Crews used a modified M985 heavy tactical truck equipped with a crane to remove and replace canisters on a Patriot M903 launching station. Headlamps lit their work areas, but soldiers still had to monitor the movements of personnel and equipment as they lifted, positioned and secured each canister.
“It’s not enough to get a Patriot system into position. Our Soldiers must be able to keep it operational,” said Capt. Grace Ko, Delta Battery’s commander.
“Training these reloads at night gives our crews experience working through challenges they could face during a real mission. We need to be ready to sustain the fight.”
Junior leaders and crews were responsible for carrying out the drill. First Sgt. Pattrick Harris said battery leaders set standards and provided resources, then allowed the teams to execute.
“We set the standard, give them the resources and let them execute,” Harris said. “That’s how they build confidence, and that’s how we find out what our crews are capable of.”
Sgt. Kobly Bagley served as the reload crew’s signal person, helping coordinate equipment movements. He said the experience reinforced the need to trust the soldiers working around him.
“One of the biggest things I took away from this reload was learning to trust my safety more,” Bagley said. “You have to trust the people around you to do their jobs.”
The reload training was part of a mission readiness exercise that began October 19. The exercise evaluates how firing batteries, headquarters and support personnel establish, operate and sustain Patriot air defense systems in the field.
