requirements for training simulators, billeting, mess, and ground transportation were sent through channels to each respective installation. These initial requests were submitted in September, 1993. After months of almost daily phone contact to each training site to facilitate scheduling changes and to add concurrent training events, the training schedule in Figure 2 was solidified in February 1994. Execution Advance parties consisting of S3 and S4 representatives were sent to each installation a day early to draw vehicles and billets and to finalize mess arrangements. At 0600 on 28 April 1994, the first of four C-130s lifted off and the mission was under way. At 1400 hours local time at Fort Knox, the last C-130 containing the majority of Bravo Troop touched down at Godman Field. All units reported in at both sites with no soldiers left behind and everything going according to schedule. Alpha and Charlie Troops began on SIMNET with a two-hour train-up on the simulators Friday evening and two more hours Saturday morning, with mission execution scheduled from 0800- 1400 hours Saturday. Both troop commanders had developed the operations order and issued it to their platoon leaders during the March drill. On Friday the first order of business was to build two rock drill areas — one at the SIMNET, and one at the billets. Then the process of briefbacks and rock drills took priority when not conducting simulator train-up. The mission was built around several collective ARTEP tasks which were to be evaluated at annual training in June at Fort Hood. These tasks are listed in Figure 3. Using the National Training Center database, the two troops would conduct a four-phase operation. Phase I was to conduct a tactical road march from an assembly area to passage lanes. Phase II was to conduct a forward passage of lines through an armor brigade. Phase III was to conduct a zone reconnaissance. Phase IV was to establish a screen forward of the brigade and to fight a counterreconnaissance battle. Although the tasks and overall missions were the same for both SIMNET iterations, each air and ground troop commander who worked together developed an order based on their mission analysis and training objective. On Saturday at 0800, the first ground elements departed the Alpha Troop assembly area on time. However, due to technical difficulties with the long haul link, Charlie Troop aircraft were slightly delayed. As the mission continued, it became painfully obvious that the simulation train-up time available was grossly inadequate and became a 46 ARMOR — March-April 1995 MUTA 5* ARTEP Training Ft. Hood Vehicle

OPTEMPO

# Type Cost Miles/Hours Cost 14 M1 $121.38/mile 40 miles $67,916.80 31

M113 FOV

$29.33/mile 40 miles $36,369.20 10 OH-58 $320.00/hour 8 hours $25,600.00 6

AH-1F

$1,267.00/hour 8 hours $60,816.00 13

HMMWV

$.23/mile 120 miles $358.80 Total Cost $191,060.80 *MUTA 5 (Multiple Unit Training Assembly) is five 4-hour periods of training. NOTE: Costs do not include operation of M939 5-ton trucks or HEMTT Fuelers as OPTEMPO figures were not available. Figure 1

