Brigade conducts joint forcible entry exercise

2nd BCT, 82nd Abn. Div. PAO

	Photo by Pfc. Kissta M. Feldner/2BCT, 82nd Abn. Div. PAO Paratroopers with Co. B, 2nd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, pull security as others extract U.S. and U.N. civilians from an “enemy camp” during a joint forcible entry exercise on June 24.

Two nations are at the brink of war, with one nation holding American citizens and United Nations personnel against their will.

This situation, with the potential for a major crisis is exactly the type of mission the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division is training for.

During the most recent joint forcible entry exercise, the brigade conducted a parachute assault to seize an airfield to conduct operations to evacuate American citizens from the Island of Hingol, where the Americans were held by the rogue nation of Kota. 

As the forcible entry
component to the nation’s Global Response Force, the 2nd BCT is prepared to deploy on short notice to accomplish any mission.

During the exercise, the parachute assault and the initial evacuation of personnel were successful, but then the brigade received information that there were more citizens on the island that needed to be evacuated.  The brigade quickly planned and executed an air assault to find the citizens and evacuate them.  This mission, like others that day, gave the paratroopers a greater appreciation for the contributions of all the units involved.

“The amount of moving parts to make this mission happen is amazing.  We can see all the aspects of these operations from all of the units participating,” said Sgt. Jared Green, a native of Seneca, S.C. and a fire team leader from Company B, 2nd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment. 

The complexity didn’t stop with the additional evacuations.  The next challenge was to secure and recover personnel from a downed helicopter that required a cavalry troop to conduct an air assault into a hostile area and secure the pilots and passengers of the downed helicopter. 
“This was a great exercise, with a lot of moving pieces,” said Capt. Jim Leister, the commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Brigade Combat Team.  “Everyone worked hard to make this a success.”

Share