Cavalry artillery battalion hosts fires seminar

Photo By Sgt. Quentin Johnson | Second Lt. John Siquian, who hails from San Antonio, and is a fire support officer with Company A, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team “Greywolf,” 1st Cavalry Division, conducts a simulated a training mission calling for artillery fire at the Warrior Skills Training Center here as part of the 2nd Bn., 82nd FA Regt.’s Fires Training Seminar Oct. 23. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Quentin Johnson, 3rd BCT PAO (Released)  

FORT HOOD, TX, UNITED STATES

10.31.2014

Story by Sgt. Quentin Johnson 

3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division

FORT HOOD, Texas – The 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Regiment “Steel Dragon,” 3rd Brigade Combat Team “Greywolf,” 1st Cavalry Division, hosted a Fires Training Seminar at Club Hood here, Oct. 22 to 24.

The purpose of the seminar was two-fold: introduce new command teams to the necessity of a fires support team and discuss the future of the fires element, which includes field artillery, mortar teams and aviation assets.

“It is a really good experience when leaders can develop a good plan to integrate a fires element into their planning process,” said Lt. Col. Ryan McCormack, the Steel Dragon commander.

As the brigade prepares for its rotation to NTC next year, each battalion and company has an opportunity to develop training for how they will use the fire support teams, said McCormick who hails from Long Island, New York.

“We (Steel Dragons) wanted to show our teammates that integrating fire support into their plans or training goes beyond just requesting the support,” he said.

McCormack explained that there are several precise steps to ensuring commanders on the ground can receive proper fire support from artillery and air assets.

“It is not like what you see in the movies,” said McCormack, “there is a process that must take place to ensure timing and accuracy.”

Capt. William Browne, commander of Company C, 2nd Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment, of the Greywolf Brigade agreed that timing is important when identifying key targets.

“Missions for specific targets can take longer, but it is necessary when it becomes a priority,” he said.

Browne said that having attended a maneuver career course, he is familiar with the functions of fire support.

“We (Company C) involve our fire support officers in all aspects of company meetings and use fire support during training exercises,” Browne said.

Browne added that he still found the seminar very educational.

“I learned new things, such as additional functions of our forward observers,” he said. “I also learned that patience is important when requesting fire support.”

Browne said overall the seminar was good, and will help with future integration of the Greywolf fire support teams.

McCormack said more than 50 Greywolf leaders, fire support officers and special guests, who included Command Sgt. Maj. Daniel Moriarty, command sergeant major of field artillery and the Field Artillery School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and two lead fires trainers from the National Training Center (NTC) in California, Lt. Col. Robert Lee Magee and Lt. Col. Lynn Downie, attended the training.

• Date Taken: 10.31.2014
• Date Posted: 10.31.2014 11:26
• Story ID: 146688
• Location: FORT HOOD, TX, US