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Staff Sgt. Tanya Polk
4th IBCT, 3rd Inf. Div.
FORT STEWART, Ga.— It’s been a couple of years since Soldiers with the 1st Battalion, 76th Field Artillery Regiment fired their main weapons system. In 2010 and 2011, they supported the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division’s mission to enable the Iraqi Security Forces and the Government of Iraq during Operation New Dawn—and that mission certainly didn’t require the use of the M119 Howitzer.
The artillerymen have since returned to Fort Stewart, Ga., and April 16-20, they returned to the gun line. During this live-fire training exercise, however, they’ve gone digital.
Traditionally, ‘Patriot’ Soldiers coordinate firing missions via radio transmission. Through voice commands, artillerymen on the gun line converse with the Fire Direction Center prior to engaging their target.
“Now, we’re able to make more accurate commands by using the Gun Display Unit Replacement,” said Capt. Christopher Williams, commander of Battery A, 1st Bn., 76th FA Regt.
Williams explained that when calling for fire, there’s no room for error. The GDU-R not only assists with shot accuracy, but allows for significantly less intervention than when using voice commands.
“You don’t have to worry about broken voice translation or having to repeat messages,” he said. “It’s definitely faster and more efficient.”
Sergeant First Class Jaime Natividad, platoon sergeant with Battery A, said that the GDU-R is beneficial in that it helps not just his field artillery Soldiers, but the Troops they support.
“Our main mission is to support maneuver units,” Natividad said. “We need to be ready and emplaced to fire as quickly a possible to support those units. Obviously, the more quickly we can get emplaced to fire, the better.”
During the indirect fire training, timing and precision is critical. Each section crew had six minutes to prepare the 4,000 pound Howitzer for fire.
“That includes set up, concealing the Howitzer, and setting up primary and secondary aiming references,” said Staff Sgt. Brandon Cooper, section chief with Battery A.
Cooper said the GDU-R works very well and is an asset to quick engagement.
Each section launched 18 rounds onto their simulated enemy target six kilometers away. For many Soldiers, time back on the gun-line was long awaited.
“I haven’t fired a Howitzer since 2008,” said Sgt. Abriam Warren, with Battery A. “I’m just glad to be out here doing my job”
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