CAMP ATTERBURY, Ind. – It’s a moonless night. Icy wind rips its way across the cold, muddy gravel and slaps itself tirelessly against the sides of a large tan tent ringed by grumbling generators and pale yellow lights.
This dusty dome is home-away-from-home for the 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (MEB) based in Normal, Ill., which is pushing to the finish of the 2015 Warfighter exercise – a two-week strategic exercise conducted from Jan. 26 – Feb. 13 at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. The exercise included more than 3,000 servicemembers from the Army and Air National Guard, Army Reserves, Active Army and Canadian Forces.
The 404th assisted the 38th Infantry Division as part of a devastating – although simulated – counter-invasion campaign to eject an aggressor nation from a neighboring country in need of help. Master Sgt. José Guererro from Grayslake, Illinois, with the headquarters and headquarters company (HHC), 404th MEB and the operations night-shift noncommissioned officer-in-charge, says he still isn’t used to the computers or the shelter.
“I came up with the Cold War training, you know?” said Guerrero, who is one of the few in the 404th with extensive training on the new systems. “From the rifles-and-radios era to now with battle chat rooms and computer-to-computer calls, is kind of mind blowing.”
A major focus of the 404th’s Warfighter preparation the last two years was learning and integrating a suite of tracking systems and tools known collectively as the Command Post of the Future (CPOF). While active duty units get to spend weeks, if not months, with the system, National Guard units like the 404th get a level of experience best measured in days.
Maj. Loren Easter of Chatham, Illinois, with the headquarters and headquarters company (HHC), 404th MEB estimated he has spent 15 of his 19 military years in a command post environment. Easter, the operations executive officer, said the learning curve for new technology is one of the 404th’s biggest challenges.
“Finally getting to see the capabilities of CPOF here at Warfighter has been great,” said Easter. “Back in the analog days... everything was straightforward, standard, and familiar. Now, unless you’re that one guy who’s the computer wizard, you’re never comfortable. When the latest and greatest is constantly changing, it puts the entire command post behind the power curve.”
First Sgt. Ryan Crews of Mt. Vernon, with the headquarters and headquarters company (HHC), 404th MEB agreed it can be tough to keep pace with development.
“We’re sitting in a parking lot and I can pull down secure email from anywhere. I can hardly believe that,” said Crews, who began his career working on antiquated Vietnam-era vacuum-tube radios, “The change is exponential – the longer we go, the faster it comes, and it’s hard to keep up.”
The large amount of intelligence and statistics from CPOF makes deciding what information is critical more difficult for leaders.
“I’m extremely proud of the 404th and their hard work and long hours both during and in preparation for Warfighter – I’ve seen tremendous improvement,” said Col. Troy R. Phillips, commander of the 404th MEB and a Normal, Illinois resident with 32 years of service. “There’s a lot of information to sift through and knowing how to prioritize resources and focus staff and their teams on developing options is crucial for discernment.”
Despite the difficulties CPOF and other new capabilities can present Easter said they are vital assets.
“The bottom line is that we are evolving – it gives us amazing capabilities at amazing speeds,” said Easter. “As long as things don’t change too much, the 404th will have not only the tools, but the time to gain the expertise with a system that can ultimately save lives.”