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© 2013 KentuckyGuard
By, Maj. Jimmie Warinner, 1st Battalion, 623rd Field Artillery
A M142 High Mobility Rocket Launcher (HIMARS) from the 1st Battalion, 623rd Field Artillery fires during training at Camp Atterbury, Ind., July 21, 2015. The launch was the first live fire exercise conducted at Camp Atterbury. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. Jimmie Warriner)
CAMP ATTERBURY, Ind. — Soldiers of the 1st Battalion 623rd Field Artillery recently completed an innovative and successful annual training at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. The key training event for AT 2015 was a seven day field training exercise that concluded July 24 with all crews in the battalion conducting multiple live fires with the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS).
This was the first Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) or HIMARS live fire ever conducted at Camp Atterbury, and was made possible through close coordination with the 1/623rd and Camp Atterbury’s Range Control personnel. Not only did this coordination allow Morgan’s Men to successfully complete crew certifications, but it also demonstrated an increased training capability for Camp Atterbury confirming that they can support future live fire training for both MLRS and HIMARS units.
This was only one of three “firsts” that Morgan’s Men accomplished during this annual training.
Spc. Michael Fosso, Staff Sgt. Norman Schwartz, and Spc. Logan Green with the 1st Battalion, 623rd Field Artillery stand in front of their HIMARS vehicle, “Rebel 42” during their live fire exercise during annual training July 21, 2015 at Camp Atterbury, Ind. Green is the first female crew member with the 1/623rd. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. Jimmie Warriner)
Among the crew members sending rockets roaring downrange was Spc. Logan Green, the first female MLRS Crewman to ever fire a rocket for the 1/623rd. With more combat arms military occupational specialties opening to women, females now have the option of becoming MLRS Crewmen (13M) or Fire Direction Control Operators (13P) within HIMARS units.
A HIMARS crew consists of a Gunner, Driver, and Launcher Chief. Green is the driver for Alpha Battery’s HIMARS nicknamed “Rebel 42”. She grew up in Florida and joined the Kentucky National Guard because she always wanted to be in the military and it allowed her to fund her college education.
“I am proud and excited to be the first female to live fire the HIMARS in the 1-623d and I want to set a good example for other Soldiers, males and females, who serve with me”. Green, a 2015 recipient of the Minuteman Scholarship, plans on continuing her military career by pursuing a commission as a Field Artillery officer through the University of Kentucky’s ROTC program.
Click here to read about Green’s enlistment into the Kentucky Guard.
The final “first” completed during Annual Training 2015 was support of a MLRS Crewmen (13M30) Advanced Leadership Course (ALC) conducted by 1st Battalion 238th Regiment. Nine Soldiers, including seven from the 1/623rd completed the first week of the 13M30 course at the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville, Kentucky before traveling to Camp Atterbury to complete week two in the field. For the culminating event of the course, the ALC students were certified by the battalion’s Master Gunner and then participated in a HIMARS live fire.
This was the first time that a HIMARS live fire has been part of a MLRS crewman course, but something that Regional Training Institutes throughout the country are considering implementing as part of their course of instruction. The partnership between the 1/623rd and 1/238th proved that this concept of training is viable, allowing Soldiers to complete ALC while also participating in valuable training exercises with their assigned units and crews. This cooperative effort also resulted in the Soldiers completing the course with very little additional cost to the Kentucky Army National Guard beyond that of a normal annual training.
With Annual Training 2015 completed, Morgan’s Men are now preparing for future training operations and more “firsts” such as a planned training event with the Kentucky Air National Guard.
To learn more about Morgan’s Men and the great things they’re doing, follow them on Facebook.
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Story and photos by Sgt. Bryan Ploughe, 1st Battalion, 623rd Field Artillery Unit Public Affairs Historian Representative
The 1st Battalion 623rd Field Artillery conducts a live fire exercise with their High Mobility Rocket Artillery System (HIMARS) during annual training at Fort Chaffee, Ark. July 29. The battalion fired over 70 rockets at targets more than 11 kilometers away during the exercise.
