Ukrainian Soldiers mount the mortar

Photo By Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Tarr | Ukrainian Soldier's mount a simulated mortar during training, August 3, 2016 at the International Peacekeeping and Security Center as part of the Joint Multination Training Group-Ukraine. U.S. Army Soldiers are instructing Ukrainian Soldiers on how to properly mount mortars to help build the capability and security of Ukraine's Ground Forces. The JMTG-U effort will help Ukraine build a sustainable training capacity to protect its territorial sovereignty. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Tarr)  

YAVORIV, UKRAINE

08.04.2016

Story by Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Tarr 

U.S. Army Europe and Africa     

YAVORIV, Ukraine— A common mantra for the Army has always been to ‘train as we fight’ and that’s exactly what Soldiers of 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division did August 3, 2016 while instructing a battalion of Ukrainian Soldiers on the basics of the 120mm mortar system at the International Peacekeeping and Security Center as part of the Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine.

One of the objectives of the JMTG-U’s mission is aimed at developing defensive skills and improving Ukraine’s capacity for self-defense. They accomplish this during a nine-week training rotation that starts with individual skills, like the basics of mortar training, and builds up to collective skills training such as platoon live-fire and ultimately a battalion field training exercise.

Sgt. Stephen Lawler, a platoon sergeant assigned to 6-8 Cavalry, began the training with a demonstration on how to properly mount the mortar system. After showing the Ukrainian Soldiers how to set the system up, they were able to conduct hands-on training.

A mixture of Polish instructors and Army Soldiers taught the course and ensured a substantial portion of the training focused on Ukrainian Soldier’s being adequately trained on each component of the weapon.

“Today we set up three mortar systems so the whole battery can get training down to the lowest level,” said Lawler. “We set up the training so everyone can have hands on with each part of the weapon.”

The instructors highlighted the importance of every member of the team knowing the job of every other member of the team, a concept that that Ukrainian leaders agreed with.

“For instance, if the gunner is injured, any member of the team should be able to fire the mortar,” said Vasyl Karpyuk, squad commander of mortar battery assigned to 1st Battalion, 93rd Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Army. “ “The battle cannot be stopped just because the gunner is injured,”

The soldiers of the 1-93 Mech. are in the second week of their nine-week rotation. The mortarmen have previously been trained on the system and have knowledge on the weapon so this was an opportunity to learn a different way and share their knowledge in return.

“America’s practices are not different from Ukrainians, just the way the mortar is built,” said Karpyuk. “The American’s showed us their technique on how to shoot the mortar and then we showed them how we shoot it.”

Ensuring the Ukrainian Soldiers were competent on the equipment, Lawler set up a friendly competition between the Ukrainian Soldiers to see who could successfully mount the mortar in the least amount of time.

“We’re trying to show them a different approach to mortar training,” said Lawler. “It’s not about a job title, it’s about being able to survive in a combat situation.”

At the end of the day, the intent is about building a sustainable, enduring training capacity and capability within the Ukrainian Armed Forces. This training will help Ukraine develop training standards and ultimately develop better-trained units.

• Date Taken: 08.04.2016
• Date Posted: 08.04.2016 09:17
• Story ID: 206032
• Location: YAVORIV, UA