Photo By Sgt. Cecil Elliott II | U.S. Army soldiers with 4th Battalion, 133rd Field Artillery Regiment, Texas Army...... read more read more
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TAPA, Estonia – A thick blanket of fog clung to the fields just outside Tapa, Estonia. Soldiers from Task Force Voit, part of the 4th Battalion, 133rd Field Artillery Regiment, Texas Army National Guard, didn't even bat an eye at the conditions. Their High Mobility Artillery Rocket System stood ready unmoving in the weather. This group of soldiers, supporting the 1st Cavalry Division in a joint NATO live fire exercise, was used to overcoming challenges, regardless of the weather.
"The early morning was thick with fog," said British Army Lt. Rob Coombs, an observer with the 132nd Battery, Royal Artillery, Royal Dragoon Guards Battlegroup.
The small contingent of military observers from the host nation and the United Kingdom watched with interest as the Task Force Voit soldiers continued their ammunition staging activities and pre-operations system checks on the HIMARS systems that have been the subject of international interest since the presence of U.S. rotational forces in the Baltic states increased over the last several years.
The precision of the crews going to work preparing their HIMARS for action was the culmination of many months of training ingraining discipline and the speed needed to operate such a powerful system in any environment. The fog, though dense, was merely a variable in the mission.
“Working with the HIMARS system is a lot of fun," said U.S. Army Spc. Nicolas Johnson, a High Mobility Rocket System crewmember with Task Force Voit. "You get to fire big rockets out of it."
The excitement for the process infected those in Johnson’s team as well, even as the soldiers remained focused on the task at hand.
When the first rocket launched, its thunder ripped through still, thick, air, sending vibrations through a foggy landscape. The NATO observers watched with focused interest as it vanished into the clouds in a stream of light and smoke. A moment or two later, the launcher readjusted its position, angling to strike again after confirmation of a successful hit.
The ongoing training was more than just a simple livefire exercise—it was an opportunity to build knowledge among the troops, as well as provide a venue for NATO partners to witness the power and effectiveness of the system firsthand.
"We are certifying and qualifying two new fire control chiefs, and they will be able to show people the ways of the HIMARS," said Cpl. Lindsay Rivera, a fire direction control specialist with Task Force Voit. "We had a HIMARS Academy recently, where we taught Lithuanian, Estonian, and Latvian crews how to work in a fire direction center and how to operate a HIMARS."
Rivera worked as part of the Academy team that highlighted the broader scope of the exercise—strengthening alliances and passing on critical skills.
“All were impressed with the capability of the HIMARS platform and look forward to continued collaboration with NATO member states," Coombs added, underlining an increasing bond and knowledge sharing between NATO forces.
At the end of it all, the evergreen forested Estonian landscape finally came into view, quiet and still. It seemed as though the action of the day had never transpired as the haze finally fully cleared. The mission was done. The soldiers stood down for now, their work complete, as the countryside settled back into tranquility, but the power of the HIMARS lingered in the air and in the minds of those present.
| Date Taken: | 09.19.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 09.27.2024 07:19 |
| Story ID: | 481879 |
| Location: | TAPA, EE |
| Hometown: | SAN MARCOS, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 111 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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