NOTE: Each week kentuckyguard.com publishes stories by Kentucky National Guard unit public affairs historian representatives, also known as UPAHRs. This is an additional duty taken on by a Soldier or Airmen with the intent of telling their unit’s story. This is one such story ….
FORT CHAFFEE, Ark. – From a multi-force water crossing to a field artillery live fire exercise, the Kentucky Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion 623rd Field Artillery experienced an annual training that challenged each and every one of its Soldiers.
Before the break of daylight on July 27, nearly a hundred VIP’s boarded an Army Corps of Engineers barge on the Arkansas River. All of the guests were greeted by the deep thundering sounds of a nearby helicopter roaring outside,all part of the annual river assault exercise involving forces from the National Guard, reserves and active duty elements.
A High Mobility Rocket Artillery System (HIMARS) conducts the first river crossing exercise in 25 years as part of annual training conducted by the 1st Battalion, 623rd Field Artillery at Fort Chaffee, Ark.
The focus of the exercise was to secure both sides of the Arkansas River in order to construct a floating bridge to move the unit from the south side of the river to the north side. The task was to complete a simulated fire mission, shooting their High Mobility Rocket Artillery System (HIMARS). After a few short hours the 22-piece section of the floating bridge that spanned over a thousand feet was completed and the 1/623rd moved north to complete their intended mission.
Col. Rondal Turner, 138th Fires Brigade Commander, was emphatic about the historic nature of this event.
“This is history in the making for the 623d,” said Turner. “The only other time that this battalion has even remotely done anything of this caliber was a stateside training mission over twenty years ago when the battalion still had the 8-inch self-propelled howitzers.”
Several High Mobility Rocket Artillery Systems (HIMARS) cross a thousand foot long, floating bridge in the first river crossing exercise in 25 years as part of annual training for the 1st Battalion, 623rd Field Artillery at Fort Chaffee, Ark.
After a day of intense and unfamiliar training with the river assault, the battalion then had to focus on occupying firing points and sending rounds down range. The Soldiers’ flexibility was tested as they took on their field training exercise.
As the troops occupied Forward Operating Base Auburn, they quickly set up their tactical operations centers and established communications.
“The efficiency and determination was an awesome display of the abilities that our citizen Soldiers practice month after month,” said Command Sgt. Major Joey Simpson, 138th Fires Brigade.
As the temperatures quickly escalated into the mid 90s and soon approached the century mark, all operations within the FOB were up and running and fire missions were being sent out to the rocket launchers.
With all of the practice and assurance of safety and accuracy in place, the 1/623rd sent their first rounds into an impact area, just minutes after sunrise on day two.
Col. Rondal Turner, 138th Fires Brigade Commander and Command Sgt. Major Joey Simpson of the 138th Fires Brigade oversee the 1/623rd Field Artillery Battalion river crossing during their annual training at Fort Chaffee, Ark. at the beginning of August. This is the last annual training for both Turner and Simpson as they're retiring in the fall.
The 1/623rd consists of three firing batteries and a headquarters element. Within just a few short hours the firing batteries launched 54 rockets down range and hit their targets.
Lt. Col. Jeff Hughes, the battalion’s commander, praised his Soldiers for their performance.
“It’s almost unheard of to conduct a combined arms exercise with members of both the Guard and Reserve from multiple states,” said Hughes. “Our Soldiers got the job done working with folks from across the country and did it admirably.”
The 1/623rd has a long and distinguished history to include participation in the Mexican-American War, the Civil War (both Union and Confederate service), World Wars I & II, the Korean War, Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004-2005.
Glasgow, Ky. (March 19, 2010) — Local artist J. T. Davidson puts the finishing touches to his rendition of a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) on the wall in the Kentucky National Guard armory in Glasgow.
Glasgow is the home of 1st Battalion, 623rd Artillery, which is transitioning to the new HIMARS and is scheduled for their inaugural firing later this spring. (Kentucky National Guard photos by John M. Trowbridge, Command Historian)
