FORT JOHNSON, La. - Soldiers assigned to the 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team headquartered in Hawaii coordinated the movement of hundreds of assets to the Joint Readiness Training Center in Louisiana for combat training.
Soldiers traveled to Fort Johnson from all over the nation to participate with the 29th IBCT, which coordinated the transportation of assets to Fort Johnson from 22 states, Guam and Puerto Rico.
More than 700 pieces of equipment — tactical vehicles, trailers, containers and secondary loads — were transported from three islands in Hawaii.
“Logistically five different methods of equipment transport were utilized, including vessel, rail, line haul, convoy and aviation assets,” said Capt. Andrew Rae, the white cell transportation liaison officer attached to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 29th IBCT, Hawaii Army National Guard.
The brigade coordinated training at JRTC because it is one of the best training grounds for brigade-size elements to conduct large-scale simulated operations against near-peer oppositions.
“This is a first for the brigade to bring so many different states together for training,” said Master Sgt. Eunjin Chang, the white cell operations noncommissioned officer assigned to Joint Force Headquarters, Hawaii Army National Guard.
Sgt. 1st Class Jason Tom, the 29th IBCT mobility NCO and unit movement officer, and other project officers began planning the logistics in December 2022.
“We started shipping vehicles May 16, 2023, from Kauai, Hilo (Big Island) and Oahu to San Diego. We had three vessels, one for each island,” said Tom.
The 29th IBCT assembled in Fort Johnson to attend the JRTC rotation from July to August. They participated in a large-scale combat operations training simulation against a peer-to-peer-level opposition. Four of the seven battalions in the brigade are stationed in Hawaii, along with the three battalions in Alaska, Guam and Arizona.
“We have over 1,600 Soldiers from Hawaii,” said Chang. “We have Soldiers from the islands of Lanai, Molokai, Kauai, Hawaii, and Oahu.”
The brigade coordinated with multiple parties to bring the equipment and personnel more than 4,000 miles from Hawaii to Fort Johnson.
“The vehicles were first shipped to San Diego. Then from San Diego, they went by rail or contracted semi-trucks to Fort Johnson,” said Tom.
The mission showcased the logistical adaptability and capability of the Hawaii Army National Guard.
“The situation forced us to be fluid with having to coordinate with different states and coming together,” said Chang. “Coming here made us realize how well we can adapt to the obstacles, hurdles and challenges.”