SMYRNA,TN. – Tennessee’s Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) carried 22 local employers on a Bosslift to Tennessee’s premiere National Guard Training Site in Tullahoma, TN.  Soldiers use the site to conduct realistic combat training to hone their skills for deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan.

In Smyrna’s Flight Operations Building, Carl Lambert, State ESGR Chair, and Marvin Wells,TN ESGR Executive Director,  greeted and briefed the participants on the day’s events.  Before boarding three Blackhawk helicopters, MG Max Haston, TN Adjutant General, took time to thank the employers for recognizing the value of their employees who are also members of the Guard and Reserve.  “Today’s employers are a force multiplier,” said MG Haston.  “Soldiers need to keep their ‘heads in the fight’ when deployed and not worry about their job while overseas;  you help significantly when the soldiers don’t have to worry about their jobs.”
The Blackhawks, piloted by TNARNG 1/230 Aviation, flew the employers approximately 45 minutes to the training site.  Most had never flown in a helicopter, so the smell of jet fuel, the sound of the engines and rotors whirring, while listening through the headsets to the pilots and crew constantly checking flight indicators gave them some flavor of military aviation operations.  

Once the group touched down, they were bused to a brief session on the training site and details of the day’s activities.  The 7,400 acre installation in Tullahoma was a major training location for soldiers during World War II, known as Camp Forrest.  It was instrumental in readying the force for the D-Day invasion and was subsequently used as a Prisoner of War (POW) encampment for captured German soldiers.  Current day activities are confined to approximately 4,500 acres and house some of the most sophisticated and realistic training devices presently available.

While the employers were not able to tour all the facilities such as the gas chamber and mock Enemy Prisoner of War camp (EPW), they did view the Urban Assault Area to gain an understanding of the precision required for soldiers to effectively attack and clear a building of terrorists.

One facility, the Live Fire Shoot House, provides a realistic approach of training for the unexpected.  Assault scenarios for the individual or collective squad can be set-up to put classroom training into practice.  Individuals enter the steel building containing a maze of rooms which must be cleared one by one.  As the soldier enters each room, he/she is confronted with varied circumstances to which the soldier must respond.  Split second decisions must be made  –  is this a non-combatant, or threat that must be taken out?  If the latter is the case, the soldier fires live ammo at the target in close quarters, often within arm’s length of his battle buddy.  All actions are recorded on video, so at the conclusion, the squad or platoon can review the detail of good vs. bad actions to enhance the ability of soldiers to makethe best decisions during combat.

The “live fire” gun ranges are electronically operated and state of-the-art.  They afford soldiers the flexibility of various scenarios tailored to their precise training needs.  Each soldier “zeros” his/her weapon to their shooting posture, and then fires at targets up to 1,000 yards.

Recently a sniper platoon from the 101st Airborne Division at FT Campbell, KY used the facilities because they felt it gave them the most training opportunities for their soldiers.  In addition a Special Forces group from an undisclosed location also used the gun ranges because it provided them the largest range of field conditions for their specific requirements.  Employers were not able to fire on the live ranges, but did use the electronic rifle range.

The electronic range allows participants to become familiar with weapons before firing with live ammo, and engage both static and mobile targets.  This indoor range is comprised of M-16 and M-4 rifles modified with electronic transmitters and sensors to detect “hits” on the target down-range.  It provides instant feedback to the shooter.  To add realism,  compressed air is released from the gun’s controller box to push the bolt back when fired as well as providing a modest “kick” to the shoulder of the shooter.  Since no live ammo is used,  the electronic range saves significant resources ($).

Even though employers were not in a field environment they ate Meals Ready To Eat (MREs) for lunch. Marvin Wells and Joe Thomas provided instruction on how to prepare its contents for eating.  Meals ranged from fajatas with chicken to chili and beans.  Once the contents were opened, preparation consisted of mixing water with a chemical packet  which produced heat to warm the meal.  It was an interesting lunch, and provided insight about mealtime for a soldier in a field condition.  

Once lunch concluded; on to more training.  A notable device, the HEAT (Humvee) Evacuation Assistance Training) lets the occupants experience the realism of a rollover during combat, and provides training on the quickest and safest methods of egress under varied circumstances.  Most casualties in these vehicles occur through striking an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).  However, fatalities from drowning are not uncommon in the desert.  Many areas are irrigated along roadways, and in some instances the ground gives way under heavy convoys forcing a rollover into the irrigated ditch. 

The National Guard sponsors NASCAR’s Dale Earnhardt, Jr race car.  This summer he and his crew revealed the car’s new paint scheme during a photo session on Tullahoma’s Training Site.   He also participated in the Humvee evacuation training and said it provided an impressive training tool for exiting a rolled vehicle.

The National Guard has a strong presence throughout Tennessee, and is responsible for contributing approximately $500 million annually into the economy of local cities.  In addition, it is a good steward of wildlife, and fosters positive environmental  practices for all Tennessee’s animal species and plant life on its facilities. 
After an end-brief, employers boarded the helicopters for a ride back to Smyrna.  From comments, all participants were impressed with what they experienced and had acquired more appreciation for their employees/Guardsmen & Reservists.  Melinda Williams, TN Dept of Labor, said, “Today’s experience displays the professionalism of the trainers on staff here, and the degree of intense training National Guard and Army Resreve soldiers undergo for deployment.” 

Since September 11, 2001, more than 790,000 National Guard and Reserve men and women have left their families and employers to serve on active duty in combating terrorism.  They did this unselfishly.  There is no Draft; they volunteered on their own; perhaps for many reasons - education opportunities, additional income, or an overpowering sense of duty.  Whatever the reason, they gave their time, and sacrificed to protect liberties we enjoy.  They continue to volunteer and serve.  None of this could have been possible without the understanding and support from their civilian employers.

by Ken Tarkington
Pictured: Employers, ESGR volunteers and Joint Force J-9 staff pose for the 2011 Bosslift to TN National Guard Training Site in Tullahoma, TN.