Courtesy Photo | Sgt. Francisco Hernandez, a fire support specialist with Company A, 1st Battalion,...... read more read more
Subscribe
By Spc. William K. Ermatinger
2nd AAB, 1st Inf. Div., USD-C
BAGHDAD—The AH-64D Apache helicopter flew overhead toward the target. The air around the observation post was silent as the target area was buried under a cloud of dust from the helicopter. Seconds later, the delayed sound of the impacting rounds could be heard thundering through the range at Besmaya Combat Training Center, near Baghdad.
The scene was part of a training exercise held recently at BCTC, the focus of which was refining the skills of fire support specialists.
Sgt. 1st Class Carvis Evans, a fire support noncommissioned officer with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st “Vanguard” Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, United States Division – Center and a Portsmouth, Va., native, was there to oversee his soldiers in the training.
“The training allows [fire support specialists] to do their job, even if it's just training,” said Evans. He worked closely with 2nd AAB, 1st Inf. Div., USD-C to coordinate four days of training for the fire support soldiers in the battalion.
“Due to the change of mission for the military in Iraq, there isn't much opportunity for forward observers to practice their skills beyond gathering intelligence,” said Evans.
The forward observer is the eyes on the ground for pilots who fly close air support missions. The soldiers were honing their skills by identifying targets on the ground, reporting and relaying the information to pilots who carry out the attack.
The training started early in the morning on Contingency Operating Station Hammer, east of Baghdad, where soldiers went over how to set up and use a Lightweight Laser Designator Rangefinder.
Sgt. Francisco Hernandez, a fire support specialist with Company A, 1st Bn., 18th Inf. Regt. and a Dakota City, Neb., native, was one of the forward observers who trained at BCTC.
“The LLDR is used to laser targets to give accurate direction and distance to a target,” Hernandez said. “You can also designate for laser-guided ammunition.”
After training at COS Hammer, the class traveled to the Iraqi training range at BCTC for the live fire portion of the training. The class reconvened on top of a hill overlooking the practice targets located on the range.
“The targets used were old T-72 Russian tanks which are no longer operational,” Evans said.
The soldiers took turns calling for supporting fire from the attack helicopter pilots.
“We made contact with the Apache pilots, relayed the target information, and ordered the strike,” said Hernandez.
Once the order was given, the class observed the Apache pilots in action. When the class was finished with helicopter training, they covered how to fill out the required reports and practiced transcribing gathered information onto the proper documents.
Once darkness covered the range, the class began training on night observation devices and marking targets in the dark.
The final part of the training covered CAS by fixed-wing aircraft which included F-16 Fighting Falcon jets. Hernandez helped guide the pilot onto the right target.
The joint fire support training conducted by the “Vanguard” fire supporters helped them keep their war fighting skills sharp, Hernandez said.
| Date Taken: | 02.17.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 02.27.2011 23:39 |
| Story ID: | 66185 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 79 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, USD-C ‘Vanguard’ Battalion Soldiers hone fire support skills with live-fire exercise, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT