The 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment supported an emergency deployment readiness exercise by Soldiers traveling with equipment from Fort Carson, Colo., to the National Training Center, May 21.
The Fort Carson Soldiers – of C Company, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division – conducted the EDRE to prepare for their future mission with the Global Response Force in support of contingency operations.
Soldiers of C Co., walked off a C-17 military aircraft at Barstow Daggett Airfield in full combat gear and immediately went to work. They off-loaded their gear and two Stryker vehicles just as rapidly as they loaded two buses and set off for this installation in support of the 11th ACR during decisive action rotation 15-08.
“So, normally we do not get augmentees coming in on a C-17,” said Capt. John Mock, 2nd Squadron, 11th ACR Assistant Operations Officer.
Mock explained that C Co., simulated how they will need to react in future missions when they join the GRF with 82nd Airborne Division.
“[What] they are doing now is conducting EDRE, where they fly out of Fort Carson, Colorado within 18 hours of being notified of their mission, then are moved anywhere in the world to be able to support contingency operations on the ground,” Mock said. “Here at the 11tACR, we like to say we are a formidable professional team of teams. We are filling the professional team of teams portion by teaming up with 2/23 Infantry and bringing them here on the ground to help them meet their training objectives.”
First Lt. Stephen Hagy, a platoon leader with C Co., worked closely with 2/11 ACR to ensure his company arrived at the airfield. Two flights were required to bring everyone and their equipment here. While the Strykers were sent back to Fort Carson, 2/23 Infantry continued on to support the 11th ACR as an opposition force against 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division of Fort Bliss, Texas.
On planning for the EDRE and working with 2nd Squadron, Hagy said: “The teamwork is very apparent and being that we are on separate posts it was tough at first, but now we are perfectly in synch. I think it’s going to be an easy transition to move right into our mission here.”
