‘Patriot’ leaders demonstrate proficiency in big three certification

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Mary Katzenberger | First Lt. Farlin F. Reynoso, a native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and a platoon leader with 1st Battalion, 76th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, signals that the barrel of a towed howitzer is aligned with a collimator — an instrument used to establish an optical reference from which the weapon’s deflection angles can be measured — Nov. 30, during big three certification training held on Fort Stewart, Ga.  

FORT STEWART, GEORGIA, UNITED STATES

12.02.2011

Story by Sgt. Mary Katzenberger 

4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs

FORT STEWART, Ga. – Senior leaders with Battery’s A and B of 1st Battalion, 76th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, conducted their annual big three certification, Nov. 28-30, at the 4th IBCT complex on Fort Stewart, Ga.

The field artillery qualification training, led by Sgt. 1st Class Donald Durgin, the battalion’s master gunner, certified platoon leaders, platoon sergeants and platoon gunnery sergeants on all tasks associated with accurate and safe aiming of the cannon tube of the towed howitzer.

The training included a written safety certification test, a timed set up and disassembly of the M2A2 aiming circle - a telescope-like device mounted to a tripod that provides precise azimuth and elevation measurements - assembly of a computerized device used to align the axis of the howitzer barrel, and certification on equipment that syncs the barrel of the howitzer to various types of aiming instruments.

Staff Sgt. Marvin L. Deese, a native of Palm Beach, Fla., and a platoon gunnery sergeant, said that accuracy is everything in field artillery.

“If I’m wrong then the gun line will be wrong, and we could end up losing lives,” Deese said. “But as long as I do my job and I make sure that everything is set up correctly, then we can make sure the gun line is set up correctly.”

The top three leaders of each platoon are certified because they are ultimately responsible for the safe operation of the howitzers, Durgan said.

“[The training] allows the key leaders to go back and teach their subordinates the tasks they need to know in order to protect the forces here [in] fourth brigade and also to send accurate fires down range,” Durgan said.

When the key leaders are certified, Durgin added, soldiers gain increased confidence in the knowledge of their leadership.

Durgan said the big three certification will eventually lead to platoon artillery table certifications and qualifications.

• Date Taken: 12.02.2011
• Date Posted: 12.07.2011 06:00
• Story ID: 80988
• Location: FORT STEWART, GEORGIA, US