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    Battery B brings Family Day to the field

    CAMP PENDLETON, CA, UNITED STATES

    03.13.2015

    Story by Pfc. Alvin Pujols 

    1st Marine Division

    CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Usually the list of essential items for a unit’s Family Day consists of just hamburgers and hot dogs, but for the Battery B, 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Family Day they added flak jackets and helmets for the list. On March 13, 2015, the families of Marines with Battery B observed their Marines conducting a live-fire training exercise aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif.

    Marines with Battery B displayed their expertise with the M777 howitzer to onlooking families 200 meters away. Lance Cpl. Travis D. Capps, a field artillery cannoneer with the battery, was one of the Marines who had family in attendance.

    “I was very proud to watch my son work,” said Neal Capps, who came cross-country from Camden, Tenn., to see his son.
    After the families fastened their protective equipment, they were loaded into a Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement and staged in an observation area to watch their Marines conduct the training evolution.

    The command went on to assure the families that safety would always take priority, said 2nd Lt. Michael H. Ding, a field artillery officer with the battery, and the Marines displayed that with their performance.

    “Safety is our biggest concern,” said Capt. Jarod N. Overton, the commanding officer of the battery. “We wanted to show the families that we care about their Marines’ safety as much as we care about combat readiness.”

    The families were given the opportunity to watch the evolution of artillery emplacement from start to finish. This included the tactical movement of elements ranging from the advanced party and logistics to the howitzers themselves. When the dust cleared, Marines promptly ran to set up the tents, the howitzers and the ammunition.

    The final time for emplacement was 19 minutes from beginning to end, said Overton. It was fast, but there is always room for improvement. These are skills that the battery’s Marines are always fine-tuning.

    “Today was an opportunity for the families to come out and see their Marines in action and also a chance for the Marines to sharpen their skills with the howitzer,” said Overton.

    The families witnessed four rounds fired simultaneously from each of the four howitzers. The only warning they were given was the command “Stand by” broadcast over the radios. Tension gathered in the silence until it was interrupted by the thunderous sound of a 155mm artillery round being fired out of the barrel at speeds of one-half mile per second. Each round seemed to startle the spectators. This choreography takes a significant amount of time and practice for units to perform well.

    “It was a sight to behold,” said Neal Capps. “I was amazed at how well-organized the Marines were.”

    After the exercise, the command held a picnic with food, games and prizes to show their appreciation to the Marines and families. It also allowed valuable bonding time for members of the command.

    It was a great opportunity to not only train, but a chance to include the families, said Overton.

    Battery B, along with the remainder of the regiment, will be taking part in Exercise Desert Scimitar in April, a large-scale, division-level exercise involving air, ground and logistics elements of I Marine Expeditionary Force. This training opportunity presents another chance for the Marines to sharpen their skills.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 03.13.2015
    Date Posted: 03.20.2015 15:31
    Story ID: 157688
    Location: CAMP PENDLETON, CA, US
    Hometown: CAMDEN, TN, US

    Web Views: 46
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN