40th Infantry Division supports
79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team in ‘The Box’

Story and photos by Staff Sgt. Lani O. Pascual
40th Infantry Division Public Affairs

Aug. 3, 2022

FORT POLK, La. – The Box, a training range fraught with forested lowlands and choking humidity on U.S. Army base Fort Polk in Louisiana, is meant to test brigade-sized elements during a 14-day readiness exercise. Units are met with tactical challenges simulating real-world combat scenarios.

This July, the California Army National Guard’s 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team took to the marshy terrain with more than 3,000 Soldiers and nearly one thousand pieces of equipment. While in The Box, the 79th IBCT’s higher command, the 40th Infantry Division, supported their participation with a Division Tactical Command Post and augmentation operations.

Until six months ago, units attending the Joint Readiness Training Center on Fort Polk were solely brigades; division elements only recently began taking part in training exercises. During the 79th IBCT’s rotation, the 40th ID became the first National Guard division to bring a DTAC in support of their brigade. In addition, they became the first DTAC to jump locations at JRTC, moving by convoy from the Joint Operations Center to a different tactical position.

Standing up a DTAC during the training exercises becomes a proof-of-concept which the U.S. Army can reference in managing the fight nearer to the battle. As the military transitions focus from counterinsurgency back to large-scale ground combat, the DTAC is meant to mimic command operations closer to the front lines and replicate the abilities of mission command from a remote position.

“We rehearsed key training events like displacing the command post and supporting the commanding general with information required to make decisions within the battle space,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Brandi Record, the command post's officer-in-charge for the 40th ID. “Coming out of this exercise, the DTAC is better prepared for our upcoming operations.”

Going forward, the division can adapt its support to deployed units by cutting travel and communication time with a strategically placed command post. The experience gained during JRTC is invaluable to the division’s overall mission.

“Any opportunity for us to work in an environment with our active duty counterparts is extremely important for the development of Guard Soldiers,” said Maj. Atip Viskul, the division's chief of operations. “We only see these rotations every ten years which gives us the opportunity to maximize training, build relationships and learn from our counterparts.”

The 21st Airborne Division, stationed on Fort Polk, plays the role of division command supporting units during their exercise rotations. Because they are meant to represent an element of 700 with only 70 Soldiers and civilians, they tap incoming divisions for augmentation. Service members embed with the airborne division's warfighting and support functions, including engineering, operations, intelligence, air defense, and sustainment.

While the 79th IBCT navigated The Box, the 40th ID provided approximately 30 Soldiers to integrate into 24-hour operations at the airborne division's joint operations center.

“Working closely with National Guard augmentation elements gave the division-level sustainment team opportunities to evaluate our approaches to problem-solving and how we can better execute command responsibilities for future JRTC rotational training units,” said Lt. Col. Erik Hansen, the airborne division's sustainment officer-in-charge. “This provides us with future opportunities to coordinate with National Guard component teammates, benefitting all those involved.”

Throughout the exercise, units in The Box relay supply and personnel requests from the field to division while enduring communication challenges and enemy threats. Division elements must deconflict and anticipate the most efficient way to fill the needs on the battlefield. 

“Augmentees gain an interesting perspective of their units out in The Box at JRTC while supporting the 21st Airborne Division,” said Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Harrison, a sustainment non-commissioned officer-in-charge with the 21st. “They see the shortfalls and strong suits within the organization and can help with the refinements of processes and procedures of their brigade.”

The relationship becomes crucial when a brigade attaches to a new division, often during deployment. JRTC makes every attempt to replicate the real-world requirements of a mobilized brigade from commodity movement to the front line. Training at this level of planning becomes vital to the 40th ID for future taskings and operations.

“Think outside the box while inside The Box,” said Harrison.