THE 142ND FIELD ARTILLERY BRIGADE SPEARHEADED OPERATION WESTERN STRIKE, A MULTI-STATE, EMERGENCY DEPLOYMENT READINESS AND FIELD ARTILLERY GUNNERY EXERCISE AT CAMP GUERNSEY IN WYOMING. FIVE BATTALIONS FROM THREE SEPARATE STATES COMPRISED THE 142ND AND WAS COMMANDED BY LT. COL. NICK JASKOLSKI. THREE BATTALIONS FROM ARKANSAS, ONE FROM ALABAMA AND ANOTHER FROM TENNESSEE PARTICIPATED IN THE OPERATION. RAIL LOAD OPERATIONS WERE CONDUCTED FROM ALL THREE PARTICIPATING STATES. THIS MOVEMENT REQUIRED OVER 270 RAIL CARS AND FIVE TRAINS TO MOVE OVER 950 PIECES OF EQUIPMENT, SPANNING THE COURSE OF 4 DAYS AND REQUIRING OVER 150 SOLDIERS TO COMPLETE. 1ST BATTALION OF THE 142ND FROM ARKANSAS, AND THE 1ST BATTALION OF THE 181ST FIELD ARTILLERY REGIMENT FROM TENNESSEE, COLLECTIVELY FIRED OVER 100 REDUCED RANGE PRACTICE ROCKETS FROM THEIR MULTIPLE LAUNCH ROCKET SYSTEMS AND THEIR HIGH MOBILITY ARTILLERY ROCKET SYSTEMS. THE MLRS AND HIMARS CAN FIRE ACCURATELY UP TO 26 MILES AWAY WITH GUIDED OR UNGUIDED PROJECTILES OR UP TO A DISTANCE OF 190 MILES AWAY IF FIRING AN ARMY TACTICAL MISSILE SYSTEM. THE 2ND BATTALION OF THE 142ND FROM ARKANSAS AND THE 1ST BATTALION OF THE 117TH FIELD ARTILLERY REGIMENT FROM ALABAMA FIRED OVER 24 HUNDRED 155 MILLIMETER ROUNDS FROM THEIR PALADINS AND TOWED HOWITZERS. BOTH WEAPON SYSTEMS HAVE AN ACCURATE FIRING RANGE SURPASSING 18 MILES WHEN USING ROCKET ASSISTED PROJECTILES. ARKANSAS’ 217TH BRIGADE SUPPORT BATTALION SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED OVER 80 SUPPLY DISTRIBUTION MISSIONS WHICH INCLUDED THE SAFE AND TIMELY DELIVERY OF OVER 40 THOUSAND GALLONS OF FUEL, MORE THAN 31 THOUSAND MEALS, NEARLY 500 THOUSAND SMALL ARMS ROUNDS AND OVER 100 ROCKETS. DELTA COMPANY, 2ND BATTALION, 153RD INFANTRY REGIMENT OF THE ARKANSAS NATIONAL GUARD WAS UTILIZED DURING OPERATION WESTERN STRIKE AS SIMULATED OPPOSITION FORCES IN ORDER TO ENHANCE THE REALISM AND OVERALL TRAINING EXPERIENCE OF THE BRIGADE DURING THE TWO WEEK LONG EXERCISE. PROVIDING MEDICAL SUPPORT DURING THE OPERATION WAS THE 213TH AREA SERVICE MEDICAL COMPANY FROM THE ARKANSAS NATIONAL GUARD. THIS WAS THE UNITS FINAL TRAINING EXERCISE AND OPERATION BEFORE FOLDING THEIR GUIDON COLORS AS THEIR UNIT IS BEING DISBANDED.

Lt. Col. Nick Jaskolski, Commander, 142nd Field Artillery Brigade, Arkansas National Guard, speaks about the overall operations conducted during the large scale, multi-state, field artillery training exercise named Operation Western Strike. Key points discussed are logistical movements, multi-state cooperation, overall training exercise evaluations and plans for the future. Field artillery battalions from Alabama and Tennessee fell under the command of the 142nd Field Artillery Brigade from Arkansas. (U.S. Army National Guard video by Spc. Stephen M. Wright and Staff Sgt. James Heuston)

Lt. Col. Nick Jaskolski, Commander, 142nd Field Artillery Brigade, Arkansas National Guard, speaks about the role of the 1st Battalion, 117th Field Artillery Regiment of the Alabama National Guard as they participated in a major, multi-state, field artillery exercise named Operation Western Strike. The battalion from Alabama brought their M777 Howitzers to the exercise. The M777 is a portable cannon can that be frequently moved and redeployed with a firing range over 18 miles. The M777 Howitzer fires 155mm rounds. (U.S. Army National Guard video by Spc. Stephen M. Wright and Staff Sgt. James Heuston)

