Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Elvis Umanzor | Artillerymen with Battery B, 1st Battalion, 76th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th...... read more read more
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FORT STEWART, Ga. – As the weather threatened with heavy showers and thunderstorms artillerymen from 1st Battalion, 76th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, moved their M119 howitzers to calibrate and certify during a week of training at a Fort Stewart training site, April 28 through May 2.
As the unit prepares to support cadet training at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, artillerymen from 1-76 FA, also known as the Patriot Battalion, are ensuring their new personnel are fully capable to handle any mission.
“During the USMA mission we’ll be training cadets on basic artillery missions,” said 1st Lt. Joel Payne, the second platoon leader for Battery B.
The cadets can expect to carry rounds, look through the sites, and compute data for the guns, the Bakersfield, California, native added. “We’ll break it down for every position.”
The Vanguard Brigade has experienced many personnel changes since their return from their last combat tour in Afghanistan. The ability to cross train ensures the mission is complete even if personnel are reduced or changed.
Sgt. 1st Class Adrian McGill, the new battalion master gunner, said the unit is in the process of placing personnel in the positions where they need to be. The gun line positions are filled based on the soldier’s performance during testing and qualification.
“Once we complete this step as an artillery battalion we’ll be meeting the division [and] brigade standard for being ready to fire,” said McGill, a Daytona Beach, Florida, native. “[It’s] one of the battalion’s priorities to always have combat readiness, and this is the first step.”
“While we are out here practicing for certification we are also practicing for other positions as well,” said Pvt. Lance Anderson, an assistant gunner with second platoon. “It helps me become very proficient in my job; I get to practice a lot.”
Anderson, a Tacoma, Washington, native, has certified three times on the howitzer in the past eight months and has been able to train as a gunner.
Another position of high importance is the howitzer section chief, who verifies all actions are in accordance with procedures. He confirms every round, charge, gun positioning and site data provided by the fire direction center is accurate.
“It’s a prestigious position in my eyes,” said Sgt. Thomas Kent, who was the gunner for the first time and aspires to be a section chief. “You have to work real hard and push real hard to get [it]; it’s not just something that’s handed to you.”
“He is responsible for all actions on his gun,” said Sgt. Walter Banks, from Memphis, Tennessee, a howitzer section chief and the top gun of the battalion. The top gun title is a yearly competition that singles out the best gun section in the battalion.
From a written test, gunner’s site testing, and dry fire drills, the Patriot soldiers proved their abilities to work in different positions and were ready to fire training rounds.
The artillerymen setup the site, established communication, and started to train, while the dark clouds kept their promise.
However, the heavy rain and lightning didn’t stop the battery. All the sections scheduled for the week certified and are ready for their mission at West Point.
| Date Taken: | 05.02.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 05.05.2014 14:29 |
| Story ID: | 128770 |
| Location: | FORT STEWART, GEORGIA, US |
| Hometown: | BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Hometown: | DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA, US |
| Hometown: | MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, US |
| Hometown: | TACOMA, WASHINGTON, US |
| Web Views: | 134 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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