38th Infantry Division public affairs
Vini, vidi, vici. The 38th Infantry Division came, saw and conquered. The soldiers of the 38th used their real-world skills in virtual battlefield scenarios to defeat an enemy during a nine-day warfighter exercise at Camp Atterbury in Edinburgh earlier this month.
“We achieved our goals and won the war,” said Maj. Gen. Gordon L. Ellis, the division commanding general. The objectives and outcomes included conducting reconnaissance operations at the division-level; utilizing a distributed command post and maintaining communications; coordinating multiservice munitions delivery; and logistic support and consolidation throughout the division’s operation.
“The proficiencies that we gained here, we cannot lose,” said Ellis. “We seized some objectives, but we still have a way to go.”
Additionally, the soldiers, including Staff Sgt. Russell Christian of Beech Grove, had to accomplish these objectives while in an austere setting to meet the intent of Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley to train as an expeditionary force.
“Gen. Milley, has told us to be ready to ‘fight tonight,’ ” said Command Sgt. Dale A. Shetler. “To that end we performed our warfighter with soldiers sleeping in tents, our maintenance crews working on-site and our cooks using our mobile kitchens. After this exercise I feel more confident than ever that our soldiers are ready to answer the call if needed.”
The battlefield scenarios tested the division staff in six functional tasks: command and control, movement and maneuver, intelligence, targeting processes, sustainment and protection. The 38th Infantry Division, headquartered in Indianapolis and known as the Cyclone Division, remains postured to strengthen defense relationships and build partner capacity. Subordinate units in the 38th provide capabilities in infantry, aviation, logistics, force protection and information management.