157th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade prepares for Warfighter exercise

Date: January 8, 2010
By Sgt. Andy Poquette
Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs

Approximately 90 Wisconsin National Guard Soldiers journeyed to Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., Monday [Jan. 4] to train on the systems they will employ during their first Warfighter exercise as a the 157th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (MEB).

"This is our Soldiers' first opportunity to participate in a realistic wartime scenario as a MEB," said Col. Mark J. Michie, 157th Brigade commander. "We have been training on the process, and now we get to train on the execution of our mission."

The Soldiers, from the Milwaukee-based Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the 157th, will spend four days in a classroom environment learning the various systems they will use during the exercise, which begins Jan. 11. This exercise is the first that the 157th has conducted since it transformed from a field artillery brigade to a maneuver enhancement brigade.

The 157th began their transformation from a field artillery brigade in 2007. Transitioning from a field artillery brigade to a maneuver enhancement brigade has had its challenges, but has also opened up many opportunities for brigade personnel.

"A MEB requires a different mindset than a field artillery brigade," Michie explained. "It's much more multi-function than the singular mission of field artillery."

The maneuver enhancement brigade utilizes complex computer systems to provide operational and tactical support in a designated area of operations. This support includes unit tracking, mapping, and logistical support for both higher and lower echelons.

To prepare for the Warfighter exercise, several brigade staff members participated in a staff exercise last November, and Soldiers are being trained on individual systems while at Fort Leonard Wood. Soldiers will attend four days of classes covering the Movement Control System (MCS), Command Post of the Future (CPOF), and Force XXI Battle Command, Brigade and Below (FBCB2) before the exercise begins Monday.

"As we continue to develop our expertise, our lower enlisted and junior officers continue to grow into more advanced leadership roles," added Michie.

"The transition has brought new opportunities for our Soldiers to broaden their knowledge base," said Command Sgt. Maj. Bradley Shields, the 157th Brigade command sergeant major. "New areas of responsibility, leadership opportunities, and career progression paths are available for Soldiers who are willing to attend the necessary schools.

"Success of any organization is based on its willingness to adapt and move forward," Shields continued. "Change is good. But without the tremendous support of our families and employers, we would never have come as far as we have."