Lt. Col. Nick Jaskolski, Commander, 142nd Field Artillery Brigade, Arkansas National Guard, speaks about the role of the 1st Battalion, 181st Field Artillery Regiment of the Tennessee National Guard as they participated in a major, multi-state, field artillery exercise named Operation Western Strike. The battalion from Tennessee brought their M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) to the exercise. The HIMARS is capable of firing six rockets or one surface-to-surface Army Tactical Missile (ATacMS) and has the capability to fire accurately at a distance of over 180 miles. (U.S. Army National Guard video by Spc. Stephen M. Wright and Staff Sgt. James Heuston)

The 213th ASMC of the Arkansas National Guard mobilized to Camp Guernsey, Wyoming, to provide medical support for a large scale training exercise named Operation Western Strike. The 213th established a location to set a field hospital where treatment could be administered to any possible injured personnel. Western Strike is a large scale field artillery training exercise, comprised of several states, and spearheaded by the 142nd Field Artillery Brigade of the Arkansas National Guard. (U.S. Army National Guard video by Spc. Stephen M. Wright)

Alabama National Guardsmen from the 1st battalion, 117th Field Artillery Regiment, load their military tactical vehicles onto railcars after participating in a multi-state field artillery exercise named Operation Western Strike at Camp Guernsey, Wyoming. (U.S. Army National Guard video by Spc. Stephen M. Wright)

Tennessee National Guardsmen from the 1st battalion, 181st Field Artillery, fire their M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) during maneuver training at Camp Guernsey, Wyoming. The artillery battalion, headquartered in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is participating in a large scale training exercise named Operation Western Strike. The HIMARS is a highly mobile automatic system that fires surface-to-surface rockets. Six HIMARS rockets can be fired in less than one minute by the three-man crew, or one Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles. (U.S. Army National Guard video by Spc. Stephen M. Wright)

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Chad Henderson discusses his role and the actions taken in order to successfully move the 1st battalion 117th Field Artillery Regiment, Alabama National Guard, to Camp Guernsey, Wyoming, to participate in Operation Western Strike. The battalion was one of many field artillery units to fall under the command of the Arkansas National Guard for the brigade sized realistic field artillery training exercise. (U.S. Army National Guard video by Spc. Stephen M. Wright)

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Chad Henderson discusses the role of the forward observer and the obstacles that his team has to undergo in order to successfully complete fires missions while at the major training exercise Operation Western Strike. The operation is a large scale field artillery brigade training exercise designed to increase combat effectiveness and cohesion amongst several National Guard units. (U.S. Army National Guard video by Spc. Stephen M. Wright)

Alabama National Guardsmen from the 1st battalion, 117th Field Artillery Regiment, deploy and fire their M777 Howitzers during maneuver training at Camp Guernsey, Wyoming. The artillery battalion, headquartered in Andalusia, Alabama, is participating in a large scale training exercise named Operation Western Strike. The M777 is a portable cannon that can be frequently moved and redeployed with a firing range over 18 miles. The M777 fires 155mm rounds. (U.S. Army National Guard video by Spc. Stephen M. Wright)

Brig. Gen. Kirk Van Pelt, Assistant Adjutant General - Operations, Arkansas National Guard, visits with Arkansas Guardsmen as they participate in a large scale training exercise known as Operation Western Strike at Camp Guernsey, Wyoming. Van Pelt made stops at the 142nd Field Artillery Brigade's headquarters, and also went out to the field to meet with Soldiers and observe their training operations. (U.S. Army National Guard video by Spc. Stephen M. Wright

Time-lapse of the setting sun from atop a field artillery observation point at Camp Guernsey, Wyoming. (U.S. Army National Guard video by Spc. Stephen M. Wright)

Arkansas National Guardsmen from the 2nd battalion, 142 Field Artillery Brigade, fire their M109A6 Paladins during maneuver training at Camp Guernsey, Wyoming. The artillery battalion, headquartered in Barling, Arkansas, is participating in a large scale training exercise named Operation Western Strike. The M109A6 is a self propelled 155-mm Howitzer cannon, capable of delivering accurate predictive fires out to a distance of approximately 18 miles. (U.S. Army National Guard video by Spc. Stephen M. Wright)

Arkansas National Guardsmen from the 1st battalion, 142 Field Artillery Brigade, fire their M270A1 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS) during maneuver training at Camp Guernsey, Wyoming. The artillery battalion, headquartered in Bentonville, Arkansas, is participating in a large scale training exercise named Operation Western Strike. The MLRS is a highly mobile automatic system that fires surface-to-surface rockets. Twelve MLRS rockets can be fired in less than one minute by the three-man crew, as well as two Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles. (U.S. Army National Guard video by Spc. Stephen M. Wright)