AVON PARK, Fla. - For the Florida Army National Guard’s last unit with tracked vehicles, going to annual training isn’t as simple as jumping into a Humvee and driving to the nearest military training facility.
Through careful planning, the 3rd Battalion, 116th Field Artillery Regiment works to get the biggest bang for their buck when it comes to training.
First, the location has to be right.
It has to have enough room for the battalion’s vehicles to operate and enough space for its rockets to fire.
Second, the vehicles have to be able to get there.
Although the 55,000-pound M270 multiple launch rocket system can be transported via tractor trailer on roads, it’s not practical and it’s costly, especially at long distances.
To solve this problem in the most cost effective way, the 3-116th travels yearly to Fort Stewart, Ga., for annual training.
The facility provides all of the necessary space and facilities needed for the battalion’s training.
To get there, shipping the battalion’s tracked vehicles via railroad is the most fiscally responsible solution.
“By doing this, we reduce the amount of people needed and the time it takes to transport the equipment,” said Army Capt. Benjamin Ruffner, a defense movement coordinator.
This solution is no small task.
Recently, Soldiers from the battalion spent two days loading 33 vehicles onto railroad cars in preparation for the trip to Fort Stewart.
The unit is bringing its M557 armored personnel carriers, M270 multiple launch rocket systems and M88 recovery vehicles to conduct platoon certification and live fire exercises during annual training.
Although many similar units hire civilian contractors to load and prepare their equipment for the rails, Soldiers from the 3-116th perform this mission themselves, which saves the Guard money and provides valuable training the Soldiers will need if they’re deployed.
“When we mobilize, we’re responsible for doing rail loading at the location,” said Army Lt. Col. Stephen Dowdie, the battalion commander.
“It’s a training event as much as it is a cost savings,” he said
This year will be the last time the unit fires from the M270 MLRS. The vehicles will soon be replaced by wheeled version of the system, the high-mobility artillery rocket system or HIMARS.