Photo By Jason Ragucci | Staff Sgt. Ralph Dobrovolny, 1st Plt., platoon sergeant and 1st Lt. Christian Grams,...... read more read more
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KANDAHAR, Afghanistan--An indirect fire exercise was held at Forward Operating Base Frontenac in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, Jan.19.
Bravo Battery, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment successfully executed the training exercise when operating during the “black-out” phase on the FOB.
Lt. Col. Paul Weyrauch, commander of 2nd Bat., 3rd FA has mandated that there would be no white light protruding from housing facilities, or from personal flashlights from dusk until dawn, so not to attract enemy attention. Once in “black- out” phase, he authorized the use of personal lights that have a dim color than the typical bright white.
The purpose of the attack exercise was to reduce complacency and increase combat readiness. This was also an exercise to help improve base defense operations.
The “Gunners” were caught off guard when the Frontenac’s loud speaker yelled, “Exercise, exercise, indirect fire,” during the Gunners’ down time.
Immediately, Staff Sgt. Ralph Dobrovolny, 1st Platoon, platoon sergeant, B-Batt., reacted to the indirect fire exercise and ran to get his soldiers out telling them to take cover in the nearest bunker.
“When there is an indirect fire attack on the FOB, I run to the bunker to not get hurt,” said Pvt. Austin Ramsey, 1st Plt, B-Batt., 2nd BN, 3rd FA Rgt., “I then wait for further instructions from my leadership,”
Once Dobrovolny reached 100 percent accountability, he directed his soldiers to scan and search the area around the gun pit. Ramsey climbed up on top of the ammunition bunker that houses all the necessary fuses and high explosive rounds to be on the lookout for possible enemy.
Pfc. Frank Bagwell stood beside a “hesco” wall filled with rocks and dirt to scan and search for possible enemy that could breach their perimeter around their gun pit.
“Moving around to search and scan my area in pitch black was fine to me,” said Ramsey, “The moon gave off enough light to see where I needed to go safely.”
The loud speaker continued with “Exercise, exercise, indirect fire,” for nearly two hours as the Gunners stood ready and the night grew colder. Suddenly, the loud voice explained that there was an indirect hit near the chapel and living areas. The Gunners waited for a direction to fire back on the radio only to be satisfied that the mortar team on FOB Frontenac got the training fire mission.
“All clear” was finally called over the loud speaker and everyone on FOB Frontenac was able to conduct normal operations throughout the night.
“I was happy with my soldiers during the training exercise,” said Dobrovolny, “They all practiced safety during the night hours and continued to communicate with each other with the different sectors they were covering.”
The 2nd BN, 3rd FA Rgt., is part of 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas. The Gunners are trained on various towed howitzers such as the M119, M198, and the new M777. Before deploying in the Kandahar Province, the Gunners conducted massive training at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif. For 30 days, the Gunners successfully completed countless missions defending the Combined Team Ready First.
Throughout the month of December 2012, the Gunners traveled from Fort Bliss, Texas to Afghanistan. They learned key objectives and the status of the M777 Howitzer cannon from the outgoing unit, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
The Combined Team Ready First took authority of Kandahar Province, Jan. 7, positioning 2nd BN., 3rd FA Rgt.’s Batteries strategically around Kandahar to continue defending the unit and other partner units throughout the remainder of their deployment.
| Date Taken: | 01.19.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 01.22.2013 10:48 |
| Story ID: | 100842 |
| Location: | KANDAHAR PROVINCE, AF |
| Web Views: | 704 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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