173rd Airborne paratrooper awarded Army’s Fire Support Soldier of the Month

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class John Carkeet IV | Sgt. Benjamin M. Lewis, the forward observer for 3rd Platoon, Troop B, 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, sorts 7.62 mm rounds July 14 at a machine gun range in Paldiski, Estonia. The Fires Support Center of Excellence based in Fort Sill, Okla., presented Lewis with the Fire Support Soldier of the Month award thanks in part to developing a fire support glide path for his unit as it prepared for its mission to Estonia. Lewis, a native of Castle Rock, Colo., is one of approximately 600 paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne conducting various combined training missions in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve.  

PALDISKI, 37, ESTONIA

07.14.2014

Courtesy Story

173rd Airborne Brigade

By Sgt. John L. Carkeet IV
143rd Sustainment Command

PALDISKI, Estonia – If American paratroopers in Estonia need to call for mortar, artillery or close-air support, they may rest easy knowing one of the Army’s finest fire support specialists resides in their ranks.

Sgt. Benjamin M. Lewis, a forward observer with Troop B, 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, received the Fire Support Soldier of the Month award July 10, 2014, from the U.S. Army Fires Center of Excellence based in Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

“I definitely didn’t think I would get this award,” said Lewis, a native of Castle Rock, Colorado. “It’s really special to know that, of all the submissions from around the Army, I was selected for this honor.”

Lewis earned the title after receiving top honors during 1st Squadron’s Fire Support Certification program conducted April 2014 in Grafenwoehr, Germany. The program challenges fire support specialists with a series of complex tasks related to their field.

“We were graded on a written exam, equipment setups and vehicle identification tests,” said Lewis. “We also had to perform 22 calls for fires ranging from indirect fire to close air support.”

Lewis achieved the highest score in the written exam and passed every practical exercise.

“My command knows that it has one of the best FOs in the Army,” said Lewis. “That’s not a bragging right, but it’s something to be proud about.”

Lewis had little time to rest when his unit received orders to move to Estonia in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve.

“With my troop fire support sergeant away, it was up to me to prep my soldiers for our mission [to Estonia],” said Lewis. “I ultimately planned many of the unit’s training events.”

Lewis’ performance in a training and operational environment persuaded Sgt. 1st Class Jason Sims, the squadron’s fire support noncommissioned officer, to nominate Lewis for the award.

“Lewis demonstrated an outstanding commitment to his fire support team and assigned platoon,” Sims wrote in Lewis’ nomination packet. “His oversight allowed his troop to prepare and develop a fire support glide path that will incorporate joint fires with our Estonia army counterparts.”

“Fire support has an important role in completing our mission,” added Lewis. “The enemy might be a stronger than us, but I can help bring combat multipliers such as mortars, artillery and close air support to the battlefield.”

Lewis enlisted in the Army in June 2011 and deployed with Troop B to Afghanistan from June 2012 to March 2013. He is is one of approximately 600 paratroopers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade spread across Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland in order to train with America’s NATO allies and increase interoperability between the forces.

Lewis looks forward to sharing his knowledge and experience with his international partners.

“I’ve made some great friendships in the Army,” said Lewis. “I’m sure I’ll make a few more with my Estonian counterparts, and that I will keep in touch them for the rest of my life.”

• Date Taken: 07.14.2014
• Date Posted: 07.21.2014 07:34
• Story ID: 136696
• Location: PALDISKI, 37, EE
• Hometown: CASTLE ROCK, CO, US