Photo By Sgt. Alejandro Smith-Antuna | CAMP GRAYLING, Mich. – Soldiers from the 2-150th Field Artillery Regiment ensures...... read more read more
CAMP GRAYLING, Mich. – Command teams from the 81st Troop Command and 219th Engineers Brigade visited soldiers from of the 2nd Battalion 150th Field Artillery Regiment during their annual training June 7, at the Michigan National Guard training site approximately 145 miles north of Lansing.
During the visit, leaders checked on the welfare of the Guardsmen, see that they had all the necessary supplies, and observed some of the training with the M777 lightweight towed howitzers and M1908 Paladins self-propelled howitzers.
“This is a good time for us to check how our soldiers are doing,” Command Sgt. Maj. Brad Seifers, the senior enlisted adviser of the 219th EB, said. “We can see the environment that they are working in and ensure they have all the necessary resources to train.”
The members of the two command teams toured several artillery ranges, speaking with members of the units to learn about the different responsibilities of their jobs.
Brig. Gen. Wayne L. Black, commander of the 81st Troop Command, said these visits to see soldiers in the midst of their training is not something leaders get to do often.
“Normally it is during major training exercises, like their annual training, that we are able to get down and see everyone,” Black said. “It is impressive, some of these [howitzer] crews have only been drilling together for a couple months but I saw that they were proficient not only in the crew-level aspects of their jobs but of what exactly was required of them.”
In several instances, Black and Command Sgt. Maj. Tyson Johnston, the senior enlisted adviser of the 81st Troop Command, coined several soldiers in recognition of going above and beyond in the line of duty.
Black presented his coin to Sgt. Edmonds Philip, a section chief from the 150th Field Artillery Regiment, after Philip’s crew demonstrated their prowess during a live-fire exercise.
“It’s a great honor,” Philip said. “It is good to know I’m doing a good job, but I really can’t do it without my crew. Us coming together to get the mission done is what it is all about. I couldn’t do it without them.”
The regiment is a general support reinforcing artillery unit. The unit’s primary mission is to provide counter fire, counter-battery fire, and suppression of enemy air defense.
“When soldiers are energized and enthusiastic about what they are doing, that makes it such a great day,” Black said. “We got to see some of the troops firing and operating their weapon systems. There was some good training going on, and they seemed to be enjoying it while doing what they have been trained to do.”
| Date Taken: | 06.07.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 06.11.2018 14:51 |
| Story ID: | 280503 |
| Location: | CAMP GRAYLING, MICHIGAN, US |
| Web Views: | 191 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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