Photo By Sgt. 1st Class William Howard | Spc. Juan Carmona, indirect fire infantryman, Company B, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry...... read more read more
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FORT CARSON, Colo. - Mortar teams of 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division practiced translating data for fire support missions at the most fundamental level during plotting board verification Aug. 12.
“The plotting board verification is a basic method of aiming without using digital applications,” said Sgt. 1st Class Ricardo Masga, mortar platoon sergeant, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 1st SBCT, 4th Infantry Division. “We’re manually entering data from the forward observers and calculating the mission at the fire direction center before sending it to the firing line.”
The unit just recently stood up in March and the collective training marks the first live-fire event for the new M224 60 mm mortar and M252 81 mm mortar teams.
“We’re all new squads, so we’re getting used to each other and learning to trust each member of the squad,” said Spc. Nicholas Orhman, indirect fire infantryman, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 1st SBCT, 4th Infantry Division. “You learn to work through communication and build chemistry.”
The mortar teams consist of an ammo bearer, who prepares and distributes the mortar round, gunner, who aims where the round will hit, and assistant gunner, who assists with moving the mortar tube and essentially fires the round. The squad leader supervises the whole process which can happen in a matter of seconds.
“The squad leader is in charge of making sure all of the data is correct on the gun, the safety protocols are done every time that we fire, rounds are prepped correctly and the correct charge is used,” said Staff Sgt. Jared Pusateri, mortar squad leader, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 38th Infantry Regiment, 1st SBCT, 4th Infantry Division. “Pretty much overall safety and ensuring that the rounds go downrange correctly.”
The mortar teams united under the experience of their leadership and demonstrated their understanding of the fundamentals with each mortar round that was fired.
“I really enjoy leading and showing Soldiers what I’ve learned in combat and in garrison,” said Pusateri. “The guys I have now were trained well and they’re proficient at their job.”
| Date Taken: | 08.12.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 08.27.2014 12:11 |
| Story ID: | 140503 |
| Location: | FORT CARSON, CO, US |
| Web Views: | 54 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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