Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Betty Y. Boomer | British Soldiers train with U.S. Army Domestic All-Hazards Response Team (DART) during...... read more read more
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ORO GRANDE RANGE COMPLEX, N.M.– Field artillery Soldiers from the 1st Armored Division Artillery (DIVARTY) participated in a two-week long joint fires training exercise, Exercise Iron Strike here Dec. 1-12 to prepare for contingency operations.
Exercise Iron Strike is a joint-service, combined live-fire exercise hosted by the 1st Armored Division where artillery, rotary and ground support were used to accomplish the overall mission in synchronizing all fires capabilities. In addition to the artillery Soldiers, the exercise also included A-10 Warthogs from Moody Air Force Base, Ga.; Airmen from the 7th Air Support Operations Squadron (ASOS) British Soldiers and AH-64 Apache helicopters from the 1st Combat Aviation Brigade.
Domestic All-Hazards Response Teams (DART) went through lane training on a downed helicopter scenario to extract the pilot and destroy any enemy targets that stood in their way of the rescue mission.
“My battery provided the indirect fires for 1st Armored Division DIVARTY,” said Capt. Zach Baldwin, commander, Alpha Battery, 2nd Battalion, 29th FA, 4th BCT, 1st AD. “The training has been great. Anytime we can come out and fire our guns, it’s invaluable training for our Fire Direction Center to work with other branches.”
As the DART team made their way into the village, an improvised explosive device went off causing the team to dismount from their vehicles. They crouched on the ground looking for the enemy while calling in for indirect fire support. British Soldiers were also integrated in the DART team to get their training in as well.
“For this mission it’s my job to verify that everything is safe and that the rounds hit their targets, I’m the gunner,” said Spc. Anthony Euny, Alpha Battery, 2nd Battalion, 29th FA, 4th BCT, 1st AD.
Indirect support came from M109A6 Paladin artillery systems and AH-64 Apache helicopters that allowed the DART teams to close in on the downed helicopter and destroy enemy targets that posed a threat. At the sound of M107 155mm High Explosive Projectile rounds impacting their targets, the fire support officer and his team’s mission was complete.
“Soldiers never cease to amaze me, no matter what the struggle, they understand the reason for training and I’m proud of them,” said Maj. Michael Coombes, Operations Officer, 2nd Battalion, 29th FA, 4th BCT, 1st AD.
As Soldiers wrapped up their training, they look forward to the next major training event, Exercise Iron Focus, scheduled to take place in March 2015, to continue with realistic training and help the 1st Armored Division to remain mission ready.
“Allowing the Soldiers to do the job they signed up for gives them a re-energized feeling as to why they joined the army,” said 1st Lt. Patrick Lee, a battalion fire direction officer. “They should be proud of what we collectively accomplished out here.”
| Date Taken: | 12.11.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 12.16.2014 01:47 |
| Story ID: | 150390 |
| Location: | ORO GRANDE RANGE COMPLEX, NM, US |
| Web Views: | 158 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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