Photo By Staff Sgt. Annette Andrews | Sgt. Matthew Valverde, a native of Barstow, Calif., stands on top of an air dropped...... read more read more
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FORT BRAGG, N.C. – Airborne artillerymen, paratroopers, from 18th Fires Brigade (Airborne), exited a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft a few seconds behind their howitzers and into the dusk on Sicily Drop Zone as part of the Joint Forcible Entry Exercise here April 28.
Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 321st Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, and 3rd Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment, lit up the night sky with their M777A2 Howitzer and High Mobility Artillery Rocket System which played a significant part in securing the airfield.
"This was our first heavy drop, live-fire exercise, since the battalion redeployed from Afghanistan," said Lt. Col. James A. Wanovich, commander of 1st Bn., 321st AFAR. "It was the perfect opportunity to get a platoon ready for the Global Response Force; provide fire support to 2nd Brigade [Combat Team], not only drop the M777A2 Howitzer, but provide responsive long range fire to the BCT commander."
Fire support from 1st battalion came in one size, unlike the older M198 Howitzer, the M777A2 is lighter, more maneuverable, and a combat multiplier, according to Wanovich.
The paratroopers hit the ground running for the JFEX. It was their rapid response that allowed these artillerymen to reach their gun in nine minutes. Twenty-five minutes later, the Howitzer was in position and ready to fire the first round of 155 mm artillery ammunition into the night to accurately hit the target.
Sgt. Matthew Valverde, Battery A, 1st Bn., 321st AFAR, and a native of Barstow, Calif., was the first Soldier on the Howitzer. He strung a few chem lights together and swung them in a circular motion overhead as a beacon to guide his fellow paratroopers to the gun. Valverde said he was proud of the Soldiers who participated on the mission and was glad for the training.
"You can't fake that kind of training," Valverde said. "You have to do it to get the full effect. There is nothing that can beat a real life experience."
Pfc. Gerald Martin, Battery A, 1st Bn., 321st AFAR, was the third trooper to reach the gun and pulled security while the rest of the paratroopers made their way to the gun.
"We had to think a lot about safety," Martin said. "We had jumpers coming down while we were pulling security."
The M777A2 Howitzer landed in a depression about 400 meters from its anticipated landing point, making it necessary for the Soldiers to watch where they were landing and locate the gun from the air in the dark. Due to the high-level of training there were no injuries. Once they were all on the ground, however, the paratroopers had the ominous task of moving the weapons system.
"It was pretty rough getting it off the platform," Martin said. "We had to get it down a hill and then relocate the ammo and everything else on the platform."
The troopers from Battery A, 1st Bn., 321st AFAR, unpacked and positioned the M777A2 Howitzer. With the ammo on hand, paratroopers were able to reposition the gun onto level ground and almost immediately rock the night with lethal aim.
"Our participation in this exercise is largely to instill confidence in the Brigade Combat Teams that their supporting artillery is ready to go when they have to go, and they will see firsthand our accuracy," said Command Sgt. Maj. Brian D. Harrison, command sergeant major of 1st Bn., 321st AFAR.
"As far as this exercise is concerned, Alpha Battery's firing element is ready to go when the 911 call comes," Harrison said.
This JFEX demonstrated capabilities unique to the XVIII Airborne Corps, which trains to maintain the ability to provide the nation with strategic reach to conduct Full Spectrum Operations anywhere in the world by parachute and otherwise.
Not all combat weapons can wear a parachute. One piece of artillery that cannot be dropped is the wheeled HIMARS with its rockets and fire power that sends bright streaks of light through the night. Off loading the rocket system can happen anywhere from one to four hours after the howitzers shoot. The airstrip has to be secured for aircraft to land.
"Once the airfield is secured we bring in our HIMARS on a C-17," said Command Sgt. Maj. Yvan Delgado, command sergeant major of 3rd Bn., 27th FAR. "We can't heavy drop the HIMARS – without going into all the technicalities it just wouldn't be safe."
Third Battalion Soldiers quickly took up their position with the HIMARS, in this case in the tree line, and let loose the fire power that's unique to the high mobility artillery rocket system. Delgado noted the battle moves swiftly in a real-world mission, and sometimes the exercise has simulated landings.
| Date Taken: | 04.28.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 05.12.2010 16:08 |
| Story ID: | 49551 |
| Location: | FORT BRAGG, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 532 |
| Downloads: | 272 |
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