Fort George G. Meade: The First 100 Years
You may know Fort George G. Meade as a cyber and intelligence hub, but did you know that the installation used to be the home of Army Tank School after World War I? Or that it housed an internment camp at the start of World War II for primarily German-American and Italian-American citizens and foreign nationals? Learn more about the fascinating history of the third largest Army base in the U.S. in terms of number of workforce in this book. You may know Fort George G. Meade as a cyber and intelligence hub, but did you know that the installation used to be the home of Army Tank School after World War I? Or that it housed an internment camp at the start of World War II for primarily German-American and Italian-American citizens and foreign nationals? Learn more about the fascinating history of the third largest Army base in the U.S. in terms of number of workforce in this book.
284 THE FIRST 100 YEARS
Master Sgt. Robert “Pitt” Pittman (Ret.) GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR 285 On the 5th of May 2014, I along with so many others assigned to Asymmetric Warfare Group, had the privilege of joining the Family of Master Sgt. Robert Pittman in a dedication ceremony at AWG’s newest building, and indoor range. Now known as Pittman Range, the building is a stateof-the-art training facility. The range features a multilane target carrying and control system, a hands-free bullet deceleration and collection system, and one of the most modern and environmentally friendly Air Handling Systems. The range also features a one-of-a-kind vehicle access system that allows soldiers and external organizations the ability to develop skills working from the vehicles they will deploy with or work from on a dayto-day basis. In the little over two years since the range opened, The U.S. Army Asymmetric Warfare Group, a unit that provides operational advisory support and develops rapid operational solutions to the Army and Joint Forces to defeat current and emerging threats, enhance combat effectiveness, and inform future development, has been able to use this facility to support the design and build of the next fight. AWG regularly conducts individual weapons training, dozens of “Turkey Thursday” events, where soldiers are put through a series of battle-focused scenarios, which include combat-influenced stress shoots. Annually, AWG conducts a day-long Pittman Challenge, with a key station being conducted at the indoor range. AWG has also opened the doors of the range to allow other U.S. military units to train and develop skills in a controlled, focused location. Units that regularly train here are the Military Intelligence Brigades, the Military Police Companys and Detachments, the Medical Units, Air Force units and Navy and Marine Corps units assigned to Fort Meade. In addition we have also allowed units from the Army Reserve and Maryland Army National Guard to train at the Pittman Indoor Range. The Asymmetric Warfare Group decided to reach out to other federal agencies and law enforcement organizations in the area in the spirit of cooperation. In doing so the range has become a location where these organizations can conduct independent training, in a manner where the focus can be on proper training and techniques, without the distractors that come with using outdoor ranges. As we look back, the type of training that is conducted at the Pittman Indoor Range is continuing Master Sgt. Robert Pittman’s legacy. On the day he was killed he was By Sgt. 1st Class David Rosendale (Ret.) helping others in developing and receiving training, with the focus of helping them to learn skills that would keep them alive during the defense of our country. From a letter by Lt. Gen. Mulholland, 5th Special Forces Group, AWG, to Robert's wife, Melissa Pittman; about her husband’s service at The Battle for Bakersfield 1, he details the way Robert helped his soldiers to be ready for the difficulties they would face. On 30 Jul 10, MSG (R) Rob Pittman was serving as an Advisor to my battalion, 1-320th FA, employed by AWG, on 30 Jul 10 when he joined us in the Battle for Bakersfield 1. We are fighting as a Provisional Infantry Battalion on the west side of the fertile Arghandab River Valley in some of the densest vegetation in Kandahar Province. Pitt had been coaching our line units for several weeks on dismounted infantry TTPs and had become quite popular throughout our organization. He always volunteered to go on the most dangerous missions with the units who were most in need of his counsel. The day before the Battle I had presented Rob with my battalion coin and told him I loved having him with us because he, unlike other advisors we had, was low maintenance, value added, and the epitome of the quiet professional. Rob asked me where I wanted him to support next and I told him to go with Bravo Battery as they would be conducting a planned air assault to clear the village of Babur in the coming days. Rob never made it to Babur Village because Bravo wasn’t conducting enough reconnaissance to his liking and he jumped ship to join us at Bakersfield 1. Things were too slow with Bravo and Rob needed to be where the action was. The mission to seize Bakersfield 1 was focused on a Taliban stronghold along a critical canal crossing with a small village complex consisting of 7-8 mud hut buildings. The Task organization for the mission was 2 x US platoons, 1x ANA Company, a Sapper Squad, a route clearing package and 2 x Dog teams. This area had been impenetrable for several weeks and strong pointed by the Taliban. We were expecting a fight; another fact that made this mission enticing to Pitt. The unit moved dismounted through the night and began the assault on the position at first light. Enemy resistance was light but steady during the initial entry across the canal and into the first set of buildings. After
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