COMBINED ARMS TRAINING CENTER CAMP FUJI- Marines with 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, participated in a command post exercise Jan. 15 during Artillery Relocation Training Program 13-4 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji.
ARTP 13-4 enhances the combat readiness of 3rd Bn., 12th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force while fulfilling obligations under the U.S.-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security.
The purpose of the exercise ensures all the battalion’s communication equipment operates before sending it to the field later in the week.
“As artillery, we pride ourselves on being able to shoot, move and communicate,” said Maj. Jason A. Schewe, the operation’s officer for the battalion. “We are testing out the equipment, so that we know everyone can communicate with each other. We want the fire-direction controllers, the field-radio operators, and everyone else to have good communication so that we can support the Marines on the ground.”
The Marines set up antennae arrays, a combat operations center, field artillery radars and a communications center.
“This is the first time most of my Marines have gone on a field exercise,” said Sgt. Matthew S. Mueller, a field artillery radar operator with 12th Marines. “This training helps them become familiar in tracking incoming indirect fire and relay the coordinates back to the COC. This way, the COC can provide counter fires on the locations the mortars or shells came from.”
Once the Marines finished with the setup, they radioed the different sections involved in the event to signal the successful end of this portion of the exercise.
“Doing this exercise gave us the opportunity to work out all the errors before we go to the field,” said Schewe. “With our communications up and running, we can keep track of everything that happens when we train.”