Operation Diamond Torrent Demonstrates HIMARS Strike Package
In the chilly predawn hours of Jan. 21 at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, Kansas Army National Guard troops of A Battery, 2nd Battalion, 130th Field Artillery, 75th Field Artillery Brigade, 35th Infantry Division worked tirelessly alongside a U.S. Air Force crew to load two M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and one HMMWV aboard a C-17 aircraft bound for United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Several sections of the 35th Infantry Division’s A Battery have come together over the previous nine months to complete a number of notable achievements. For instance, the unit demonstrated its capabilities during Exercise Angel Strike in October 2017, when it became the first Kansas National Guard unit since World War II to shoot actual fire missions in a forward-deployed environment.
This day would mark yet another achievement for the unit, as the team secured more than 54,000 pounds of payload in less than 30 minutes and began the first leg of Operation Diamond Torrent.
The troops participated specifically in the HIMARS Rapid Infiltration (HI-RAIN) exercise, an element of Operation Diamond Torrent, which demonstrated the capabilities of the C-17 and the HIMARS as an operational strategic strike package.
“The HI-RAIN exercise allows us to put a HIMARS up on a C-17 or C-130 and fly into an area, giving us an extended range [beyond] what the rockets already have,” said CPT Michael Sprigg, A Battery commander. “We can fly in, shoot the mission and fly back out before they even know we were there.”
The exercise provided a platform to prove to partner nations and joint forces the capabilities of HI-RAIN as a viable rapid response solution – one able to swiftly deploy and infiltrate to deliver a fast, flexible and lethal attack. The exercise demonstrated that multiple HIMARS can be loaded, transported, unloaded and put to use within a specified time frame.
“The most gratifying thing was that we were [successful in coming] to the UAE, completing our mission within our time frame and returning to Kuwait on time,” noted CPT Sprigg. “This is the first time we have ever done [a mission of this type]. We’ve talked about it and trained on it, but we’ve never had the actual resources to complete the mission.”
In addition to serving as an opportunity to showcase the strength of HI-RAIN, Operation Diamond Torrent also demonstrated multi-level collaboration, as U.S. Army and Air Force members completed the operation in conjunction with soldiers from Kuwait and the UAE.
“This exercise improved interoperability by allowing us to work together [with the Kuwaiti and UAE soldiers] and build relationships through shared hardship and shared systems,” said MAJ Steven Redmon, brigade fire support officer of the 75th Field Artillery Brigade. “By going face to face and talking with our joint and combined partners, we can solve [many] problems together.”
1SG Gerald Gibson of A Battery, 2-130th Field Artillery, appreciated the opportunity to broaden shared operational perspectives and experiences.
“I know all of my crew has gotten a lot out of this,” he said. “Some of the best things we can take away are working with the Air Force, coming to the UAE and working with the Emirates and the Kuwaitis. It provides a total security package and allows everyone to see our joint capabilities. Hopefully, it gives our partner nations a good feeling knowing that we’re here and able to do what is necessary.”
STORY AND PHOTOS BY contributing writer SSG Tina Villalobos
