Lightning Forge 2018

Every year, the 25th Infantry Division has a brigade-level exercise called "Lightning Forge." My unit assists in three ways:

1. We plan the scenario according to training priorities. The unit can be focused on either counter-insurgency, decisive operations, or area defense.
2. We coordinate for, and direct, referee-like observers who can provide feedback on how the training brigade did.
3. We monitor the battlespace, tracking battlefield actions through Laser Tag-like equipment.

In short, we're like Dungeon Masters in an old-style D&D game, but with 3,000 individual players.

These tasks are handled out of the Exercise Control headquarters, or EXCON, and comprise about 90% of the operation. The other 10% -- stuff like field feeding, maintenance, and property accountability -- is handled by the Exercise Support Group, or ESG. This is where I work out of.

Within the ESG, my role is a bit vague. Although I am an exercise logistics planner, I was assigned to this particular task only after all of the planning conferences had finished. As a result, I'm not as familiar with the minor details as my predecessor was.

In addition, this is a "home game" for both us and the 25th ID, so there are a lot of things that we had to worry about in California back in January/February that we don't have to worry about here:

1. Food. Everyone assigned to Oahu continues getting their allowance for subsistence, so we don't have to worry about providing food to 95% of participants. And providing food to the people coming from off-island (the other 5%) is very simple -- they get a per diem. Problem solved.
2. Vehicle recovery assets. Most of the observer/referees are coming from units that are also stationed on island, so if they have a vehicle break down, most of the time they can take care of themselves. And if one of our rental cars breaks down, we just contact the rental agency.
3. Personnel accountability. 25th ID is content to let participating units keep their own accountability, so the numbers are a bit fuzzy and can vary day-to-day. And since the exercise is less than two weeks long, we're not going to go kicking people in the teeth for inaccurate reports.

To summarize, the short duration of the exercise and the existence of familiar procedures mean that my role is quite small, which -- to be honest -- is fine with me.

I come in at 9:00, check my email, and monitor any emergent logistical events that demand attention. Every other day I run a meeting at 4:00pm to make sure everyone is on the same page, and then leave at 5:00. It's exactly the kind of job I wish I could do forever.

Alas, I cannot. My time in the Army is winding down, and very soon this chapter in my life will be done.