SIMNET COST

(Ft. Rucker) Equipment Man Hour Service Cost Cost Fee Cost

WAIVED

$5,300

WAIVED

$5,300.00 $15,000 $15,000.00 (C-130 cost) (Ft. Knox) $45,000 $45,000.00 (C-130 cost) Total Cost $65,300.00 Figure 2 National Guard Cavalry Squadron Executes on SIMNET by Captain Patrick M. Hamilton key point in after-actions reviews. It was quickly discovered that maneuver, command and control in “SIMNET land” is in many ways more difficult than the real thing. However, after about four hours of execution with some quick AARs from the OCs, the troops began to work through the problems. At the end of the eight-hour operation, the soldiers had become proficient at fighting their vehicles and were eager to stay and execute more missions. Bravo and Delta Troops experienced many of the same problems, and in the final after-action review for SIMNET, it was determined that eight to twelve hours of train-up should be conducted prior to mission execution. Concurrent training, conducted when units were not in SIMNET, consisted of UCOFT for M1 and Bradley crews, M1 Platoon Gunnery Trainer, M1 Driver Trainer, and Army Safety Center briefings for the air troops. Concurrent training opportunities are very limited at Fort Rucker on a weekend. The squadron and troop maintenance sections conducted rigorous M1 hull and turret (STE M1) training (see Figure 2) conducted by the Armor Training Brigade. Several of the more experienced mechanics commented that this was without a doubt the best maintenance training they had ever received. On Sunday morning, the priority was to clear the billets, get the vehicles turned in, and get the soldiers to the airplanes. We scheduled visits to both the Patton Museum at Fort Knox and the Aviation Museum at Fort Rucker, and both were very worthwhile. The Patton Museum, at the request of the unit, opened early to accommodate departure schedules, which we greatly appreciated. The squadron chaplain held worship services in the memorial garden on the north side of the Patton Museum just prior to the final bus ride to nearby Godman field. The return flight was a blur. Most of the soldiers slept when they could, re-lived SIMNET battles, or discovered who had reached a higher “reticle aim” in the UCOFT. A predominant comment made by many of the soldiers before they were released that day was, “My friends at work won’t believe what I did this weekend.” Lessons Learned The major lesson learned during this exercise was that SIMNET train-up requires at least eight to twelve hours. The optimum training could be received by National Guard and Reserve units if they could spend a week of their annual training in SIMNET. Another observation was that Fort Knox’s policy of total support of the Guard and Reserve has created more training opportunities than there is time to use them. Therefore, a unit must have definite training objectives established and then schedule training opportunities which are focused on those objectives. The air and ground coordination possible in SIMNET can greatly improve it in the real world. This was confirmed during annual training when the squadron TAMS evaluators from the 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry at Fort Hood consistently commented on the outstanding air and ground coordination during the ARTEPs. However, the current communications link in the SIMNET long haul is not adequate and needs to be improved. Finally, SIMNET is a great training opportunity in itself, but there is one factor that makes it especially attractive to the Reserve Components. It is an opportunity to do something different. Many units tend to go to the same training sites month after month and year after year. The recruiting and retention value of this type of training is immeasurable. As the squadron commander stated upon our return to Texas, for years the soldiers will talk about the time they got on C-130s and flew to Fort Knox and Fort Rucker and received some of the best training they had ever had. ARMOR — March-April 1995 47 Captain Patrick Hamilton was commissioned through ROTC at Texas A&M University in 1986. He has attended AOBC, M60A3 and M1 Tank Commanders Course, AOAC, and is currently enrolled in CAS3. His duty assignments have included scout platoon leader, troop XO, and S3 (Air) in 1-124 Cavalry, TXARNG. He is currently the A Troop commander and has been the full-time squadron training officer since 1990. Cavalry Team Lane Tasks Scout platoon tasks:

MISSION (ALL LANES)

TASK NO.

Occupy an Assembly Area 17-3-1013 Perform Pre-Combat Checks 17-3-1033 Perform Rehearsals 17-3-1034 Prepare for Tactical Operations 17-3-1040 Employ C&C Measures 17-3-1036 Perform Tactical Planning 17-3-1035

MISSIONS (LANE 1)

TASK NO.

Perform a Tactical Road March 17-3-1012 Perform Passage of Lines 17-3-1014

MISSION (LANE 2)

TASK NO.

Recon Obstacles & Bypass 17-3-1020 Perform Route Recon (Includes Bridge Classification) 17-3-1017 Execute Actions on Contact 17-3-1021

MISSIONS (LANES 3, 4, & 5)

TASK NO.

Conduct a Screen 17-3-1024 Perform a Zone Recon 17-3-1018 Tank platoon tasks:

MISSIONS (ALL LANES)

TASK NO.

Perform Assembly Area Activities 17-3-0200 Perform Pre-Combat Checks 17-3-0102 Employ C&C Measures 17-3-0105 Prepare for Tactical Operations 17-3-0101 Perform Tactical Planning 17-3-0100 Conduct Rehearsals for a Mission 17-3-0216

MISSIONS (LANE 1)

TASK NO.

Conduct a Tactical Road March 17-3-0212 Perform a Passage of Lines 17-3-0215

MISSIONS (LANE 2)

TASK NO.

Execute Traveling Overwatch 17-3-0210 Conduct Hasty Occupation of BP 17-3-0227 Execute Actions on Contact 17-3-0221

MISSIONS (LANES 3, 4, & 5)

TASK NO.

Execute Actions on Contact 17-3-0221 Produce a Plt Fire Plan 17-3-0104 Occupy a Plt Battle Position 17-3-0222 Aeroscout Weapons Teams tasks:

MISSIONS (ALL LANES)

TASK NO.

Move to and Occupy Assembly Area 01-2-0101 Prepare for Future Operations 01-2-0501 Report Intelligence Data 01-2-0502 Conduct Screening Operations 01-2-6106 Conduct Route Recon 01-2-6103 Conduct Area Recon 01-2-6101 Engage Targets 01-2-0105 Conduct Zone Recon 01-2-6102 Perform Actions on Contact 01-2-6104 Detect/React to OPFOR 01-2-0103 NOTE: Reference MTPs for the Scout Platoon, ARTEP 17-57-10-MTP dtd Dec 88; Tank Platoon, ARTEP 17-237-10-MTP dtd Oct 88; Air Troop ARTEP 1-1-8-30-MTP dtd May 89; and Cavalry Troop ARTEP 17-487-30-MTP dtd Sep 91. Figure 3