CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE MAREZ, Iraq " Iraqi soldiers of 102nd Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Iraqi Army Division, conducted emplacement and displacement procedures training on the M198 155mm howitzer at Ghuzlani Eagle Training Site, Iraq, June 28.
Field artillerymen assigned to Battery B, 5th Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, advised and assisted Iraqi soldiers to effectively use the portable weapon system for future operations.
Working as a section, the Iraqi field artillery soldiers rehearsed the steps necessary to ready the weapon system to provide indirect fire support during battle.
“Field artillery is a major component in the Army,” said Staff Sgt. Walter Wells, a field artillery section chief from Battery B, 5th Bn., 82nd FA Regt.
Wells said the Iraqi trainees will now be capable of effectively engaging enemies with the long-range weapon system.
During the training, U.S. Soldiers provided Iraqi field artillerymen the opportunity to prepare the weapon system with minimum amount of U.S. coaching.
“Our goal is that they will be able to successfully fire rounds and do it on their own,” said Wells, a native of Bedford, Iowa. “These soldiers are the future of artillery. When they are done here, they will take their knowledge and pass it on.”
IA soldiers are preparing to apply all the fundamentals taught by U.S. forces during a live fire exercise scheduled for next month.
“Getting more experience on this equipment will improve their Army,” said Sgt. Leopoldo Bejarano, a field artilleryman from Odessa, Texas assigned to 5th Bn., 82nd FA Regt. “We are providing hands-on training to these soldiers. We are starting at the basic level and gradually advancing so they can learn and better themselves as field artillerymen.”
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