FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- Chances are pretty good you've seen a war movie or two.
Ever notice a Soldier calling for bombs to be dropped on enemy personnel near their position during a climactic battle scene?
The Soldier on the radio most likely is a fires support specialist who's relaying pinpoint enemy locations to aircraft pilots miles away.
But how is it they can remain so calm and accurate when the world around them seems to have turned upside down?
The key is rigorous, specialized training.
Soldiers who hold the military occupational specialty of fire support specialist (13F) are the only personnel in the U.S. Army qualified to conduct combined service close-air support missions similar to what one might see in a war movie.
To achieve this level of technical proficiency, Fort Drum's artillerymen must graduate the 10-day Joint Fires Observers Course that is designed to train, evaluate and qualify them to conduct artillery support operations. They must pass six simulated fire missions and a written knowledge exam to earn their certification.
Nineteen-year-old Pvt. Jack Yakis, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 2nd Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (LI), did just that -- with flying colors.
Not only did he succeed in becoming certified in training typically reserved for artillerymen with two or more years of experience, he graduated at top of his class -- something his instructors have not seen accomplished in a long time.
"The lead instructors who have been teaching the JFOC for multiple years (indicated) that he was the youngest and lowest-ranking Soldier to achieve distinguished honor graduate in their memory," explained Sgt. 1st Class Michael Hughson, 13F and master gunner with 10th Mountain Division Artillery. "He is certainly the lowest-ranking distinguished honor graduate from Fort Drum."
Yakis' journey was not easy. In fact, he failed the Pre-Joint Fires Observers Course on his first attempt.
"I really didn't study," he explained. "In high school I didn't study a lot, but I could always ace the tests, and I thought I could do the same thing here."
His assumptions proved to be a grave but not disqualifying mistake. The pre-course is a repeatable class that accrues no penalties towards one's eventual qualification course score.
"We do our best to ensure the PJFOC is a 'train first' course," Hughson said. "Instead of simply checking the block or pushing guys through, we want our Soldiers to learn from their mistakes. We accomplish this through maintaining the same high standards as the JFOC, while allowing as many attempts as necessary to pass the pre-course."
Even though a Soldier can take the pre-course a number of times, Yakis needed no additional opportunities to learn from his mistakes.
"When I returned to the course the following month, I would immediately study for an hour and a half each night," he said. "I passed the pre-course and applied the same philosophy to the qualification course."
He graduated the Joint Fires Observers Course, beating out 24 other Soldiers who ranged in rank from specialist to first lieutenant.
"Yakis is proof positive that the Pre-Joint Fires Observers Course works," Hughson said.
In the time since the PJFOC's inception, the graduation rate of 10th Mountain Division Soldiers has increased from less than 70 percent to more than 90 percent. However, Hughson noted it was Yakis' work ethic -- not the material presented -- that paid dividends.
"The largest part of Yakis' success came from his dedication to learning his craft and his attention to detail in a stressful environment," Hughson said. "The simulations are not easy; (they) are designed to be stressful. Yakis learned how to control that stress and methodically accomplish every task required."
For his outstanding achievement, Yakis was awarded the Army Commendation Medal on Dec. 3.
At the awards ceremony, Yakis' nervous excitement was evident.
"I was nervous, because all of the higher-ranking personnel that were around," Yakis said. "But, at the same time, I was really happy I could have that experience."
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