Fire support specialist use new skills

FORT HOOD, TX, UNITED STATES

03.18.2015

Story by Sgt. Garett Hernandez 

41st Field Artillery Brigade

FORT HOOD, Texas – A line of four Humvees traveled along a dirt road of Sugarloaf multi-use range when there was a sudden burst of gun fire from the second vehicle.

The gunners of the third and fourth vehicles joined in, firing at targets that were popping up along the range, while an AH-64 Apache hovering above the moving convoy provided fire support with its 30mm cannon.

The Soldiers in the convoy were from the Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 41st Field Artillery Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division and are preparing for an upcoming rotation to the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California, in late spring.

For these Soldiers – primarily a team of fire support specialists – the exercise allowed them to train in way they don’t normally get a chance to do.

“I’ve never called for CCA (Close Combat Attack) before,” said Pfc. Justin Durham, a fire support specialist with HHB. “I’ve seen it on paper but I learned to call for it, I learned what the pilots expect from you, I learned what they give you.”

The primary duties of fire support specialists include observing enemy locations and calling for fire support from artillery units, however they can also work with aircraft. This exercise was the first time that these Soldiers from the 41st FA Brigade have worked with aircraft during live-fire training.

The training gave the junior Soldiers of his section confidence and experience that will be useful while they are at NTC, said Staff Sgt. Joshua Aull, fire support specialist.

“At first I was a little nervous talking to someone over the radio like a (Chief Warrant Officer 2) or (Chief Warrant Officer 5),” said Durham, a native of Blakely, Georgia, adding that when calling up to the aircraft, you give the pilots your location, the location of the enemy, and describe the enemy.

“And you’re just talking to them (and) you realize it’s easier once you get going,” he said. “It was really awesome watching the Apaches firing above me.”

• Date Taken: 03.18.2015
• Date Posted: 03.18.2015 15:49
• Story ID: 157402
• Location: FORT HOOD, TX, US
• Hometown: BLAKELY, GA, US