Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel    
    
        Special Victims Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Article View
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 Forrest City, Brinkley Soldiers Raid Hospital, Save 'Hostages' By Sgt. Rick Fahr
                119th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
 Community watches the Guard in action during Saturday exercise BRINKLEY - Sights and sounds of warfare invaded the peaceful Delta afternoon Saturday, Nov. 4, as Arkansas Army National Guard troops conducted a simulated raid and hostage recovery at an abandoned hospital. “The goal of our training was to work on urban environment war fighting tactics and better prepare us for real missions,” 1st Lt. Joseph Foley explained after the exercise, which excited the gathered crowd with a number of loud concussions from simulated explosions and hundreds of shots fired from various small arms. Including troops from Brinkley and Forrest City, the exercise began at the Guard armory on the east side of town. Troops marched two miles to the hospital and then split into two teams. While one group secured the perimeter, another team prepared to attack. When the “go” signal came, the assault team lobbed smoke grenades into the facility's courtyard and kicked in the back door. “As they entered the building, it was fast and furious,” said Sgt. 1st Class Paul Davis, who served as a member of the opposition force. Booby traps had been set at several locations, and enemy troops had positioned themselves throughout the facility. The Guardsmen's mission was to clear each room and find two hostages. As they worked their way through the building, gunfire was intense. The assault team fought its way to the final objective, the hostages, and compelled the enemy troops to surrender. The exercise lasted about 10 minutes and ended with four enemy troops killed. The exercise also resulted in one of the friendly forces killed as well. Fortunately, training scenarios like these offer a chance to stand back up and actually learn from the experience which will lower the odds of losses during real world conflicts. Foley said the training a success. “They moved with a vengeance inside the building, which is very important. The quicker you move, the less time you give the enemies to fix your position,” he said. “All the muzzle awareness was good, and moving through an area was good. We'll continue to train and hopefully the lessons learned from this will better enhance our training.” Dozens of area residents observed the exercise, and Brinkley Mayor Billy Clay – who had been a member of the Brinkley Guard unit years ago – marveled at the evolution of Guard training. “It's hard to comprehend that we have this type of training right here locally,” he commented. “It makes you proud to be a citizen of the United States and also proud to have a Guard unit ... here in Brinkley. It's amazing how things have progressed.” Clay said that the Guard units serve many roles in the communities they serve. “We recognize the economic impact it has on our community. It goes back to the Minuteman concept, and that's what we have,” he noted. “They are available locally if the governor calls them out for natural disasters, and we've seen times the unit has been used for periods outside this type of war games. It makes me proud to come out and see the progress that has been made over the years with your training.” Foley said public training exercises help people understand military operations such as those ongoing in Iraq. "The reason we bring the public out is to give them a better picture of what their fathers, sons, brothers and cousins are doing,” he noted. Davis added that the troops' training will continue long after the gunfire stopped. “We'll go over what happened and probably come back to do a slow walk through to identify what we can do better next time,” he said. The troops involved are part of Company C, 2nd Battalion, 153rd Infantry, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. The unit returned from a yearlong deployment to Iraq last spring.
 SHARE
 PRINT
 
 New England Civil Engineers Strengthen Skills During Training Exercise
 By Airman 1st Class Julia Ahaesy,
  Idaho Guardsmen Train with Canadian and Polish Allies
 By Maj. Robert Taylor,
  New York National Guard Headquarters Staff Marks Memorial Day
 By Eric Durr,
  More
 New England Civil Engineers Strengthen Skills During Training Exercise Guard News • 3 days ago
 Idaho Guardsmen Train with Canadian and Polish Allies Guard News • 3 days ago
 New York National Guard Headquarters Staff Marks Memorial Day Guard News • 4 days ago
 Tennessee Guard, Local Partners Practice Disaster Response Guard News • 4 days ago
 Air Guard Units Test Readiness at Sentry Savannah Exercise Guard News • 5 days ago
 2024 (160)  2023 (427)  2022 (526)  2021 (697)  2020 (936)  2019 (387)  2018 (323)  2017 (346)  2016 (245)  2015 (356)  2014 (399)  2013 (469)  2012 (556)  2011 (533)  2010 (1071)  2009 (357)  2008 (638)  2007 (295)  2006 (188)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil