30th Armored Brigade Combat Team Conducts Live-Fire Exercise

Photo by Sgt. Devin Lewis

Delta-Troop, 1-150th Cavalry Regiment, 30th Armored BrigadeCombat Team, participated in the Combined Arms Live-Fire Exercise (CALFX) nearFort Bliss, Texas, on September 20. Crews operating the M1A1 Abrams Main BattleTank, mortars and M109 Paladins exercised their weapons' capabilities on one ofthe largest military training ranges in the United States.

"It demonstrates the firepower, precision, andlethality of an Armored Brigade Combat Team," said U.S. Army Col. RobertBumgardner, commander, 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team, North Carolina ArmyNational Guard, when describing CALFX.

"We had a tank company in the fight, with mortars and afield artillery battery in support," said Bumgardner. "The scenarioincluded a passage of lines through the scout platoons, moving forward todestroy the enemy."

The CALFX was the culminating event for the unit, as it ismobilized to support Operation Spartan Shield in the Middle East. The tankcrews had to meet the table gunnery requirements before advancing to thecomplexities of the live-fire.

Throughout the 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team's trainingat Fort Bliss, members received support and assistance from First Army, servingas observers, controllers and advisers.

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Clifford Brackman, commander 1-150thCavalry Regiment, 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team, said the tanks in the CALFXwere supported by unit sections with 125 mm mortar fire and 155 mm cannons fromfield artillery.

Brackman said the training ranges and facilities at FortBliss have been outstanding for his soldiers. He said they always look forwardto any opportunity to demonstrate their military proficiency and skills.

The 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team includes units from the North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia and Ohio Army National Guard. They will support Task Force Spartan in training and helping host nation partners in the Middle East maintain stability in the region.

Source: US National Guard