Batteries recertify on Paladin

By 2nd Lt. Jack O'Brian and 2nd Lt. Garly Larochelle, 2-5th FAAugust 8, 2011

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The Artillery Soldier’s ability to put steel on target does not come easy. Soldiers must train and hone their skills to be effective at their craft, and of course at the end of the training, there are systems in place to ensure the training was effective and understood.

Artillery Soldiers must complete a certification process every six months to remain eligible to fire live rounds to accomplish platoon, battery and battalion fire missions.

The certification is a three part-process which consist of a Paladin Table I-IV which is completed in garrison, Paladin Table V consists of dry fire missions and finally Paladin Table VI which is conducting a live fire mission. To complete certification, gun sections in A and C Batteries, 2nd Battalion, 5th Field Artillery, had to pass the artillery skill test, the gunner’s test and the gunner’s written test. The Fire Direction Center also completes a similar evaluation to become certified to fire live rounds. The FDC’s evaluation includes completing the Manual Safety Test where Soldiers are required to score 90 percent or more. During the evaluation, all crews are assessed on their ability to meet fire mission processing times, have no safety incidents and adhere to the battalion standards.

On June 20, C Battery began a week long section certification process which culminated in a live fire exercise. The unit trained on ammunition identification, disassemble and assemble the breech mechanism, conducting low and high angle fire missions, and conducting a direct fire mission.

The certifications began in the afternoon with preventive maintenance checks and services, weapons maintenance/function checks, and disassemble and assemble the breech mechanism. All four Paladin Sections passed this first part of the certification process with each chief pushing his section hard hoping to earn the distinct honor of “Top Gun.”

Table V certification consists of occupation and executing both digital and degraded dry fire missions. It is used to ensure gun crews are trained and able to successfully and accurately fire live rounds.

Upon completion of Table V certification, the Sections move on to Table VI qualification in which each section fires 18 rounds of High Explosive 155MM projectiles for both high and low angle missions. Table VI mimics Table V with the exception that the guns fire live rounds.

Upon receiving a call for fire from the observers over the radio, the FDC processed a fire mission using the Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System or AFATDS. After receiving the mission, the Paladin Section’s rapidly loaded, laid and fired their howitzers. With the observers, FDC and gun line working together, Charlie Battery provided accurate fires onto an array of armored targets in the impact zone.

June 21-23, A, 2-5 FA conducted Paladin Tables V and VI, a critical part of the certification and qualification for all of the Howitzers and Fire Direction Centers . Certifying Howitzer and FDC Sections is required before more advanced live fire training can be conducted. It is a stepping stone to future Platoon and Battery training.

At the end of the exercise, the unit’s four Howitzer sections and two FDCs were certified. First Platoon’s FDC nabbed the title of the top FDC in the battalion.

A future training event for Alpha Battery, scheduled for July 26-28, will focus on operating as independent Platoons and the execution of battery fire missions. The FDC’s will receive an AFATDS upgrade with window base integration and will also get the opportunity to demonstrate their proficiency on the new system. 2-5 FA has long lineage that is traced back to Alexander Hamilton and the distinction of being the first unit in the U.S.Army to field the Paladin system.