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OPERATION TARHEEL THUNDER
HOME PAGE
This is your link to the action at Ft.
Irwin as thousands of North Carolina National Guard
soldiers and airmen supported by Guard and Reserve
troops from 15 other states train at the National
Training Center. The links at left will take you
to pictures, the latest news and other helpful
information concerning the exercise. Please visit
often to see our daily photo gallery and read the latest
news. If you have suggestions for the page or
something that might be appropriate to include here,
send a note to the
Web
Editor.
Thank you for supporting your North Carolina National
Guard!
 TANKS
FOR THE MEMORIES
FT. IRWIN, Calif. (June 21, 2003) It's all over but the
shouting. The equipment and soldiers of the 30th
Heavy Separate Brigade have finished their rotation at
the National Training Center here called Operation
Tarheel Thunder, and now they're all on their way home.
These M1A1s sit on rail cars at the Marine Corps
Logistics Base at Yermo, Calif., about 30 lonely miles
from the remote outpost of Ft. Irwin. (PAO
Photo/Staff Sgt. Ed Eudy)
Please visit the Daily
Photo Gallery for more pictures of the
activities from June 21.
 HAPPINESS
IS: IRWIN IN YOUR REAR-VIEW MIRROR
FT. IRWIN, Calif. (June 20, 2003) Soldiers fresh from
the Mojave Desert training fields wait for instructions
to board buses that will take them to waiting airplanes
bound for their homes in North Carolina and more than a
dozen other states. They have just completed a
three-week rotation at the National Training Center here
at the nation's premiere mechanized combat training
schoolhouse. (PAO Photo/Capt. Matt Handley)
Please visit the Daily
Photo Gallery for more pictures of the
activities from June 20.
 THE
30TH HEAVY SEPARATE BRIGADE LEAVES ITS MARK
FT. IRWIN, Calif. (June 19, 2003) The Painted
Rock, a National Training Center tradition for units
that rotate through. Here, the "Old Hickory" patch is
painted on a designated rock near the installation
entrance. The emblem stays until it becomes
unrecognizable and another will take it's place. It is a
symbol of pride for the soldiers who trained and
literally left their mark on the Army's premier large
scale training center. (PAO Photo/Capt. Matt Handley)
Please visit the Daily
Photo Gallery for more pictures of the
activities from June 19.
 STEADY AS SHE GOES
FT. IRWIN, Calif. (June 18, 2003) Spc. Robert Baxley
(front) from Bladenboro, N.C., and Spc. Tomarco Campbell
from Clarkton, N.C., directs an armored personnel
carrier. The vehicles were transported by commercial
truck from Ft. Irwin, Calif. to the U.S. Marine Depot at Yermo, Calif. Spc. Baxley is assigned Detachment 1,
Troop E, 196th Cavalry in Fair Bluff, N.C. Spc. Campbell
is assigned to Detachment 2, Troop E, 196th Cavalry in
Roseboro, N.C. (PAO Photo/Chief Master Sgt. Tom Innes)
Please visit the Daily
Photo Gallery for more pictures of the
activities from June 18.
 NORTH CAROLINA OR BUST
FT. IRWIN, Calif. (June 17, 2003) Let's Go Home! North
Carolina Army National Guard M1A1 Abrams tank nicknamed
"Beelzebub" displays their state flag, they are
returning from the desert warfare training at Ft. Irwin,
Calif. The 30 Heavy Separate Brigade is returning from
ten days in the field. The soldiers will regroup,
refresh, and pack at the Rotational Unit Bivouac Area (RUBA)
before heading home. (PAO Photo/Chief Master Sgt. Tom
Innes)
Please visit the Daily
Photo Gallery for more pictures of the
activities from June 17.
 READY, WILLING, AND ABLE
FT. IRWIN, Calif. (June 16, 2003) Patiently waiting in
the Mojave sun is Spc. Brandon Williams of Henderson,
N.C., a member of Company B, 1st Battalion, 120th
Infantry, Smithfield N.C. Williams, along with 7 other
infantrymen dismount from a Bradley Fighting Vehicle to
give close combat support or create a defensive zone.
(PAO Photo/Staff Sgt. Brian E. Christiansen)
Please visit the Daily
Photo Gallery for more pictures of the
activities from June 16.
 LOOKING DOWN THE BARREL
FT. IRWIN, Calif. (June 15, 2003) If you can see this
you are too close. Fully equipped--an M1 A1 Abrams Main
Battle Tank has two 7.62 mm machine gun, a .50 caliber
machine guns, and a 120 mm main gun. 2nd Lt. Mark Houck
(left) from Mullens, W.Va. and Cpl. Derrick Bannatter
from Hearts Creek, W.Va. of the 1st Battalion, 150th
Armor man the guns and make sure none shall pass. (PAO
Photo/Spc. Robert Jordan)
Please visit the Daily
Photo Gallery for more pictures of the
activities from June 15.
