Photo By Cpl. Carl King | U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Aaron Grove, a field artillery Marine with Bravo Battery, 3rd...... read more read more
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No one really knows where life is going to take them and that’s what makes life so exciting. Lance Cpl. Aaron Grove, a field artillery Marine with Bravo Battery, 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, probably never imagined that one day he’d be on Combined Arms Training Complex Fuji, Japan, shooting M777A2 lightweight 155 mm howitzers with Marines he considers family.
Grove joined the Marine Corps out of RSS Twin Cities in 2016 straight out of high school. After graduating from Marine Corps recruit training in San Diego, Grove headed to Fort Sill, Oklahoma for training in the field artillery field.
“I had family in every branch,” said Grove, a native of Wanamingo, Minnesota. “The Marine Corps stuck out more though, because they were more physically and mentally demanding and had more of a camaraderie.”
Since coming to the fleet, Grove has made a huge impact on his unit. Grove is one of the few lance corporals with the job of an artillery gunner in his squad as it is usually a position held by noncommissioned officers.
According to his leadership, Grove gave off a good first impression once arriving to his unit and through his knowledge and skill set, was selected to attend the school for gunner training. While at the course, he became first in his class during the initial testing, which allowed him to stay and complete the course.
“His professionalism, initiative, drive, and knowledge base sealed our decision to send him to the gunner certification course,” said Staff Sgt. Ruben Lopez, a platoon sergeant with the battery. “He hungry for [being one of the best].”
An artillery gunner is responsible for positioning the cannon in the right direction so the firing is accurate and timely.
Grove is currently deployed to the Okinawa, Japan, under the Unit Deployment Program with the Marines of 1st Battalion, 10th Marine Regiment originally based in Camp Lejeune, N.C. The Marines are dispatched to Camp Fuji, Japan for ARTP 18-1.
According to Grove, this is his first time participating in the Artillery Relocation Training Program is live-fire, but he’s up for the challenge.
ARTP is a Japan-funded, routine training exercise that allows Marines with 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, based out of Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, to conduct live-fire training in Japan.
“I’m excited to be shooting on Mount Fuji in the cold, because in Lejeune it’s usually raining or hot and muggy,” said Grove. “I’ve been given more responsibility on the gun line, and it’s nice to test those skills in a new training environment.”
Grove isn’t the only Marine excited to be participating in the exercise, his leaders and peers alike are excited and even happier to be working alongside such a motivated Marine.
“It’s a big relief for me and our section chief knowing he’s here for the ARTP shoot, since he’s the best gunner in the battery,” said Cpl. Foxx Schneider, an assistant chief with the battery, from Columbus, Ohio.
| Date Taken: | 04.24.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 04.25.2018 03:56 |
| Story ID: | 274242 |
| Location: | CAMP FUJI, SHIZUOKA, JP |
| Hometown: | WANAMINGO, MN, US |
| Web Views: | 619 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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