Unsung heroes

Photo By Sgt. Stephanie Woodson | Panther Soldiers assigned to 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division prepare the M1a2 Abrams, so they can successfully complete Table XII live-fire qualification Sept. 24, 2014, at Fort Benning, Ga.  

FORT BENNING, GA, UNITED STATES

09.24.2014

Story by Sgt. Stephanie Woodson 

3rd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division

FORT BENNING, Ga. - Fire, move, communicate, and support. Panther soldiers assigned to 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division successfully completed their Table XII live-fire qualification, Sept. 24, 2014, at Fort Benning, Ga.

Table XII is an advanced platoon qualification that consists of tank maneuver and fire supported by logistical sections along with medic, scout and mortar platoons. Table XII requires the armor platoon leader to integrate indirect fire, conduct passage of lines and actively communicate with higher headquarters.

It also requires the armor platoon leader to direct his Soldiers to engage moving, and stationary ground targets with the entirety of the tank’s mounted weapon systems both offensively and defensively during day and night operations.

“The mortar platoon is firing in support of tank platoons qualifying on its stabilized platforms, the M1A2 Abrams, so they can successfully complete Table XII. Typically we are the essential part of every mission because we provide indirect fire support,” said 1st Lt. Matthew Moschgat, the mortar platoon leader for the Panther Battalion.

Moschgat said, "The primary role of mortars is to provide an immediate response with indirect fire that supports the maneuver of the company or battalion and reinforces direct fire during combat."

“Leaders in an armor platoon have to be able to call for fire and adjust fire. A call comes over the radio for adjusting fire missions, and we shoot one round. The mortar platoon in a combat arms battalion has the most casualty producing weapons in the battalion," he added.

Moschgat said, “The Panther Battalion has three specialty platoons: medical, scout, and mortar. Mortars provide the only indirect fire support a battalion does not have to receive special permission for.”

“All the preparation and training is dry fire, so this is the first-time mortar platoon Soldiers have fired live rounds. They also have never seen what shooting live rounds looks like, so we can get real time feedback for the first time from Soldiers who have never had the experience before," explained Moschgat.

“Having the chance to do what I am trained for is exciting. I just came to the battalion, and this is my first field exercise," said PVT Ricardo Barajas, a Panther mortar man. "Being in the field was pretty fun, and I got to bond with my fellow soldiers. I was not sure what to expect; I was nervous at first, but after the training I received I am a lot more confident."

• Date Taken: 09.24.2014
• Date Posted: 10.14.2014 22:38
• Story ID: 145073
• Location: FORT BENNING, GA, US