Photo By Staff Sgt. Matthew Foster | U.S. Soldiers assigned to 2nd Platoon, Bull Battery, 1st Battalion, 7th Field...... read more read more
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TORUŃ, Poland – U.S. Soldiers assigned to 2nd Platoon, Bull Battery, 1st Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment (1-7 FA), 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, conducted live fire training certification exercises, to be fully combat capable and ready to fight to defend allied nations’ sovereignty, Jan. 16-20, 2023.
The 1-7 FA has recently deployed to Poland to bolster the current U.S. fighting forces positioned throughout Europe.
“Here today we're finishing up our platoon certification as an artillery battery,” said U.S. Army Capt. Paige Olson, an artillery field officer and commander of the 1-7 FA. “This is critical because it enables us to adapt as platoons; we can operate independently on our own, especially here in Poland in the smaller more condensed forest areas.”
The ability to operate independently strengthens the warfighting capabilities of the individual combat units.
“We can split up our platoons, one for survivability and two, to be able to conduct mass fires if need be during training exercises or live combat situations,” said Olson.
Live fire training exercises enable Soldiers to operate as cohesive units ready to engage opposition forces at a moment's notice.
“It’s important because it gives us an opportunity to come out here and test our systems in an austere environment,” said U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Philip M. Taylor, a cannon crewmember and platoon sergeant for 2nd platoon, 1-7 FA. “At this platoon level, we need to be able to operate together and be able to fight as a team.”
Training opportunities like this allow U.S. Soldiers to utilize their critical problem-solving skills to quickly react, adapt and overcome obstacles.
“Being ready to fight allows us to show that we can act and fight proficiently with accurate fire on each weapon system for each section,” said U.S. Army Capt. Robert Koryus, an artillery officer and 1-7 FA battalion fire direction officer. “We are going beyond that in order to prepare our platoons to support all of our NATO partners with Soldiers that are sufficient and autonomous in operations.”
Individual nations' military forces work together to create stability in the European theater through interoperability and cooperation between NATO allies and partners.
“Working hand in hand with our NATO Allies and partners and being able to make connections, whether it was Estonia, the Baltics, Germany, Italy, France or the UK,” said Koryus. “We are here to work with our allies and show that we can provide accurate and timely fires on a joint level.”
Recent events within the European theater have had a significant impact and effect among the allied nations communities and populations which reinforces the importance of the U.S. and NATO partners ability to defend and deter aggression.
“I’ve been working closely with people within the community, and the people are happy that we are here,” said Olson. “One of the civilian employees' daughter was inconsolable after what had happened. She was afraid that would happen here in Poland but was comforted and able to peacefully sleep when she was told that the Americans are still here.”
Olson concluded with the importance of the U.S. presence in Poland and how it impacts training.
“These exercises show the people that we are here,” said Olson. “We are prepared to fight and we will defend the people of Poland and our allies.”
| Date Taken: | 01.17.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 01.23.2023 17:54 |
| Story ID: | 437060 |
| Location: | TORUN, PL |
| Web Views: | 781 |
| Downloads: | 4 |
This work, 1 ID Bull Battery Blasts into the European Theater Ready to Fight, by SSG Matthew Foster, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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