Photo By Sgt. Lynnwood Thomas | Command Sgt. Maj. Berk Parsons, command sergeant major of the Field Artillery, shakes...... read more read more
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The Henry A. Knox Award is named after Maj. Gen. Henry A. Knox, the first chief of field artillery. The award recognizes active component air defense artillery and field artillery outstanding battery of the year for exceptional achievement, superior mission accomplishment and overall unit excellence. Nominations are evaluated on tactical proficiency, operational readiness rate, safety, and other key and distinguishing indicators.
The Soldiers of Charlie Battery, 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 101st Airborne Division Artillery Brigade, 101st Abn. Div., were awarded the Knox award June 27 for their actions in providing fires in support of Operation Inherent Resolve in northern Iraq, as well as conducting multiple intensive training cycles and community outreach events during FY 2017.
Command Sergeant Major Berk Parsons, field artillery senior enlisted adviser of the Army, presented the Knox award to Charlie Battery for best active component battery in the Army.
“Today is your day, you are the Knox award winners, Parsons said. “But you can’t sit on your laurels because the day they announce the winner every other formation out there is now training just as hard to be the next winner, it’s the difference between winning a championship and molding a dynasty.”
While deployed the unit earned a gold air assault streamer for achieving above a 90 percent Air Assault-qualification rate.
After returning from deployment, Charlie Battery initiated an intensive training cycle during which the Soldiers completed two air assault artillery raids, a battery infiltration operation, Table VI through XV qualifications, and a battery field training exercise. They also were the first battery to complete an intensive battery artillery readiness test and 96-hour emergency deployment readiness evaluation during which battery leaders focused on readiness.
“I think every single training event we did brought us to this point,” said Staff Sgt. Andrew Batchelor, Howitzer section chief, 1-320th FAR. “It wasn’t like we just got to the field and hung out, it was a constant go-go-go. It never stopped, we would occupy the guns and then there was a plethora of requirements we had to complete and then by the time we even got close to finishing, we were moving again. It was a constant cycle of hard work.”
The Soldiers of Charlie Battery have gained a reputation of habitually providing the effects that place the supported maneuver commander, whether deployed or in garrison, in a position of overmatched advantage.
“The difference in our success isn’t measured in points on a scoreboard, or monetary awards. Our success or failure means living or dying on the battlefield,” Parsons told the Soldiers of 1-320th FAR during the award presentation. “Train everyday like your next round is going to fire in combat. ‘We’ll get to it tomorrow,’ doesn’t work. Stay late, work hard, sweat and it’ll save you blood through sweat.”
In addition to the Knox award, the unit also received a meritorious unit commendation.
| Date Taken: | 07.05.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 07.12.2018 17:40 |
| Story ID: | 284035 |
| Location: | FORT CAMPBELL, KENTUCKY, US |
| Web Views: | 436 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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