 OFF WE GO INTO THE WILD BLUE YONDER
FT. IRWIN, Calif. (June 14, 2003) A C 130-H Hercules
cargo plane from the 145th Airlift Wing,
Charlotte/Douglas International Airport takes off from
Bicycle Lake, Ft. Irwin Calif. with 50 passengers
returning home after providing support for Operation
Tarheel Thunder. (PAO Photo/Staff Sgt. Ed Eudy)
Please visit the Daily
Photo Gallery for more pictures of the
activities from June 14.
 OH SAY CAN YOU SEE...
FT. IRWIN, Calif. (June 13, 2003) Spc. David Colangelo,
Company A, 1st Battalion, 150th Armor, West Virginia
Army National Guard, stays in the battle, even when his
M113 armor personnel carrier developed some mechanical
trouble. Colangelo is in a holding pattern at the
consolidated field repair site for armored vehicles. Not
willing to stand aside, Colangelo mans an M-2 machine
gun on board his M113 overlooking the perimeter. (PAO
Photo/Master Sgt. Mike Welsh)
Please visit the Daily
Photo Gallery for more pictures of the
activities from June 13.
 THE
HILLS ARE ALIVE WITH THE SOUND OF GUNFIRE
FT. IRWIN, Calif. (June 12, 2003) Members of Opposing
Forces (OPFOR) make the North Carolina National Guard
pay the price for breaching their defensive berm by
firing an AT-5 anti-tank rockets to neutralize them. The
North Carolina National Guard desert warfare exercise
continues at the National Training Center (NTC), Ft.
Irwin, Calif. (PAO Photo/Spc. Robert Jordan)
Please visit the Daily
Photo Gallery for more pictures of the
activities from June 12.
 PROCEED WITH EXTREME CAUTION
FT. IRWIN, Calif. (June 11, 2003) Spc. Michael McKinney
from Albemarle, N.C. of the 105th Engineering Battalion
out of Wadesboro, N.C. throws a grapnel across a
simulated minefield. This grapnel would catch any
tripwires designed to harm a soldier trying to navigate
the minefield. (PAO Photo/ Spc. Robert Jordan)
Please visit the Daily
Photo Gallery for more pictures of the
activities from June 11.
 A DESERT MARAUDER
FT. IRWIN, Calif. (June 10, 2003) An M1A1 Abrams Tank
with the 1st Battalion 252nd Armor from Fayetteville,
N.C. goes on the offensive during early morning battles
at the National Training Center (NTC), Ft. Irwin CA
during Operation Tarheel Thunder. (PA Photo/Staff Sgt.
Ed Eudy)
Please visit the Daily
Photo Gallery for more pictures of the
activities from June 10.
 SHELTER FROM THE SUN
- CONCEALMENT FROM THE FOE
FT. IRWIN, Calif. (June 9, 2003) Leading by doing--1st
Lt. James McCann from Raleigh, N.C., Company C, 230th
Support Battalion out of Goldsboro, N.C., puts up a
camouflage canopy to provide shelter for arriving
causalities. Operation Tarheel Thunder not only tests
the skills of combat troops on the front line, but also
to entire command, control, and supply chain. (PAO
Photo/ Spc. Robert Jordan)
Please visit the Daily
Photo Gallery for more pictures of the
activities from June 9.
 GETTING THE DROP ON THE ENEMY
FT. IRWIN, Calif. (June 8, 2003)
Sgt. Scott Congleton from Greenville, N.C. loads a round
in his sniper rifle. He just took out one of the
Opposing Forces (OPFOR) who was hidden in the rocks.
Congleton is a member of Detachment 1, Company B, 1st
Battalion, 120th Infantry, in Nashville, N.C. (PAO
Photo/Chief Master Sgt. Tom Innes)
Please visit the Daily
Photo Gallery for more pictures of the
activities from June 8.
 GOOD
FENCES MAKE GOOD NEIGHBORS
FT. IRWIN, Calif.
(June 7, 2003) Sgt. 1st Class David Perry of Monroe, N.C. and
Spc. Vernis Little of Morven, N.C., both members of Company A, 105th Engineers, carefully lay barbed wire to set up a
defensive perimeter around their supply trucks. Today is moving day.
