Firing Away: Mortar Men Prepare For BSRF Deployment

Photo By Lance Cpl. Tyler Andersen | U.S. Marines with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, finish closing up the live-fire range aboard Camp Lejeune, North Carolina September 29, 2016. With the help of forward observers and coordination tools, the motivated mortar men locked on targets and accurately fired rounds down range. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Tyler A. Andersen)  

CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, UNITED STATES

10.06.2016

Story by Lance Cpl. Tyler Andersen 

U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Europe and Africa     

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA -- Marines with Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, conducted a 81mm mortar live-fire range, September 29, 2016.
The purpose of the fire support coordination exercise was to enhance weapon system familiarization and build unit cohesion in preparation of Black Sea Rotational Force. The supporting indirect-fire element will play an important role during coalition exercises with North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies around Eastern Europe.
Whether seasoned Marines are honing their skills or new joins are learning how to operate within their unit, its imperative Marines maintain mission readiness. Sergeant Joel D. Skinner, a squad leader for the 81mm mortar men assigned to 1/2, knows just how important it is.
“The biggest challenge with any work up is adding a lot of new guys to our unit and instilling all the knowledge that we have in to them,” Skinner shared. “One day, they’ll be taking over our roles and filling key positions like mine, and we need to make sure they are just as good; if not better.”
With the help of forward observers and coordination tools, the motivated mortar men locked on targets and opened fire. Each shot touched closer and closer to the intended target as they readjusted their line of sight after each assault.
After a few short hours of mortars falling from the sky, rain began to fall with them. It seemed the harder they trained, the harder the rain fell. Skinner enthusiastically stated with a slight smile on his face, “We’re used to this (Rainy) weather so it doesn’t faze us at all. Where ever you put us at; night, day, rain, snow, we’ll get the job done.”
As the day came to an end for the medium artillery Marines, Master Sgt. Jason Neale, the Weapon Company operations chief, said the training event went very well. Even with so many working parts coming together, the range ran smoothly and efficiently.
“This is one of the first opportunities we’ve had to bring all the working parts of the fire support coordination team together before the upcoming deployment,” said Neale. “We’ve worked flawlessly on our individual skills, and this was a great culmination piece to bring it all together.”
Before concluding the range, Neale looks forward to their deployment and encouraged his Marines to keep up the great work. “Marine Corps infantry; this is what we do; Locate, close with, and destroy the enemy.”

• Date Taken: 10.06.2016
• Date Posted: 10.12.2016 05:45
• Story ID: 211454
• Location: CAMP LEJEUNE, NC, US