Army Battery Sharpens Skills During Nighttime Reload Training

Soldiers assigned to Delta Battery, 1st Battalion, 62nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, conducted nighttime MIM-104 Patriot missile system reload training at Fort Hood, Texas, Oct. 23, as part of the battalion's mission readiness exercise.

The training challenged crews to reload Patriot M903 launching stations at night, requiring equipment handling, clear communication and coordination between the soldiers operating the launcher and the missile transport equipment.

Delta Battery's leadership emphasized placing responsibility for executing the training onto the soldiers.

"Our junior leaders know what needs to get done, and we need to allow them to lead," said Army 1st Sgt. Pattrick Harris, Delta Battery first sergeant. "We set the standard, give them the resources and let them execute. That's how they build confidence, and that's how we find out what our crews are capable of."

The soldiers operated a modified M985 heavy expanded mobility tactical truck equipped with a heavy-duty crane. The crew worked together to safely remove and replace training missile canisters on the launching station, coordinating their movements to lift, position and secure each one.

Although headlamps helped soldiers see their work areas, limited visibility still required crews to maintain communication and stay alert for personnel and equipment.

Army Sgt. Kolby Bagley, who served as the signal person for the reload crew, helped coordinate equipment movements while working with his fellow soldiers.

"The training went really well, and we were moving at a good pace," Bagley said. "One of the biggest things I took away from this reload [training] was learning to trust my safety more. You have to trust the people around you to do their jobs."

For Army Capt. Grace Ko, Delta Battery commander, the training was an opportunity to build confidence in the crews' abilities.

"It's not enough to get a Patriot system into position. Our soldiers must be able to keep it operational," Ko said. "Training these reloads at night gives our crews experience working through challenges they could face during a real mission. We need to be ready to sustain the fight."

Reload training was one of several events during the battalion's mission readiness exercise, which began Oct. 19. The exercise brings firing batteries, headquarters and supporting elements into the field to evaluate their ability to establish, operate and sustain Patriot air defense systems.