Fighting units of the 30th Brigade Combat Team (BCT) left the
relative comfort of the Rotational Unit Combat Area for the
rugged field environment of the Movement and Training Area. The
BCT's M1A1 Abrams tanks, M2 Bradley Infantry Fighting
Vehicles, and M108 Howitzers, and hundreds of
communications, medical and other support vehicles
convoyed to the field today. The BCT will test its
mettle this week in simulated combat versus the opposing
forces (OPFOR). (PAO Photos/Chief Master Sgt. Tom Innes(PAO Photo/Staff Sgt. Brian E. Christiansen)
Please visit the Daily
Photo Gallery for more pictures of the
activities from June 7.
 ZEN
AND THE ART OF HELICOPTER MAINTENANCE
FT. IRWIN, Calif.
(June 6, 2003) Aviation is a key
piece of the 30th Brigade Combat Team (BCT), North
Carolina National Guard. Aviation assets join armor,
artillery, infantry, communications, and a host of
support elements to form an effective fighting force.
Here, Staff Sgt. Leo Gosney with B Company 1st
Battalion, 126 Aviation from Salisbury , N.C. stabilizes the rotor blade on a
UH-60L Blackhawk helicopter while Staff Sgt. Mike Melnyk,
Sgts. George Newman and Gary Bailey perform a blade pin
inspection. The Blackhawks will be supporting ground
forces as the BCT goes into battle at the National
Training Center (NTC), Ft. Irwin, Calif. (PAO Photo/Staff Sgt. Ed
Eudy)
Please visit the Daily
Photo Gallery for more pictures of the
activities from June 6.
 THE MAIN EVENT
FT. IRWIN, Calif.
(June 5, 2003)
Opposition Forces (OPFOR), role-played by members of
the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Ft. Irwin, Calif.,
fire an M-47 DRAGON Anti-Tank Guided Missile at Company
B, 1st Battalion, 252nd Armor, Sanford, N.C. in a
training exercise. The enemy forces are known as the
"REAPERS" and are very experienced desert
warriors. The 30th Brigade Combat Team (BCT), North
Carolina National Guard will test its troops, tactics,
and equipment, in simulated war against the OPFOR next
week. (PAO Photo/Chief Master Sgt. Tom Innes). Please visit the Daily
Photo Gallery for more pictures of the
activities from June 5.
 "LANES" TRAINING SHARPENS SKILLS
FT. IRWIN, Calif.
(June 4, 2003)
The M577A3 Tracked Command Post
Carriers are full-tracked lightweight vehicles used as an
operational staff office and command post. This one, from Battery
B, 1st Battalion, 113th Field Artillery rumbles down a road
preparing for LANES training at the National Training Center (NTC),
Ft Irwin, N.C. Lanes training is "realistic live, constructive and
virtual training with emphasis on live fire, close combat skills
under a variety of tough, realistic conditions - day and night.”
--Brig.Gen. Dubik, Nov. 16, 1999. Please visit the Daily
Photo Gallery for more pictures of the
activities from June 4.
 QUICK REACTION FORCE
RESPONDS
FT. IRWIN, Calif. (June 3, 2003),Cpl. Paul Greene, H Battery, 202nd Air Defense Artillery, Crestwood, Ill.,
secures the gate against intruders at the Rotational Unit Bivouac Area (RUBA), National Training Center (NTC), Ft. Irwin, Calif. Greene and Spc. Rory Gruber of the same unit were on guard duty when the mock violent protest began. By following standard procedures, the troops were able to quell the disturbance with the assistance of the Rapid Reaction Force.
Please visit the Daily
Photo Gallery for more pictures of the
activities from
June 3.
 GUARDING THE FORCE
FT. IRWIN, Calif. (June 2, 2003),Spc. James Turnage, from New Bern N.C,. Military Police,
Detachment 1, 30th Heavy Separate Brigade (Armor) out of
Mount Olive, N.C. makes sure all is secure from his High
Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) (M998
Truck) for an approaching M109A6 Paladin Self Propelled
Howitzer near the Rotational Units Bivouac Area (RUBA),
Ft Irwin, Calif. Please visit the Daily
Photo Gallery for more pictures of the
activities from June 2.
 TUNING WEAPONS FOR
BATTLE
FT. IRWIN, Calif. (June 1, 2003), Spc. Travers Brake, a
member of the 1st Battalion, 150th Armor, Beckley, W.Va., adjusts the headspace and timing of his M2HB
Browning .50 caliber machine gun. Brake is from Davis,
W.Va. The 150th will test their mettle shortly with the
30th Brigade Combat Team in desert war games at the
National Training Center (NTC), Ft. Irwin, Calif. Please visit the Daily
Photo Gallery for more pictures of the
activities from June 1.
OPERATION TARHEEL
THUNDER HOME PAGE MAY 31 AND BEFORE
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