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He recalls his recent participation in Baltic Operations 25 (BALTOPS 25), a multinational training exercise designed to enhance operational readiness and improve coordination with partner forces.
As a FDC specialist, Young’s primary role was to provide multiple High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems with safe, accurate and predictive firing data to ensure fire mission success. In addition to his primary duties, Young was assigned as an assistant operations chief (A Ops), managing internal operations and communication with leadership.
“On top of doing my job, I ensure that the Marines under my care are doing theirs, while also updating the operations chief about what's going on when he's not around,” said Young. “Without us, we really couldn't shoot safely, effectively or accurately.”
The training also focused on building core warfighting skills in challenging environments and preparing units to operate effectively in a range of combat scenarios.
Fox Battery’s training at BALTOPS 25 emphasized working in chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear environments.
Young emphasizes the importance of being able to work in chemically compromised environments, which adds complexity to already demanding field conditions.
“While it was difficult getting back to normal operations after going through all the training, preparing yourself and readying yourself to work in a CBRN environment, under the most strenuous conditions, in a manner serving of the most optimal standards is important,” said Young.
Not only does this training ensure their ability to operate in austere environments, it gives the Marines validity and trust in their standard operating procedures and equipment.
“I feel confident that me, my team, and Fox as a whole can operate the same, CBRN or not,” Young said. “This training is a cut above the rest. It's important to me that everybody within our unit now gets to work with all of our partners in NATO.”
As a reservist, Young emphasized that his unit maintains a high standard of performance.
“It may seem like the Reserve is trained at a suboptimal standard, but having worked with active duty multiple times, it’s the same through and through,” Young said. “Before or after training, I’ve always felt confident that 2/14 Fox can get everything done when called to action.”
Fox Battery’s participation in BALTOPS 25 is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen and ensure readiness within the Marine Corps Reserves and show the efficient and seamless ability of HIMARS during joint and combined operational environments.
| Date Taken: | 06.10.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 07.18.2025 09:40 |
| Story ID: | 501111 |
| Location: | KLAIPėDA, LT |
| Web Views: | 17 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Fox Battery Marines Sharpen HIMARS Readiness at BALTOPS 25, by LCpl Van Hoang, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
