1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (AA) Public Affairs

Story by Spc. Richard Daniels Jr.

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. -- "Fire for effect at my command," said the lanky corporal covered in dust, as his mortar team prepared to send another round downrange.

Bandit Soldiers of the 1st Squadron, 32nd Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, fired hundreds of rounds Aug.4, during a mortar live-fire exercise, designed to familiarize them with the thump and boom of one of the Army's most battle-proven weapons.

"Bandit" Soldiers hit the field ready to test their knowledge of various mortar systems.

"Our actual gun is the 60mm," said Pfc. Seth Hallums, Charlie Troop. "Today, we are getting a little hands-on with all of them, which include 60mm mortars, 81mm, and the 120mm, which is the biggest system we have," he said.

As fire support shouted out sets of instructions to the mortar men, they quickly dialed information into their mortar system and in seconds another round hit its mark.

For the Bandit mortar teams, the training provides experience, which translates into confidence; a must for combat.

"There's always that initial unknown feeling and you over that by getting to get out here and firing," said Hallums.

"Bandit" Soldiers diligently repeated the exercises time and time again, until the motions and precision of each command became second nature.

"It shows where the team is at, where your platoons are at and what work you need to put in," said Cpl. Donny Booth, Blackhorse Troop. "Because a lot of stuff happens so quick, you have to get all the data put out to the line quick. You're trying to compute it all in your head and it's a lot of stress, but that's what this is for," he said.

The training's focus is on one thing...preparing for battle.

"We're out here so that Soldiers can think rationally under pressure and by doing it over and over again," said Booth. "You get faster and better and that means more rounds down range."

Lt. Chad Mayville, Fire Support Officer for Blackhorse troop, said that having Soldiers train on multiple systems, improves the unit's overall combat readiness for any type of terrian.

"That is what's so significant about mortars in rugged terrain," said Mayville. "They are totally mobile and highly accurate, so for dismounted elements, you can carry them so if you go somewhere, you can be behind a platoon going out, and if they need any indirect right then and there, you can provide that suppression," he said.

The Bandit Soldiers are up to the challenge of taking on adversity.

"These guys will be extremely effective in adverse terrain. They are the brawn of the indirect fire systems," said Mayville. "We also have the fisters who are out here, and they're the eyes. A lot of the effectiveness will depend on how cohesive these sections are," he said. "That's why it's important for us to get out here to start building some of that cohesiveness in organic indirect systems," said Mayville.

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