110th MEB prepares for real-world scenarios with Operation Phoenix Fury

By Jennifer Archdekin
Ngmo.pao@US.ARMY.MIL

LEAVENWORTH, Kan. - Operation Phoenix Fury set the stage for the finale performance during the Missouri National Guard's 110th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade's two-week annual training. Recently the Kansas City unit spent time at the Battle Command Training Center in Leavenworth, Kan. preparing for this exercise.

Nearly 100 Guardsmen found themselves deployed to the fictional country of Atropia, helping re-establish borders when it was invaded by forces from Arania, another fictional, bordering country. In the scenario, Aranians attempted to take over oil fields, as well as an oil refinery.

All within a few hours, the tactical operations center, or TOC, was bombarded with change ups, fast balls, sliders and a few curve balls. Some scenarios thrown at the 110th included suspected IEDs, loss of navigation systems, a suspected airfield rush, trucks with water in the fuel tank and a possible enemy air assault-just another day at the office.

Soldiers had to react to the situation and work through the problems from the TOC. Radio communications came rolling in requesting assistance from the Soldiers.

"The exercise really challenged the brigade staff," said Maj. Rutledge McClain, 110th MEB plans officer. "It forced us to put our heads together and truly operate as a maneuver enhancement brigade. The culminating exercise incorporated all the tools the brigade staff built prior to the exercise."

According to McClain, this annual training afforded the brigade the opportunity to validate these tools, while simultaneously providing command and control on the battlefield.

"Operating as a maneuver enhancement brigade was exciting and challenging for us all, especially since most of us came from functional units such as military police, engineer, chemical, artillery and infantry," said McClain. "The brigade ended the exercise at an all time high. The 110th MEB is an able and ready unit. We're prepared to execute any mission called upon by the people of this great nation."

MEBs are primarily designed to provide maneuver support to their assigned headquarters with a mix of technical expertise and combat power.

"We're coming up with some good techniques and procedures that we can utilize to make ourselves better," said Col. William A. Ward, commander of the 110th MEB. "That's what this is all about."

This is the first time the 110th has conducted this type of exercise. The brigade is in phase one of a five-year training program.

"In the military we refer to it as crawl, walk and run," said Ward. "We are in the crawl phase. We are learning from our experiences. Every year we will continue to train in this process and get better and better as times goes on."

The 110th MEB reorganized from the original 110th Engineer Battalion in 2007. They were recently deployed to Kosovo in 2008-2009 where they served as Kosovo Force 10 Multi-national Task Force East Headquarters.

"Everything we're doing-there's nothing new about it," said Ward. "It's just that the unit is new. Our unit has only been in existence for a couple of years."

Ward said that while the 110th was mobilized to Kosovo they did not function as a maneuver enhancement brigade, but more as a division headquarters.

"It was just completely different than the way we are right now," said Ward. "They weren't doing the exact same mission that we're doing now. This is the first time we've been together to function as a maneuver enhancement brigade."

The training the 110th underwent is not new to the military TOC operations, but it is new to the unit.

"This is the way the military functions in every theater," said Ward. "We're learning how to do that with the staff that we have. Ultimately, our training program will ensure we are ready for mobilization or deployment."

According to Ward, maneuver enhancement brigades bridge the gap between the more capable and robust brigade combat teams, or BCTs, and the more streamlined functional brigades.

"MEBs provide support area operations, freeing up the BCTs to focus on named operations or specific assigned missions, and are the perfect unit to manage the battle space for division or corps support areas," said Ward. "Since this is a relatively new concept, it is imperative that we get the word out on what we are capable of and what we bring to the fight. The 110th is a magnificent team made up of professional Soldiers ready to answer the call if needed."


For more information about the Missouri National Guard, please call 1-800-GoGuard or visit www.moguard.com.