Fort George G. Meade: 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