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 | Feb. 12, 2010

Wisconsin brigade takes major step in transformation

By Sgt. Andy Poquette Wisconsin National Guard

MILWAUKEE, Wis., - Changing missions can be difficult. Changing missions after 90 years can be extremely difficult, but that's exactly what the Soldiers of the Wisconsin Army National Guard's 157th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (MEB) are doing.

After 90 years as the 57th Field Artillery Brigade, the Soldiers of the newly transformed 157th MEB, headquartered here, are taking on new roles, new responsibilities, and new challenges.

"As a field artillery brigade, throughout the ' 80s and ' 90s, we had one mission - field artillery," said 157th MEB Command Sgt. Maj. Brad Shields. "Our annual training was the same each year - go to Fort McCoy and fire. Now, as a maneuver enhancement brigade, we have opportunities for those willing to breathe new life into the organization."

The maneuver enhancement brigade is a new Army concept that focuses on battlefield command and control. Unlike specialized units of the past, the MEB is able to own ground on the battlefield, thereby assuming responsibility of a piece of land. This responsibility can encompass everything from route clearance and military police to civil affairs and air space management.

"A maneuver enhancement brigade is an organization that is designed to provide command and control for a designated area," explained Sgt. Maj. Charles Kirchner, chief operations sergeant for the 157th MEB. "This can be during war or peace time. We are a unit comprised of subject matter experts in the areas of military police, CBRN [chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear], aviation, operations, area management, logistics and engineering."

The brigade began its transition in 2007 with a complete restructuring of the organization. Maintenance, chemical, signal and engineer units were created from previously existing field artillery battalions and brigade detachments. This restructuring presented new opportunities for Soldiers, and new training challenges.

"Our biggest challenge during this transition has been getting our Soldiers qualified in the new MOS skill sets that are required for the MEB," Kirchner said. "But it is important to remember that with this transition we are now more relevant to the current world situation both in peace and wartime."

Shields said that change is good.

"Change grows an organization," he said. "With this transition, Soldiers have the opportunity to become much more diverse in their skill set. While it has been a challenge for our Soldiers to get the required schools completed, you have to keep your eye on the end state.

"Each new job makes you more marketable both as a Soldier and civilian, and creates advancement opportunity," Shields continued. "For senior NCOs we are looking for a broad background. Understanding of other jobs is critical to advancement to a leadership position."

With the change to a MEB, officer and senior NCO positions have nearly doubled at the brigade headquarters, and Soldiers have more opportunity to advance than ever before. Soldiers of the 157th can specialize in military police, chemical, air space management, public affairs, civil military operations, engineering, medical and liaison from the rank of private to colonel.

Recently Soldiers in the 157th MEB headquarters element had a chance to test their new specializations at the brigade's first warfighter exercise, held at Fort Leonard Wood's Maneuver Support Center. The week-long training exercise was designed to establish a baseline for how far the brigade has come in its transition.

"The exercise went very well," Shields said. "It was an opportunity for the MEB to exercise at its elementary stage, its tactical standard operating procedure. It's all been theory so far, and we really haven't had an opportunity to practice."

Shields said the exercise proved to be a major stepping stone which set benchmarks for the brigade.

"We have a plan, and now we have a base," he said. "We can work towards the plan and our goals. Without this, you don't have a clear picture."

This exercise was the first of many planned for the brigade, with a corps-level warfighter scheduled for next year. Going forward, the brigade plans to use what it learned at Fort Leonard Wood to refine its training plan, and rehearse the military decision-making process. Focus is now shifting from individual training to section-level training.

"Section training is key," Shields said. "The entire section needs to understand its role. For drill weekends, we plan to have staff members drill on Fridays once a quarter to handle administrative work so drills focus on section training. We also rewrote the operations order for the warfighter exercise to continue the fight at [the] armory. We will continue training from the exercise at a section level."

The transformation of the 157th MEB is part of the Army's strategic initiative to move towards a modular, multi-functional force, Guard officials said.

 

 

Related Articles
Senior Airman Alexa Reeves, 105th Security Support Squadron Phoenix Raven, poses for a photo in front of a Raven painting, at Stewart Air National Guard Base, New York, Mar. 3, 2025. As a Raven, Reeves provides protection for the 105th Airlift Wing’s C-17 Globemaster III aircraft and crews transiting through austere locations where security is unknown or additional security is needed to counter higher threat levels. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Sarah Post)
New York Air Guard’s Journey to Becoming a Phoenix Raven
By Senior Airman Sarah Post, | April 30, 2025
STEWART AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, N.Y. – Alexa Reeves never expected that her decision to join the New York Air National Guard after high school would lead to becoming a member of Air Mobility Command’s specially trained...

Lt. Gen. Jon Stubbs, director of the Army National Guard, speaks with Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen during the 2025 annual Virginia National Guard Military Ball on April 26 in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Lt. Gen. Jon Stubbs Highlights Virginia National Guard Excellence at Military Ball
By Maj. Cibeles Ramirez-Rodriguez, | April 30, 2025
Virginia Beach, Va. — Lt. Gen. Jonathan "Jon" Stubbs, director of the Army National Guard, joined Virginia National Guard leaders, Soldiers, Airmen and families at the 2025 annual Virginia National Guard Military Ball on...

President Santiago Peña, the President of the Republic of Paraguay, left, presents the Order of Merit
Paraguayan President Awards Top Honor to Massachusetts National Guard General
By Senior Airman Julia Ahaesy, | April 29, 2025
ASUNCION, Paraguay – U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Gary W. Keefe, adjutant general of the Massachusetts National Guard, has been awarded the distinguished Order of Merit “Gral Div Bernardino Caballero” in the grade of “Gran Cross”...