Exercise Cascade Raven  -  Annual Training 99!

[Follow AT '99 in the "Yakima Warrior"]

Story by MAJ Philip Logan - Photos by SSG Jonathon Crane

Opposing Forces prepare a warm welcome for their opponents during Cascade Raven '99. SGT Tony Lang (foreground), SGT Robert Asuncion and CPL Marcelino Nuno are all members of HHC, 1-149th Armored Battalion, arrived from California to train with the Washington National Guard. This summer they're the "bad guys".

     The men and women of the Washington Army National Guard have been getting ready for this all year, and now it's "show time!"

     Over 4,000 Guardsmen will be put to the test at Yakima Training Center over a three-week period from 5-25 Jun 99.  Follow the story through the 122nd Military Public Affairs Detachment and the "Yakima Warrior."

     This years maneuver, gunnery, aviation and support missions in the high desert of Central Washington are designed to hone the warfighting and support skills of over 4,000 men and women from across the state.  Additionally, Guardsmen from other states such as Oregon, Nevada, California and Alabama are training alongside Guardsmen from Washington during Exercise Cascade Raven 99.

Pvt. Aaron Dillabough and Sgt. Robert Dubay, HHB, 2-146th Field Artillery, load camouflage nets as they prepare to depart on a mission.

     These two weeks will challenge the skills, strength and stamina of our citizen-soldiers who for the other fifty weeks of the year, are your friends, neighbors and co-workers.  They have been training one weekend (or more) a month for the past year in preparation for this test.

     When it's done, they'll have mastered the knowledge necessary for proficiency not only in their wartime mission, but also when called upon to support the citizens of Washington during times of natural disaster, and to protect life, property and public safety.

     From the initial movement of convoys from home armories, through the dust, smoke and noise of maneuver and gunnery, to the massive support and recovery efforts needed to sustain thousands of soldiers in the field, until the last trucks roll out the gates of Yakima Training Center headed for home, the Military Journalists of the 122nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment will bring the action to you in words and pictures.

Charles Shank, a firefighter at Yakima Training Center fire station, shows fire-fighting soldiers the tools of their trade - a shovel and the water tank on the back of a five ton truck.

     We will be publishing a regular newspaper here at the Yakima Training Center as a part of our units normal mission.  This year It's called the "Yakima Warrior."  New this year is our publication of a website that will augment this newspaper and help families and friends keep up with Annual Training from home!  So you'll want to check back daily to follow AT '99.  These are your friends and neighbors, your wives and husbands.  We hope you will enjoy their story.