Schofield troops to train on O'ahu, Neighbor Isles
By Mike Gordon
Advertiser Staff Writer
Most people don't picture Kahuku or Kaua'i or even the Big Island desert when they think of Afghanistan.
But for the next two weeks, 3,500 soldiers from the 25th Infantry Division (Light) will have to suspend disbelief as they train for deployment to the war-torn nation.
Lightning Thrust Warrior, an exercise involving soldiers from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, will run from today through Sept. 18 at Schofield Barracks, Wheeler Army Airfield, the Kahuku Training Area, the East Range, Dillingham Airfield, the Pohakaloa Training Area on the Big Island and at Barking Sands on Kaua'i.
The public can expect large military convoys on O'ahu highways Monday and Tuesday, said Capt. Kathleen Turner, a spokeswoman for the division. There also will be day and night helicopter assault operations until the training is finished, she said.
The soldiers involved are scheduled to leave for Afghanistan in February for a six-month deployment. The division's 3rd Brigade will deploy to Afghanistan six months later.
Lightning Thrust Warrior will be the largest exercise before February, Turner said. Originally planned as the division's annual large exercise, it was altered to simulate Afghanistan-like situations when the Pentagon issued deployment orders in July.
Deploying to Afghanistan, a country still on the brink of a civil war despite the presence of U.S. troops for nearly two years, will not be an easy mission.
"There is a lot of stuff still going on in Afghanistan," Turner said. "It is still a very dangerous and volatile place. You have to be prepared for anything. You have to be trained."
The division also plans to hold its annual anti-terrorism exercise during the same period, from Sept. 8-11 at several military housing reservations and O'ahu facilities.
The training will simulate terrorist attacks with chemical bombs, using hostages and in remote locations, Turner said.
Unlike the larger exercise, this one is not expected to disrupt traffic flow onto military installations.
Reach Mike Gordon at 525-8012 or mgordon@honoluluadvertiser.com.
