An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | Nov. 17, 2020

28th Infantry Division completes warfighter exercise

By Sgt. 1st Class Doug Roles 28th Infantry Division

FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – Leaders with the 28th Infantry Division, Pennsylvania Army National Guard, completed a computer-based force-on-force exercise to train commanders, staff officers and their sections on a variety of warfighting functions.

During the two-week warfighter exercise in early November at Fort Indiantown Gap, unit commanders and staff sections rehearsed integrating their individual tasks into the collective effort of defeating an enemy force.

The Army’s Mission Command Training Program provided the scenario in which a fictional enemy invaded an allied nation. Soldiers with the 28th and units from several states set up multiple expeditionary command posts. Working from large tents at several locations, the Soldiers established communications between their bases and participating units around the country. Exercise participants conducted 24-hour operations and reacted to combat-related scenarios, including downed aircraft, chemical weapons attacks and encountering displaced civilians on the battlefield.

“The 28th Infantry Division has done an exceptional job in this warfighter training environment,” said Maj. Gen. Mark McCormack, division commander.

McCormack said WFX 21-2, the second warfighter conducted by the U.S. Army in fiscal year 2021, was comprised almost entirely of reserve component (Army Reserve and Army National Guard) units. The exercise also hosted Lithuanian soldiers at Indiantown Gap through the National Guard State Partnership Program.

“In past warfighters, we’ve operated as a single division. In this warfighter, we actually have a corps from Fort Hood, Texas, and a brother division that is currently in Fort Carson, Colorado, the 4th Infantry Division,” McCormack said. “It makes for a much more robust training environment and also allows us to fight through some of the complexities of communication and shared understanding.”

Units participating in the exercise included the 28th’s division headquarters battalion and the division’s 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team and 55th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade; the 11th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade, U.S. Army Reserve; 113th Sustainment Brigade, North Carolina National Guard; 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Tennessee National Guard; 169th Field Artillery Brigade, Colorado National Guard; and the 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team, Idaho National Guard.

The exercise centered around the deployment of a NATO coalition to expel an invading force in the Baltics. The warfighter continued more than 25 years of Pennsylvania Guard Soldiers training with their Lithuanian counterparts.

“During this exercise, we’ve incorporated 15 of our Lithuanian teammates, from the Lithuanian Land Forces, and they’re fully integrated into all of our staff warfighting functions,” McCormack said. “The purpose was to not only have their expertise during this exercise but also to share lessons learned in a complex military operation with coalition partners.”

Participating Soldiers met mission requirements while adhering to COVID mitigation standards. Soldiers at Fort Indiantown Gap wore masks, practiced social distancing protocols and had their temperature taken at the start of each day.

“We were able to complete the exercise and mitigate the impact of COVID,” said Lt. Col. Cory Angell, division spokesperson. “Overall, our numbers of positive cases remained low.”

 

 

Related Articles
U.S. Soldiers with 1st Battalion, 109th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division operate an unmanned aerial system and call for artillery fire during a demonstration at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, July 28, 2025. The Soldiers and representatives from Carnegie Mellon University’s Software Engineering Institute demonstrated Project Shrike, an AI-enabled system for rapid target recognition and fire adjustment, by integrating drones and artillery during live-fire training. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Maj. Travis Mueller)
AI, Drones Help Pennsylvania Guard Soldiers Speed Up Artillery Missions
By Maj. Travis Mueller, | Aug. 8, 2025
FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – Soldiers with the Pennsylvania National Guard’s 1-109th Infantry Regiment are using artificial intelligence and unmanned aerial system technology to make one particular challenge less stressful for...

U.S. Army Pvt. Fatmata Kaikai, assigned to the 1067th Composite Truck Company, 228th Motor Transport Battalion, 213th Regional Support Group, Pennsylvania Army National Guard, climbs a rope during an obstacle course July 22, 2025, at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania. The obstacle course challenges Soldiers’ physical stamina and is usually a precursor to the Air Assault School.
Pennsylvania Guard Completes Confidence Course
By Capt. Angela Clemons, | July 23, 2025
FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa.— Soldiers with the Pennsylvania National Guard's 213th Regional Support Group pushed their physical and mental limits when they completed a confidence course July 22.The event brought together...

U.S. Soldiers assigned to the 108th Medical Company Area Support, 213th Regional Support Group prepare dummies for a simulated casualty evacuation at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, July 17, 2025. The 108th Medical Company engaged in a weeklong field medical exercise to validate their readiness and elevate their medical and basic Soldier skills. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Capt. Christopher Booker)
Pennsylvania Guard Medics Simulate Chaos in Exercise
By Capt. Christopher Booker, | July 18, 2025
FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. - Soldiers assigned to the Pennsylvania National Guard's 108th Medical Company Area Support, 213th Regional Support Group, are engaged in a comprehensive two-week field medical exercise here.The...