Photo By Staff Sgt. Immanuel Johnson | Sgt. Michael Daly, an artillery training instructor with the Artillery Training...... read more read more
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FORT BRAGG, N.C. - Three Marine batteries with 10th Marine Regiment, and the Army’s Charlie Battery, 1st Battalion, 319th Field Artillery Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, competed in Rolling Thunder’s Top Gun, a competition that evaluates artillery units on the training readiness and standards necessary for combat operations, aboard Fort Bragg, North Carolina, March 11, 2015.
“Today’s mission is to see who the best of them all is,” said Sgt. Michael Daly, an artillery training instructor with the artillery training school, 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, and a native of North Augusta, South Carolina. “The evaluation process begins as soon as the gun pulls into position and [doesn’t end] until it’s ready to shoot.”
The purpose of Rolling Thunder is to exercise, assess, and improve the regiment’s ability to shoot, move and communicate in a field environment, while demonstrating to the supporting commanders the capabilities and effects the regiment provides to the division and Marine Air-Ground Task Force operations.
“The best of the best go head to head with the Marines,” said Army Staff Sgt. Troy McWilliams, a platoon sergeant with Charlie Battery, 1st Battalion, 319th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team. “This is preparing the soldiers to become accustomed to working with Marines; it builds that cohesion amongst the branches.”
Participants in the Top Gun event are graded on how they conduct the fire missions assigned while referencing safety guidelines and the overall effectiveness of the fire mission.
“It’s my first time evaluating the Top Gun competition while the army is shooting, I have never seen them shoot,” said Daly.
The purpose of having a joint exercise is to find existing flaws in joint procedures regarding fire missions.
“Seeing the Marine and army standards gives you an appreciation for the work that goes into a competition such as Top Gun," said McWilliams.
The winner of the Top Gun competition is to be determined and announce April 9, 2015.
| Date Taken: | 03.11.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 03.30.2015 07:42 |
| Story ID: | 158522 |
| Location: | FORT BRAGG, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 66 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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